The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-24

Dyspepsia Kennedy Co., NO. E1Vii24 oOuSn
Forsyth St, Atlanta, Ga
Send SC to pay postage for sample bottle
to have adopted a new method. They
received powerful impetus in their
plan by the adoption of it by the Metho-s
dist movement headed by Bishop mo
burn. At any rate, the change IS mere,
and is generally believed to be here to stay.
If reports made up from preliminary
figures are to be credited it would seem
that this new method is surprising in
results anything obtained by the old
nthod in recent years. There are COM
ing into the churches numbers from two
to ten per cent. larger than usual, ana
they are doing SO in a natural ana quiet
way, the result Of education and the eff
forts of regular spiritual leaders Ike
ports to this effect are had from all New
England cities OF Importance from Phli-
adelphia, Pittsburg, st. Louis, CMcaSo'
ST. Paul, Milwaukee. Detroit and all in
tervening cities. Reports are surprls-
ingly uniform.
GROWTH IN CHURCHES.
Protestant Episcopal Church increase
runs on ordinary years about $4,000. Sizes
of confirmation classes this year would
indicate growth of 10000. or about three
per cent. Presbyterian Church grown
has much varied Of late years. ranging
from 5000 to 24,000. This year it is est1-
mated that even the latter figure will
be surpassed. Congregational growth has
been during the last five years very SLOW
indeed, running last year not quite p
900. Estimates to-day are that the old
three-per-ccnt.-a-yea Will be rea-
lZed or an increase Of upwards OIL ZoooV.
The three StrOngloldS of Congregations
alism are Chicago, Boston and Brook
lyn, and in all three Congregational con-
ditions were never more promising. Meth
odsts have been pruning their rolls of
late years, and there is much unrest just
now over the removal of the pastoral
time limit Yet the twentieth century for
ward movement, not the money-raising
one, but the extending of Church mem
berslip one, is succeeding. If reports to
date are verified the old rate of growth
will be realized. or at least $1,000 i year
in the Methodist North and 1900 in the
Methodist South body.
Disciples of Christ are steadily gaining
q foothold in eastern cities, and their
rapid growth of recent years is maln-
tanned thus far. It is a teaching body IN
the sense that some similar evangelical
bodies have not been. relying less than
they upon revival methods. Lutherans
have grown at an astonishing rate In
New York city during the last decade,
but have not done so we'll in other parts
of the country. with the possible eNcep-
ton of the northwest. They are holding
their own and are adopting the new
method, an easy task for them, for they
have ever held to the teaching method.
United Brethren usually grow about T.
000 q year. Special reports are not at
hand from them, but their leaders affirm
that conditions among them are equally
f,N 1F,,1 ,,-f{l ~{l, ,al;, 1,o1
FINANCIAL CONDITIONS.
On the financial side, the Churches are
not feeling the effects of improved times
to the extent missionary society and 9TH
er leaders had hoped. Presbyterian, Con-
gre9ational and Methodist society funds
are coming in well, but Episcopal, Bap-
fist and Lutheran are not The condition
in China is doing some harm, especially
the terrible arrangement of the mission
aries by Mark Twain. People are also
pointing out the lack of any leadership
among the Protestant missionaries in
China, and their silence upon reform
questions. at a time when they have the
opportunity, if they have the inclination,
to utter words to which ali the world
would listen. There seems an astonish-
ing lack of interest in the churches in
the matter Of getting footholds in Iia-
vana, San Juan, Manila ind other new
SoioIIS StlllstiS. hlSSiOHdIy SOClSty SSC-
retaries say appeals in their behalf, even
when accompanied by statements about
the strategy involved, fall upon deaf ears.
Nobody seems able to account for it. OF
course, some progress is making in indi-
viuual bodies, but the whole situation
presents some sinSularly dscouraging
features.
MONEY FOR THE Y. NJ. C. A.
The International Committee of the
Nnnno' Mon ,l.iSf 10 Acco
ed out year or more ago to raise ST.
100000 endowment fund, to be in hand by
the time the fftieth anniversary celebra-
ton Of association work in America is
celebrated in Boston this summer. The
most that can be accomplished by the
date named will be 100000, and some pref
ty hard work will have to be put in to
reach that stint. With this there will be
included 100000 that was first given for
another purpose anG another gift of $780,
0e0 showing that there is not the popu-
lar interest that had been looked for
The Moody School endowDents also get
on slowly. Mr.. Moody himself raised $780,
e00, and there has since been raised and
put into one fund s103,00O. The churches
are now being asked for 100000, and
many prominent churches in the prin-
cipal cities have promised TO make Of
ferings during March and April On the
Whole, however, while pobo6y is dscour-
aged, 1t is the conviction that the church,
es do not yet feel the improved financial
times.
Archbishop [Martinelli. who is to be rails
ed to a Cardinal and will return to Rome.
has succeeded as papal delegate in
larger degree that did Cardinal Satolli
and his success is reelected upon Roman
Catholic conditions throughout the coun
try. His administration has not been
without its conflicts with some of the
bishops, but his policy has boen, unlike
that OF his predecessor, to give way in the
OF peace. The effect has been
favorable. His successor in the apostolic
office at Washington will be, tits thought
Monsignor Merry del Val, the present head
Of the Academy of Noble Ecclesiastics
Rome. whose father has long been the
Spanish ambassador at the Vatican He
IS himself a warm personal friend of Pope
Leo XIII. Bearing a Spanish name, he
was educated in England. nnd understands
American conditions well.
The Simultaneous Mission in England
he second series OF meetings in which
are now being held, has developed the