Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-15
EPWORTH ANNIVERSARY
DISTRICT ORGANsZATfoN ADOPTS
PROGRAM For CELEBRATION.
Addresses Upon the Topic ssYoung
Christian of the Fwentieth Cen
tury"-Musieal Features.

The Washington District Epworth League
has arranged a program for Friday even
ing, the 18th instant, at O'Clock, at Wes-
ley Chapel. for the celebration of the
twelfth anniversary of the organization.
The Wesley Quartet; consisting Of Mrs.
Rayiy, Mrs. Leech, Messrs. Rodrick and
Barker, will sing, and a~number will also
be given by a male quartet. Ten-minute
addresses will be delivered on the general
subject. THE Young Christian of the
Twentieth Century, by the four new pas
tors in the Methodist Episcopal Churches
of this city, as follows: I'm Relation to
the Church. by Rev. ]. c. Nicholson of
Trinity Church; I'm Relation to His Neigh
bor,' by Rev. J. Edwin Amos Of North
Capitol Church; in Relation to Litera-
ture, by Rev. Joseph E. Smith of Grace
Church; In Relation to Social Life" by
Rev. E. l.. Hubbard of Mckendree Church.
Mr.. T.. s. La Fetra will preside AT the
close of the exercises in the main audito-
rum a social hour will be spent in the
lecture room and refreshments served.
Date of First Organizations.
The Epworth League was organized in
the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cleve-
land Ohio, May 10, 1889. Representatives
of five official young peoples societies ex
listing in the church at that time met in
the then Central Methodist Church on
May IA, and from this meeting the Ep-
worth League was formed and it's name
was flashed over the wire on the following
day as the official young peoples society in
that church. Its growth numerically has
been one OF the marvels Of the age, now
Church alone. The official organ of the
league is THE Epworth Herald" pub
lished in Chicago, by Rev Joseph F. Berry
who is also general secretary Of the or
ganiZation.
The Epworth League with some modifi-
cations in it's organization, was adopted as
the ofi1c1al young peoples society in the NJ.
r. Church South in 1890. Its membership
row numbers over 100000. The Methodist
thurch of Canada also adopted the Ep-
worth League as it's official young peoples
society in the same year. 1t has mem
bershlp running up in the hundred thou
sands.
District Society.
The Washington District organization
was formed on January 2. 1891 at Wesley
Chapel DR.. w. c. Woodward was it's
first president. He was succeeded by the
following persons: Mr.. G. W. F. Swartzel,
Prof c. NJ. Lacy Sites, Mr. VIM Burdette
Mathews. Mr. Fred E. Tasker, Mr.. w. s.
Dewhirst, Mr.. j. Finney Engle, Mr.. Harry
O. Hine, DR.. c. B. Campbell, and Mr.. E. s.
La Fetra. the present incumbent. The
membership in the senior and junior
leagues number about 4.0O0 in the District
International conventions are held every
two years by the three branches. The first
was held at Cleveland 1t 1893; the second
al Chattanooga, 1850: the third at Toronto
1897; the fourth at Indianapolis, 1899, and
the fifth will be held in San Francisco
July 49, 1901. The provisional program of
the convention viii appear in these columns
later. The itinerary arranged by the Dis
trlct transportation committee will be
ready for distribution on Saturday at Mr.
{. f. Iingers, 81 7th street or at Chesa-
peake and Ohio office, 6O3 14th street