Evening star., 1899-04-07
Educational Matters

.--...-- Educational Matters.
The first report from the board of educa-
tion OF the conference was received and
read by the secretary. 1t showed that the
board has had under consideration the mat
ter Of the twentieth century THANKSGIVING
offering, provided for in the legislation of
the last general conference, for the benefit
of Christian education. The board believes
the time most propitious for inviting the
consecrated men and women of the great
army of southern Methodism to lay upon
the altar of the Lord liberal expressions of
their gratitude for the marvellous things
He has wrought during the nineteenth CEN
tury. The general conference has pro-
y-ded that the sum of 81 ,500. go be raised.
1t must be apparent without argument"
the report proceeds, that if we are to be
ready for the great problems which the
twentieth century will surely bring: if
Methodism is to continue to hold it's place
as the greatest evangelZing force in the
world, there must be the thorough equip
ment and preparation which a broad Chris
tan education alone can bring. Not from
the pulpit alone, but from thinking men all
over the land, is coming up the cry that
the great bulwark of national security in
the century before us must be moral and
Christian education"
The board heartily commended the ac-
tion of the general conference, and recon-
mended that the Baltimore conference
cheerfully assume the privilege of raising
as a minimum the $62, 500 designated as Its
proportion of the fund.
The board also recommended that the
conference take steps to organize at once
a general canvass of its charges in har-
mony with the plan outlined by the gen.
eral conference, the proceeds to be placed
In the hands of the trustees of the RAN
doph-Macon Academy at Front ROYAL Va
and the Randolph Macon College at Ash
rand, Va The appointment of an eXecu-
tive committee, composed of Revs. l. w.
Canter ]. w. Duffey and George r. Hill, to
give active supervision to the work was
recommended. DR.. w. W. Smith was rec
ent of the canvass
Believes In Expansion
On motion to adopt the report Rev,
j. D. Hammond spoke at length for the
purpose, he said, of impressing upon the
conference the importance of increased
Methodist educational facilities in the COM
ing century. DR.. Hammond's expression
or approval of policy of expansion
brought forth many "A1nens'' from all over
the church. No matter what the political
meaning of the policy might be, he believed
II was being directed by God, who is open
ing way for educational progress.
Il am an expansionist to the bottom of
my shoes said DR.. Hammond.
Amen, came from a number of the min
listers present.
Bishop A. w. Wilson also spoke on the
adoption Of the report, approving the twen-
tieth century educational fund He took
advantage of the occasion to tell Of the
progress of education in China as conduct
ed by the Methodist Church. He asked that
a portion Of the money raised be set aside
for the foreign work among the heathens
Provision should also be made for educa-
tionai work in the missionary field. For
the endowment of two schools in China he
wanted $50, 600.
DR.. w. w. Smith spoke next. He said
the offerings to the fund should be made in
a thanksgiving spirit-not as dollar
wrung from a stingy mans grasp, nor as an
assessment, under which ministers and con-
gregation should mourn and groan.
Mr.. E. d. Newman Of Woodstock Va
chairman Of the board presenting the re-
port. arose. He said the board had decided
that 3 per cent of the fund raised by the
Baltimore conference, remaining unappro-
priated by the general conference. should
be devoted to foreign educational work. as
suggested by Bishop Wilson.
The report was then adopted and after
some announcements the conference ad-
journed for the day.,