Evening star., 1899-11-04

York, the latter being far In advance of
all the others. No figures are given as to
the amounts contributed by the people of
that denomination for the support of their
synagogues and affiliated organizations in
Washington, but it is stated that in Bal
timore the Jews contributed during the
year So, 600 to their religious organizations,
82,296 to their charitable institutions and,
In addition. s26s4o was given to the social
clubs and societies. PHILADELPHIA Jews
spent s67 800 on the synagogues and s140, 614
for charity. Cincinnati, $4,000 and $4,000
for the same objects. Chicago, ST26O0 and
s1lsEoo, respectively. San Francisco not
only spends $6i,25o annually on the syna-
gogues and gives $f21 691 to charity, but
has a social club which has an annual In
come of $4,000.
The preponderance of ofilcialism in the
general conference is causing much anx-
iety to many of the leaders in the NJ. Z.
Church. and on this subject prominent
preacher of this city said:
In the last general conference there were
about 300 ministerial delegates, two-thirds
OF whom were presiding elders, agents, ed
itors, secretaries and other officials. The
aggregate membership of all the annual
conferences is about 1900, of whom 50o
occupy various official positions outside of
the pastorate, and this fraction of the tray-
cling preachers, 3 per cent, has twice as
many delegates in the Supreme Council OF
the church as all the other 81 per cent; and
this disparity of representation has char
acterized all other general conferences for
many years past. How shall we account
for 1t?
NO one will affirm that this small minor
ity Of ministers possesses such monopoly
of wisdom and fitness for governing the
church as this preponderance of representa-
ton might indicate. Now, will any one as
sert that the pastoral office, which is the
base of our ecclesiastical editice, without
which there would be no other Offices to
fill, disqualifies its incumbents for the du-
of Jn n
tent that 5000 pastors are able to furnish
only half as many competent delegates as
500 other preachers who are not pastors?
"All church history shows that officialism
is a supreme peril of all prosperous
churches. With prosperity comes growth;
with growth, organization; with organfza-
tion, offices; with Offices power and per
quisites, and these may have many attrac-
tions for man. minds who want to keep
what they have and get more, and thus In
due time there emerges an officeholding
guild which regards itself as the most COM
petent to administer the affairs of these Of
fees and which succeeds in perSuading
others to think the same thing
Seven missionaries in whom the Luther
ans of this city feel "a deep interest have
started for the far east, where they will
labor in various mission fields. The mis-
sionaries include Rev. and Mrs. Edwin c.
Harris, who will labor in India; Rev. and
Mrs. Will NJ. Beck, Rev. and Mrs. j. D.
Simon and Miss Nellie Zoe Settlemayor,
who will work in Africa. They will travel
the steamship Beigeniand of the Ameri-
can line, which left Philadelphia this morn
ing.
The service at the First Congregational
Church tomorrow evening Will be a memo
rial of the late William H Pennell, who
was well known in religious and philan-
thropic circles in this city, being prominent
a member of the Anti-SaIoon League
and teacher of a large and successful young
mems Bible class in the Congregational
Church.
Mr. Pennell was perhaps best known as
the first Christian Endeavorer," since it
was he who first affixed his name to the
constitution of the original society in Will
liston Church, Portland, Me, February 4,
1881.
The meeting tomorrow night will be ad-
dressed by Mr.. w. II. II. Smith of the
Navy Department, and a short tribute to
Mr. Pennells memory will be given, re-
spectiveIy, by Mr.. Garfield, Mr.. Woods and
DR., Newman, pastor of the church. The
musical portion of the service will be in
charge of DR.. Bischoff, organist, assisted
by the chorus choir