The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-04
FOR MISSION WORK
PLANS NOW BEING MADE BY METH
ODIsT CLUTCHES OF THIS CITY.
TO BEGIN ABOUT SEPTEMBER |
DEACONNESsES MAY BE EMPLOYED
BY TRINITY AND WESLEY
CHURCES.

Report of Plans in Fart Made mt Ep-
worth Church Observation-Disclosures
of Work of That Church for Past
Seven Months Madc-ShOws Sub
stantiaI Growth ia Membership
and Fine Condition of Finances.
Total indebtedness to BE Wiped
Out by Third Sunday in October
When Formal Dedication Will he
Made by Bishop A. Coke Smith
The work of Epworth Methodist
Church in all its departments for the
past seven months was reviewed in a
church conference held at the morning
service yesterday. The report of Pas
tor j. A. Smith, in9 particular. was
interesting and encouraging, showing
as it did that attendance at the SER
vices of the church has been very
good, that there has been a net gain
in membership of thirty-six, and that
there is now under instruction a class
of which the members will be received
into the church at a later date.
The report showed further that plans
are now being matured for establishing
a mission chapel ;onsthe Ogeechee Road
and that the work of conducting
prayer and Sunday-school services in
this mission will be begun about
Sept. /.
The establishment of this mission
will be but a part of strong mission
propaganda that has been mapped out
for the Methodist churches of Savannah
by Rev. 7. D. Ellis, presiding elder
of this district. This plan contem-
plates not only the Epworth Mission
but a similar establishment for each
of the other Methodist churches. Trim
ity Church's field of action in this line
will be Yamacraw; Wesley Monumental
Church will conduct a similar work
along East Broad street and in Smith
vile and Collinsville, and Grace Church
will have for its territory Roberts
vile.
1t is expected that the work in each
of the three last named districts will
begin about Sept. l. 1t is also prob
able that in the case of Trinity and
Wesley Monumental Churches the work
will be conducted, at least in part, by
a deaconness, of which an order was
recently organized by the general con-
ference.
The report of Epworth Church show
eu Iurtner that the financial condition
of the church was never better in it's
history, the debt incurred in the erec-
ton of the present church building
and parsonage having, been all but Ii
quidated, and that a committee of
which Mr.. F. C.nStone is chairman, is
now planning to raise a sum of money
by Oct l that will entirely clear away
all financial liabilities This must be
done in order to be ready for the for
NAL dedication of the building which
will be performed by Bishop A. Coke
Smith the third Sunday in October.
A report of the work of the Sunday
school. prepared byiMr! j. l.. Christian,
superintendent shows that, that part
of the church work is conducted by
| eight officers and sixteen teachers who
| have in charge two hundred and twelve
pupils. Sevently-five pupils have been
| received since jan /. The average at
tendance is a hundred and thirty-five.
The present is the third year of Rev.
Mr.. Smiths pastorate. Since he as
sumed charge of the church the men,
| bership has been increased by a hum
| dred and SiXty-three additions, the
| property has been much improved. and
obligations to the amount of several
! hundred dollars removed Epworth
| Church is situated in growing sec
ton of the city and the outlook is that
the prosperity of the past few years
will be continued and even increased
within the next few years.