The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-18
nittees in which the questions have al
reaaE- been discussed and voted upon.

mittees in which the questions have al
ready been discussed and voted upon.
The complications and confusion in the
collecting work Of Congrega tiorlal mission
funds are declared to be most perp.eNlng.
They are aggravated. il is said. by the
existence of a number OF nom nal.y aux
Hilary. but really independent, societies,
which collect some Sit0OG0 by the side of
the national societies IND from the same
fields. The committee Of nine, whose
recommendations are under discussion,
takes no account OF these. It is said to
be true that q vast majority Of the Con-
sregatcnal churches of the country feel
that there must pc some reorganization
OF this branch OF work. All suggestions
OF the committee are n7w to 50 to the
churches. The Congregational body Is
strong in the northwest, especially in
Minneapolis. and it is strong in Chicago.
Congregation Churches exist in ali
States save De!nware, but the great cen
tres Of this present discussion are New
England and the central body Of I,opula-
ton west TO the Missouri river. The
discussion is a heated one and much is
involved.
THE WEEK OF PRAYER.
At last changes have been made in Top
les announced for the week OF prayer.
years of protest. The Evangelical ALI
ance for the U.sited States, it is Under
stood, took the respons bility of the
cIlall2es,ssilot1l in it's influe1Icezavitl, the
English Alliance and in its own appea!
to American churches. The Alliance here
recommends special prayer on the first
Sunday Of December. the no ding of wasch-
night services, and then the following for
the week OF prayer, January 9th TO 18th:
On the two Sundays involved, "Appro-
pirate Sermons ana ,Servces''-a marked
change from the recommendation of for
mer years: Monday, Better Realization
Of Spiritual Truth and Better Estimate
Of Spiritual REALITIES; Tuesday, For the
Church; Wednesday, Christian Charac
ter and LIE, and Personal Religion;
Thursday, ''Re,atioTls in Society and the
Nation: Friday, international Relation
ship and Action; and Saturday. Mis-
SONS The appeal is sent out over the
signatures OF ex-F;res dent Harrison.
Associate Justice Brewer; President
, Clark, Of the Christian Eldeavor; the
Methodist Bishops Andrews and Gallo
way. Generals Morgan and Howard, this
years Presbyterian Moderator Dickey,
Robert Z. Speer, Ex-Governor Nort2en
and Booker I. Washington.
Great preparations arc making in most
rarts OF the country for the holding OF
watch-aight meetings. Some services Of
this cEara cter were held u year ago. under
the impression that that date began the
new century. lleSc services are no"
to be enlarged upon. Calls are making
upon leaders for suggestions about the
character OF such services, and upon the
personal services OF famous divines in
their conduct SO far as can be learned.
this far in advance, these services are
to begin in many churches or. Sunday,
December s1th. when the end OF the cen-
Jury is TO be considerect-what has been
ACCOMPLISHED since 1900. Then the follow
ing day and night, the last Of the century,
are 10 be devoted to prayer for The century
| about to open. The Evangelical Alliance
| suggestions. which for the first time are
practical a1,G! up To date, are to be FOL
| lowed quite generally, Il is said. IN many
; ,oF,;es nefgi1borhood unions are forming,
i in or5e, ti.ar the brotherhood OF man may
! be enlrna sized and Christian comfy be
! phase Of the religious world this
| a,,t,1n1n is the remarkable lack Of what
j may be called, without Intentional dis
] courtesy, new schemes. AS a general
/ thing there crop up each fall score or
| more men and women believing them
! selves 10 have in charge some shortcut
!; ~ righteousness The columns Of the
/! SATURDAY dailies are blaZoned with big
! f,-ne advertisements Of persons, recognized
! as formrly belonging 10 sons. recognized
! religious body, who have LETT their old
|