Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-22
.t,e.


cieties have earnestly begun the work for
the fall and winter, after the summer sea-
son of comparative inactivity. Two events
of particular interest to the Presbyterian
and Baptist denominations in the District
were the meetings of the presbyterian con-
ference and of the Columbia Baptist Asso-
citation.
The presbyterial conference was held I'M
der the auspices of the presbytery of Wash
ington city in the New York Avenue
Church and lasted two days, beginning
Monday and closing Tuesday evening. In
connection with this meeting the annual
devotional service of the presbytery was
also held. The sessions were addressed
by such welI-known Presbyterians as Rev.
DIR. John F. Carson of Brooklyn. Rev. DR..
George Alexander and Mr.. j. Willis Baer
of New York city. In addition to these
speakers, a number of the pastors of local
Presbyterian churches also made addresses
on various phases of Christian work. 1t
is stated that the main purpose OF this
meeting is to arouse greater effort In evan
gelistic work. and the sessions were regard
ed as most helpful to the large number Of
church workers who attended.
The Columbia Baptist Association In
cludes in its membership all the churches
of that denomination in the District. The
meeting of the association convened in
the new Fifth Baptist Church Monday and
twenty-hfth annual meeting of the organi-
cation. and the sessions were attended by
large numbers of the ministers and laity
of the church. Mr. Percy S. Foster of the
First Church was elected moderator of the
association to succeed Mr.. w. S. Shallen-
berger of Calvary Church, and Mr.. S. M.
Yeatman of the Fifth Church was continued
In the position of clerk, which office he has
occupied since the beginning of the Co
lumbia Associat ton. Mr. Waring E Evans
of Calvary Church was reelected treas
urer. Rev. G. C. Coleman delivered the
annual sermon.
Among the most important matters pre-
scented to the association was the report
of the committee on mortgage indebted
ness on Baptist Church property. The
substance of this report was to the effect
that In less than two years the Baptists
of the District have raised sufficient funds
to pay off all the outstanding indebted
ness against the property of the denomina-
tion in Washington, with the exception of
about s.. 900 incumbrance on a church own
ed by the association. The total amount
raised was $4j $40. 1t is considered that
with this Indebtedness provided for the
benefcences of the church will be greatly
enlarged in the coming years. Regarding
the growth of the denomination the report
OF the executive committee shows that
the number of churches in the District has
been Increased almost three-fold in the past
twenty-five years. The present membership
of the denomination in the District is $500.
Among the statistics of the past year, found
in the reports of churches. the following is
shown: Current expenses, including pastors
salaries, s43 2OS.19; for improvement of
church property. $59Si553; estimated value
of church property, S723.a00 For church
extension fund S1S.37S spent, s2,46o for
association, s. S66 for home missions. $3,Si2
for foreign missions, 81 ,S35 for Baptist
Home and $3.50 for other benevolent OBJ
tects. The total contributions of churches
and Sunday schools amounted to Sl41 22I.6S
the total contributions from the Sunday
schools S612O.N6. Thirty-five thousand dol
lars more was raised during the last year
than ever before. The number of baptisms
was the second largest of any year.
A large number of revival meetings are
In progress In the various Methodist
churches of Washington. and the members
Of that denomination have been engaged
with the special evangelistic work occa-
stoned by the meetings. number of
conversions have been reported from sew
eral Of the churches, and the meetings are
regarded successful.
Nearly all the denominations are pre-
pairing for the special services of Thanks
giving day and the work of charity has
been a matter of considerable concern to
many of the church people who have en-
deavored to assist the local charity organi-
cations In providing dinners for the more
unfortunate people Of the city on the day
set apart for general thanksgiving.
The most important business in connec-
ton with the eastern conference OF the
MARYLAND Lutheran synod which was held
recently at Trinity Church. Baltimore,
was a resolution, which was passed, ask
ing that at the next session of the synod
the conference be dismissed with its
charges for the purpose of organizing
new synod. to be known as the synod OF
Washington and Baltimore. The territory
to be embraced will include Baltimore city
and county and the District of Columbia.
The reason for this step( 1t is contended, Is
because of the rapid growth of the present
synod; while. with another synod the
rly a
more expeditiously and better results OBJ
tanned The matter will be discussed at
length at the next meeting of the con-
ference.
In discussing the organization of the pro-
posed new synod with reporter for The
Star, prominent layman of the Lutheran
Church in this city stated that about one
third of the churches in the MARYLAND
synod are to be found in Baltimore, Wash
ington and Baltimore county. These
churches are now comprised in the east
ern conference. According to the church.
man referred to, If the matter of division
IS put to vote. it will likely be defeated,
as a majority of the weaker churches are
outside of the cities and they would prob
ably vote for consolidation. 1t Is stated
that should the new synod be formed the
former synod would experience a notable
decrease in its mission work. inasmuch as
large number of the most influential
churches would be in the new synod.
Mr. George F. Tibbitts, secretary of the
ton, which has its headquarters in the
Bond building In this city, has recently SUBJ
mitted his report to the executive commit
tee on the work accomplished during the
past year. There are four divisions COM
prised IN the interstate organZation-the
states of Maryland. Delaware and West
Virginia and the District of Columbia. The
secretary states that there are tifty-one
associations in this field, divided as follows:
City and town associations, 20; college asso-
Citations 20; railroad associations. s; and
one army, one colored in city and one col
ored college association OF the city asso-
Citations two are in the District of Columbia.
The total membership of the 81 associations
Is over 5000
In the report the secretary says that one
Of the principal efforts put forth during the
past few months has been to bring these
associations into closer fellowship with one
another, and to organize a stronger state
spirit in order TO carry on a more progress
sive campaign in each OF the states. In
Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia sew
eral new associations have been formed
during the past twelve months, and the out
look is considered as encouraging.
Mr.. Tibbitts states that one of the great
est problems to be considered in the work
is the organization of associations in small
towns. He declares that they show consid-
cradle determination in organizing, and that
unless general secretaries can be secured TO
tal ahar pf ha iS hot