Omaha daily bee., 1901-03-10

tne presbyterian CHurCn IN tDe
United States really began three
years ago in connection with the
Sunday school work 1t was then proposed
that the churches throughout the United
States should set before them the task of
adding 1000 900 new members to their Sun
day schools which would be practically
doubling OF these schools by the year 1901
This movement alone however, did not
meet with very vigorous and general re-
sponse. The growth In the membership of
the Sunday schools since 1898 has scarcely
been more than normal.
At the general assembly held at Mime
apolis in May, 1892 a more general move
ment was inaugurated. A committee, of
which Rev. II. +. Sample, ID. D., OF New
York was chairman. was appointed Ito re-
port to the next general assembly as to the
best method of fifty celebrating the close
OF the nineteenth and the advent OF the
twentieth century" That committee re-
ported a year later to the assembly at St
Louis plan which was adopted.
This plan contemplates a concerted move
ment OF the entire church to be maintained
throughout the whole year 1901. It Is to
be both devotional and financial in its char
acter, the whole having for its objects on
the one hand fitting expression OF thanks
to God and on the other an enlargement
and strengthening of the Presbyterian
church In it's efforts for the uplifting of
humanity throughout the world
The specific forms in which 1t was sug-
gested by the committee that the move
ment should express itself were religious
services and public meetings at the open
ing Of the year. a day Of special services in
connection with the meeting of the coming
general assembly and the raising OF a fund
far oI,,an iS,o oI ,,,tg a..
purposes to be known as the twentieth
century fund"
Public Meetings.
On the first Sunday in January. 1901, every
minister was requested to preach n sermon
appropriate to the time and every church
was requested to make an initiatory offering
for the general work OF the church, which
offering was to be sent forward to the
treasurer Of the twentieth century fund"
to be by him distributed to the eight mis-
sionary and benefcient boards Of the church
according to a ratio fixed by the general
assembly. Most ministers and many
churches complied with this request. In
addition to this IL was suggested that spe-
cial recognition Of this subject be made at
the services Of the week OF prayer, follow
ing the first Sunday in January. 1t was in
pursuance OF this suggestion that the four
mass meetings Of the Presbyterian churches
Of Omaha were held during the first and
second weeks in January at the First Pres
byterian church. when the moderator Of the
general assembly, Rev. Charles A. Dickey.
ID. d., and the field secretary Of the Board
OF Foreign Missions, Rev. Thomas l.. Mar
shall, d. D., together with local Presby-
terian clergymen, spoke on some OF the
great lines Of the church's activities.
Similar meetings have been held in other
large cities Of the land, as New York, Phil
adelphia, Washington, Rochester Indian
apolis, Denver, and others will follow in
other places before the meeting OF the gen
eral assembly in May.
The general assembly, which convenes at
the historic center OF American Presbyteri-