The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-22
NOTABLE DAY TOMORROW
TWENTIETH CENTURY LEAGUE
THANKSGIVING SERTICE.


REV DIR. BuckIey aud H. H. Benedict
10 speRk-A Red Letter Occasion in
Honor Of Clearing Debt from New
Haven NJ. e. Churchrs.
One of the grandest movements in the
history of Methodism in this country is
the Twentieth Century Wesleyan
League, which had it's beginning,
growth and achievement of the aim set
before it from the first in New Haven.
The plan of the league originated in
the mind of Mr.. H H. Benedict, who
had long felt that strenuous efforts
should be made by the Methodists of
this city to raise the debt of seventy
five thousand dollars from the church.
es of their denomination in this city,
especially heavy burdens being upon
the Summerfield and Epworth church.
es. Mr.. Benedict believed that these
heavy debts hindered and retarded the
vented their growth. At a meeting of
the New Haven Evangelical Union in
association with the official members
of all the Methodist Episcopal church.
es in New Haven in the lecture room
of the First church, December s, 1898,
Mr.. Benedict outlined the plan of re-
lief for the debt-burdened churches
which had taken shape in his own
mind, and it was proposed to form
league to be known as THE Twentieth
Century Wesleyan League" member
ship subscriptions to it being ten dol
lars and one dollar a year thereafter.
The object of the league was stated to
be the cancellation of the indebtedness
of all the New Haven Methodist Epis-
copal churches. The plan was adopted
that very night, and names Of members
were presented. From that time until
the present 1.-THE Twentieth Century
Wesleyan League has steadily in
creased in numbers, Mr.. Benedict pre-
eenting the league plan to the churches
upon Sunday mornings. as he has been
able to arrange, and communicating his
own enthusiasm and interest in the
work to be accomplished by the league
to his hearers in the Methodist church.
es throughout the city. Solicitors were
appointed in each church, platform
meetings were held at stated intervals,
addresses being made by the officers of
the league and members of the execu
IS tive committee; the need and the duty
of spirit of unity among the Metho-
and constant thanksgiving was offered
that a man had been raised to lead the
members of the league on to the victo-
rious destruction of the incubus of debt
upon the churches. Words cannot ad
equately express the consecrated and
tireless energy, in thought and words
and action of Mr.. H. H. Benedict the
president of the Wesleyan Twentieth
Century League" From the very first
he has had the assurance of success
and has impaired his own hopefulness
to every member of the league. Slowly
but surely the amount has increased,
every week seeing it approach more
nearly the required seventy-five thou
sand dollars, until now the entire
amount has been raised, and next Sun
the Twentieth Century Wesleyan
League as a day of thanksgiving that
the debt is removed from every one of
the Methodist Episcopal churches in
New Haven. All the churches will
participate in the thanksgiving servi
ces addresses being made in the morn
ing by Mr.. H. Fl. Benedict and other
officers of the league the sermon being
preached by Bishop Daniel Ayres
Goodsell who will be welcomed with de-
light by the people of the First Metho-
dist church where he was at one time
the beloved pastor. In the evening the
sermon will be delivered by the Rev.
James M. Buckley D. D. editor of the
Christian Advocate. 1t will be a day
to be marked with a white stone in the
annals of Methodism not only in the
grand work accomplished by the Twen-
tieth Century Wesleyan League in this
city but for the fact that this the first
organization of the kind has been the
example for countless others that have
been started all over the land and are
doing magnificent work in raising
money for removing the debts from
churches and thus clearing the way for
their spiritual growth and develop
emnt In this work Mr.. Benedict has
had tireless and most in valuable aid
from Mr.. John r. Manson.
The present Officers of the
Twentieth Century League in New Ha-
ven are: President, Henry H. Bene-
dict; vice-president, John T. Manson;
second vice-president, L. w. Moody;
treasurer, N. A. Fullerton; correspond
ing secretary, P. E. Bowman; recording
secretary, Rev. A. J. Smith. The exec
utive committee is composed of these
officers and one member from each
B. Savage; Trinity church, d. w.
Blakeslee; East Pearl street church, Fl.
A. Stevens, ]. S. Sanford, I'd; Grace A.
Moorhead; Epworth. c. Fl. Plat; Sum-
rnerfield, c.. j. Burnham Howard ave-
nue., Elmer Fl. Parmelee, st. Andrews,
w. G. Bremner; Hamden. J. w. Tai
madge; Westville, Abram Peck; West
Haven, E. A. Richards; German, J. j.
Kraft. The advisory committee COM
prises the following gentlemen: First
church, B. B. Savage w. H. Barthol-
omew; Trinity, j. Do WEIGH, D. W.
Blakeslee; East Pearl, John j. San
ford, I'd, Fl. A. Stevens; Grace, A..
Moorhead, II. M. Tower; Epworth, F.
l.. Wellman, w. 8. Hall; Summerfield,