Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-12
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
THIRTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY.
Exercises at Calvary Baptist Church
Last Evening-Dr. Glbert's
Annual Report.

The thirteenth anniversary Of the Ameri-
can Society of Religious Education was OBJ
served last evening in Calvary Baptist
Church with highly interesting exercises, q
large congregation being present. The board
Of regents attended in body. In the abb
sence Of the president Justic Harlan Of the
Supreme Court, detained on account of ILL
ness. Vice President Shallenberger occupied
the chair. DR.. Greene. pastor of the church,
conducted the devotions.
DR.. ]. E. Gilbert. the general secretary
rendered his annual report, setting forth the
purposes, plans and work Of the society. In
the course Of his address, DR.. Gilbert said:
1.-THE society rests upon the conviction
that character, mans chief concern, Is at
tainable largely by educational processes,
that those processes must be better I'M
derstood. more generally and highly appre-
ciated and more faithfully applied; that
the family, the church and the school
must be better equipped and made
cooperative as educational agencies; that
the best minds of all denominations must
be enlisted to show how this may be DONE
Hence, the society is a scholarly and inter-
0enominational attempt, the only one in the
country, to cover Systematically and thor
oughly the entire subject Of mans spiritual
development and cultivation. The society
is In full harmony with the common faith
of evangelical churches from which 1t de-
riyes its membership and support, and to
which 1t endeavors to contribute something
to their advancement. 1t aims to do in its
chosen field what has been undertaken in
every other department of civilized life, to
meet that growing spirit Of the age which
not only maintains what is good, but en-
beavers to find something better. The need
and religious conditions Of our country 1t
Is evident that In our modes of religious
activity there Is some defect which ought
to be speedily removed"
Departments of Work.
The departments of the society's work were
then outlined. In the college Of fellows
composed Of learned men who are pursuing
various investigations, there has been q
large increase Of interest during the past
year. resulting in the organization of auxil-
1aries In several states, and the election of
three district secretariee, who supervise
groups Of states. The students In the Sun
day teachers normal college, in the Bible
college at home, and in the school Of Chris
tan motherhood have now reached an az
gregate Of over 10000 on the enrolment.
During the thirteen years hundreds of as
semblies have been held in all parts of the
United States. Beginning next month, Dr.
Gilbert stated, the society will publish a
monthly magazine devoted to its interests
Following the secretary's report were
brief addresses by w. T. Chambers late
chief justice of Samoa now of the Spanish
treaty claims commission; by T H. Ander-
son, judge of the District Supreme Court.
ana by Il b. F. Mcfarland. Commissioner
or the District of Columbia These gentle
men are all members Of the board Of re-
gents and spoke in terms of high com
mendation of what the society has done and
proposes to do.
After the audience was dismissed rnanv
came forward to express their pleasure and
interest, and to examine documents of the
society and manuscripts prepared by its
STUDENTS. which DR.. Gilbert had left for
that purpose upon the table near the n1at-
FORM; 1t was said by members of the
BOARD that the society opens It's fourteenth
year In splendid condition and with bright
In the fact that several Influential noen be,-o
recently entered the board, who will give