The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-15

congregation, orl4contrtbutedSto mission
enterprises. Many progressive men are
saying that they wifi be satisfied with this
reform only until 4 t has been brought
about, and that others equally destra bic
and equally rat ical must follow. Active
work looking to the melting of all societies
at; the same time and place In the year
mentioned has already begun.
f3a55 UNIFORM HYnlSSAL
Three OF the largest bodies of Lutherans
are at work upon and will have ready
soon report upon a uniform hymnal.
Not long ago q Uniform service was pre-
pared, and with only slight modification.
adopted by all Of them. s. That success TO-.
ward unity encouraged the Undertaking
+ of a uniform hymual, and Lutherans IN
{ ali three bodies are expecting that their
committees report will be accepted, ana q
common service and hymn book prepared
and published by all of them The three
bodies are the General Synod. the General
Council and the United Synod, South.
Another Lutheran innovation is the use.
much Increased of late. OF common sun.
day-School lessons. The International Sc
ries is being discarded by them because It
does not follow the church year, and one
5nf their own submitted. There are
eighteen different Lutheran bodies in the
United states. These three large and
progressive bodies are honestly trying to
bridge over all differences.
The rule In the Methodist Episcopal
Book of Discipline relating to dancing ana
theatre going, which the next General
Conference is to be asked to. modify, was
put into the Discipline by the General
Conference of 1872. It has worked much
harm, SO Methodist leaders admit, and
has accomplished little If any go5d. There
was not much agitation before its adop-
ton, and it got in at the very close OF
q the Conference session. to the regret OF
many sincere Methodists. There is at
this time no desire whatever to moiiify
restrictions to Christian living. or 10
make Methodist membership more world
~ The argument of those who want the
rule changed is that such matters should
be left to the individual conscience, but
that the restrictive clause be put into the
Book of Discipline in another and less
obnoxious form. What is now sought to
be done is to rectify 4 mistake growing
out of hastily legislation. and the gen
eral opinion among Methodists seems to
be that it will be brought about at chi
cage this year.
MISSION BOARDS BEHIND.
The church Mission Boards, whose ifs
cal years are now closing. claim they
have not felt the effect Of improved times.
The American Baptist Home Mission So
ciety. which. with the Missionary Union,
the foreign oganizat;on of the same de-
nomina ton. was helped out OF deot Two
or three years ago through the assistance
az Mr.. John D. Rockefeller, falls into
debt this year $4,000. It has, however,
added $4,000 to its permanent and an
nuity funds, and feels that it has had
a good year.
The Missionary Union just mensto>ed
fell behind $4,000 last year, and adds
$40, eco more to it this year, all in spite OF
the fact that estimates for expenditures
were limited to the receipts of the year
last preceding. Baptist boards South nave
done better, a nd while they have made no
gains, they have managed to keep out OF
debt.
Presbyterian boards have Jared some
what better than Baptist ones this year
The Home Mission closed its books at the
end Of March without debt and small
balance to thu good. The Foreign Board
does not close until April so, and is now
S5oO00 ahead Of last year. 1t. must, how
ever, get in large sum to close the year