Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-14
ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY
COMING CELEBR ALTON BY DISTRICT
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Address by Ex-Representative VIM.
NJ. Springer-Special Music
Order of Excrcises.

The Epworthians of the city will celebrate
the eleventh anniversary of the organiza-
ton of the Epworth League at Hamline M.
E. Church. 9th and streets northwest,
tomorrow evening, beginning at O'Clock
DR. c. B. Campbell, District president. Will
preside The devotional exercises will be
conducted by Rev. w. r. Stricken. DID,,
and solos will be sung by Miss Elizabeth
Wahly and by Miss Sallie Nicholson, re-
spectively.
The address of the evening will be deliv-
cred by Judge VIM. NJ. Springer, ex-represen-
tative in Congress from Illinois. Resolutions
adopted by the board of control recently,
relating to the retirement of Rev. l.. b.
Wilson from the presiding eldership of the
District. will be presented to him during
the session Several selections Will be rem
dered BY the Venetta Mandolin Club.
Dr. c. B. Campbell and Rev. W. H. Rich
artison have had charge of the preparation
of the program.
Progress of the League.
1t is claimed that the Epworth League has
surpassed the expectations of the most san
guine of those VINO participated in its or
ganization at Cleveland, Ohio. May IA and
Is. 1850 The plan of the organization was
perfected after a conference of two days OF
representatives from five officially recog-
nized societies in the Methodist Episcopal
Church at that time. Its growth numer-
ically has been marvellous. the members
now numbering 100000. 1t IS stated that
its official organ has the largest circulation
of any denomina tional weekly paper pub
lished in the world. and has been so ably
managed that the publishers have been able
to turn over to the fund for conference
claimants in the church sum of over
slDl.cp in the past five years.
A great Zeal of energy was expended in
the work of organization in the earlier days
of the league and in later years the results
for which the league was planned are being
attained Through the efforts of the liter
airy departments the young people have
been made better acquainted with church
history and their desires awakened to read
better literature and to seek higher educa-
ton in colleges and universities. The Mercy
and Help department has been of such use
as to commend itself not only to the church,
but to outsiders as well. in nursing and fur
nshng dainties to the sick and relieving
numerous cases of need. The efforts of this
department in the hospitals and jails, it is
claimed have been highly successful.
The spiritual department. according to the
reports. has been the instrument whereby
great host have been wonderfully developed
in Christian work and instructed in the
Methodist doctrine of a personal religious
experience From its ranks Sunday school
teachers, superintendent and official mem
bers in the churches have been chosen. and
many have been called to the ministry and
to the mission fields.
This organization has been an inspiration
to the church in the enthusiasm manifested
in the several branches of church work.
Schools of learning are being built and en-
dowed by it. hospitals are being supported
and free beds provided for the poor and
missionaries are being maintained in the
home and foreign fields. In some of the
country circuits. where the pastor only gets
around to preach once in two weeks, or less
frequently, the league looks out for the re-
llPi0llG n a hScn AVID fv,v,
cases revival fires have been rekindled at
the church altar through its endeavors.