Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-11
IN THE CHI RCHE S

tiiS IlolS Idilu, mount 81 SGpulChre, wash
ington, have received a letter from one of
their members in the Holy Land which con-
tains some interesting Information about
matters in Palestine and the east. A part
of this letter follows:
Russian influence is spreading steadily
in the east, and every means is being taken
to Russianize the Arabs and to weaken the
Greek element in Palestine. Even within
the walls of the Greek Patriarchate Rus
sian gold has done its work and q party of
the Greeks has gone over to the side of
the Muscovite. Russian institutions are
constantly increasing in numbers, and their
possessions are being continually increased
Wherever one turns in Jerusalem large
buildings belonging to the Russians meet
the eye. At Jericho they have several es-
Establishments and they have founded a
large colony al St. John. in the mountains.
Mount Olivet Is almost entirely in their
hands, and at Bethlehem they have large
estates. They will probably succeed 1 n
nominating one of their creatures patriarch
of Antioch, and the Greeks of Caifa, Acre,
Tyre and Sidon, and from beyond the Jor-
dan have petitioned to be exempted from
the jurisdiction Of the patriarch of Jerusa-
lem, and to be allowed to pass to that of
the patriarch of Damascus, on account of
their Russophile tendencies. French influ-
ence has entirely lost its prestige. having
been completely eclipsed by Russia. Every
body learns to speak Russian, even the
country people. while the money of the
car is everywhere current The bank of
the Credit Lyonnais has. In the short space
of four months. handled one million roubles
an immense amount of money for city
where there is no trade or commerce.
The throng of pilgrims at Easter was
very great there being an especially large
number of Russians. The sacred functions
at the Holy Sepulchre were held with the
greatest decorum and tranquility as far as
possible In an international Baslica, where
1aro ttoy,r l,,1l t,.Ns,,
The fourth annual conference of Chris
tan workers, which was attended by n
number of persons from Washington and
was held at Ocean City, N. j., beginning
July 90. closed Sunday last. The object of
the conference was TO benefit ministers,
Sunday school superintendent and Chris
tian workers generally. Among those who
were present during the various meetings
were these well-known workers: 3. T.
Armstrong, Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton secretary for Bible, conference and
evangelistic work; Revs. Drs. J. Wilbur
Chapman, H. NJ. Wharton. S. Wesley Lake
and ]. G. Bickerton; Ford c. Ottman, DIR.
r. H. McCready and Rev. Ezra Lake.
Rev NJ NJ Moore, who for several years
was located at the finance rooms of the A.
Nj. r. Church, in this city. the headquarters
of the denomination in the United States
has entered upon his new duties as bishop
a position to which he was recently elected.
He has been assigned to look after the in
terest of the church In Florida, Louisiana
and Texas.
ard University, Washington. D. c., has had
an interesting history. He was born in
Gadsden county, Florida. in 1856. AT the
age of twelve. having impressed those about
him with his intelligence. he was appointed
page in the Florida legislature. He
served in that capacity a number of years.
during which time he took advantage of
the public schools of the state. Later, he
RI LOT OF I'D INIT
he was graduated with high honors. He
then returned to Florida, and after teaching
school for several years, entered the minis
try. being licensed to preach by the late
Bishop Armstrong. So successful was he
as pastor and organizer that he was soon
made a presiding elder which position he
held until 1895, when he was elected secre-
tary and treasurer of the general financial
board and removed to this city. He filled
this responsible position with honor and he
is credited with having managed the finan-
ces SO ably. that during the -four years
ending May 81 last, the revenues of the
board reached the sum of $403. I436S, which
is an increase over the present quadrennium
of ST., COO
| ences above named, Bishop Moore will have
charge of two conferences in Africa. In
the near future he expects to sail for Eng
land. and after remaining there short
time, will go to the gold coast. the Re-
public Of Liberia and Lagos, in each of
| which he will inspect mission work. He
will return from Africa via Europe and
during his stay on the continent will make
a tour Of several of the countries, princi-
pally Germany, France and Scotland, and
will attend the great ccumenical conference
to be held in London during August of next
year.
| Rev. Mr.. Matsumato, a native of Japan,-
who was in this city this week, after at
| tending camp meetings in Maryland and
| has since gone north to attend ether con-
| ferences. said in conversation here that the
people in his country did almost every
thing backward from what they do in
America. The japanese, he said. eat cake
first and soup last. At weddings black is
| worn and at funerals the prevailing style is
white.
| The visitor declared that there was no
similarity between Japan and China. The
! former, he said. has been gradually adopt
ing the customs of various western nations
| for almost fifty years. Their educational
system Is modelled after that OF the United
States; its university from Germany; its
| navy from England: but nothing from
Spain. The Japanese. he said are not imi-
tators. They adopt the good and improve
| upon that.
| Rev. T. B. Nicely. DID, secretary Of the
1 SUNDAY School TTninn of tina Methodist