Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-19
I'm THE CHI u r c H ES

I'm T HE G. H u r G n E .
More or less closely affiliated with most
of the prominent churches of the city are
social organizations, composed of men COM
prising church members churchgoers and
residents Of the locality. These societies
are known as mems clubs; and while they
are not sectarian and in many cases actual
\ ly claim that they have no connection with
the church whose name they bear, they are
always more or less identified Herewith be-
cause they usually meet in the church edi-
flee, and, as rule, their moving spirits are
prominent communicates of the church.
These clubs meet monthly or semi-mon lilly.
and frequently they have open meetings
to which they invite the ladies and the
friends of the members, and on which &C.
casions speakers of renown address the
meeting ana other forms of entertainment
given-often including refreshments.
quite naturally the numerous CUBS of this
character throughout the city have various
ways of conducting their affairs but in The
mann they cover practically the same heid
and dlTer only as 20 DEALS and ampllnca-
lions. A proposition has emanated- from
the Mems Club connected with the Gurley
Memorial Church to form Il league COM
posed of the various mems clubs connected
with all the churches, and steps are now
being taken to consider the matter in a
several associations. 1t is understood that
the Gurley Mems Club has appointed a
committee which in turn has sent circular
letters to nearly all the other mems clubs
of the city, asking that they appoint a.
similar committee TO meet with the pro-
jectors of this idea and discuss the subject.
When sufficient answers to these letters are
received, a date and place for the joint
committee meeting will be set and the
subject will be thoroughly discussed, so
that each committee can report to Its
parent club what has been done and what
are It's recommended tons.
The present movement, 1t Is said, con-
tempia ties nothing but discussion of the
subject and its feasibility.
The Baptists of Washington have been
appealed to by Rev. 3. +. Riley pastor of
the First Baptist Church of Houston. Tex,
for aid in restoring the church under his
care. In his letter Mr.. Riley says, in part:
"A tract of country 200 miles long and
fifty miles broad has been reduced to ruin
Among the losses sustained were those of
seventy-fve Baptist churches, which were
either in whole or in part wrecked. The
city of Houston, which was in the track
of the storm, suffered fearfully. Many
buildings were demolished, involving the
churches of a number of the denominations
OF the three Baptist churches in Houston.
the First was the only one materially in
jured. The entire country has most gen.
erousIy responded to the physical necessi
ties of the stricken district, and yet with
the passing of the initial stages of the
great disaster there are left many serious in
cidents, which will have to be cared for by
our people For instance, there are at
least 5000 people in the region swept by
the storm who are absolutely homeless and
will have to be cared for by our population
during the winter.
"All other denominations the churches of
which were ruined or injured have by help
derived from divers quarters restored their
place.. of worship. The Catholics. who hold
dow, iyaf iv,Cr inQ,, in, hi ep{ hgA W.
been upon their feet for weeks in the pros
ecution of their work. The slight help OBJ
tanned by our denomination has not iusti-
fled us as yet in undertaking to rebuild
Bishop Earl Cranston who recently re-
turned from China, has written a letter to
a friend in this city, in which he says in
part: Almost everything is dead IN China.
When one comes to consider the question il
Is wonder that the people have a feeling
against foreigners; and the recent Boxer
uprising can in some measure be eX-
planned. The English prints in Shanghai
openly discussed in their columns the mat
ter of the acknowledgements of China before
this question came up. There has, been
enough to justify some trouble. What would
be the effect IL some people foreign to us
should come here and talk about disrupting
the United States and dividing the country
among them? These English prints were
translated and scattered broadcast around
the country.
1T is too large a question for the church.
The missionary is the only possible peace
maker. The people have blamed the mis-
sionaries for some of the occurrences. /
say, let the missionaries alone. Let them
multiply, let them plant school houses. The
school house-that is the method"
The secretaries of the Missionary. Society
of the Methodist Episcopal Church have
asked the pastors of that denomination in
Washington to assist them in raising
s20eo0o0 for missions during the present
is e.1i,, - tlo1, low,
the appropriation to the home and the for
eign work of per cent increase over the
income Of collections of 1900, which was
S1115,3Si, and leave balance to go to the
foreign field of $I65, SAT, sum sufficient to
pay all property debts and erect buildings
for schools, orphanages, hospitals, printing
presses, etc, for the first half of the new
century. To be present. they say, at the
birth of new century is an occasion for
gratitude. and demands a fitting recognition.
What could be more fitting than to make
special gift even though it be at a great
sacrifice for the worlds evangeization and
in honor of our King? The membership of
our church, including probationers. is
2,S47.O37 An average of 81 from each of
the 100000 of these is certainly possible:
and what may be given by the remainder
will be the overflow. The number among
the 1900, 900 members and friends who will
give above 81 will more than make up for
those who fall below"
The Mems Club of the Luther Memorial
Church will have an open meeting Monday
evening next. There will be a musical
prelude. followed by an address upon 1.-The
Path of the Pilgrim Fathers" The speak
er. Prof ]. L. Ewell. dean of the theolog-
zeal faculty. Howard University has, it is
stated, carefully followed this path, both
In old England and New England.
The gathering Of Sunday school workers
several of whom from Washington will he
present, In Baltimore next week promises
to be one of the most important religious
assemblages of the year thus far Word
has been received that nearly log dele
gates, representing all parts Of the United
States, will be present. The chief subjects
for discussion will be THE Improvement
of the County Organization" 1.-The Train
ing of Officers and Teachers" City Sun
day School Work" Methods of City Or
ganization and THE Evangelistic Work
of the Sunday School,
Prof. William Edwin Priest instructor in
English at the Central High School and the
Corcoran Scientific School at the Column
bian University, delivered an address on
Whittier last evening before the Chris
tian Endeavor Society of the Keller Me-
mortal Church, Maryland avenue and 9TH