The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-18
.IOBURN A MORTGAGE
Wesley Church to Have Jubilee
RI. Next Month.
A QUESTION OF CHOIR ETHICS
One Big Church Takes Singer from
Another and Relations Are
Strained.

Feb. Is, 16 and II will be three red let
ter days at Wesley M. e. church. the
reddest of which will be Sunday, the 10Th.
On that day the mortgage on the church
property will be burned and the organiza-
ton will have been relieved of $20,500 Of
debt. In recognition of so notable debt
raising, there will be the three days cele-
bration in which the Wesley people will
invite the cooperation Of the liberal
churches, the Reform Jewish congrega-
ton and all the evangelical organlZa-
lions. Special programs are to be ar
ranged for each evening with the larger
and more elaborate services on Sunday.
Wesley church has one of the most Wig
orous and enthusiastic congregations IN
the city. The latter quality is illustrated
in another way than the mortgage rails
ing. For some time, the crowds leaving
the evening service have oVertaXed the
street car service SO seriously that there
has been loud complaint. Beginning to-
morrow evening the street railway COM
pany will put on a special car, which will
be in waiting at $40 p. III.
Bishop Edsall believes it is possible for
one bishop to perform the work Of this
diocese, but in order to do it he must keep
=, interests working in harmony. There
is not apt to be any discord lover the ar
arrangement of Episcopal honors-the
cathedral remains at Faribault, the pro-
cathedral is at st. Paul, and the episco-
pal residence in Minneapolis. This gives
each Of the Episcopalian centers of the
state a fair share Of the episcopal pres
ence and is consequently a strong factor in
maintaining the harmony requisite for
an effective administration of diocesan at
fairs II Bishop Edsall proves himself
the possessor Of the diplomacy indicated
by his arrangements up to date the shad-
to- 10
Just before the big convention Of Bap-
fists in ST. Paul next May, the Baptist
Missionary Magazine, one Of the strongest
of the UNCONVENTIONAL publications, will
devote large, special number to Mime
sofa and the northwest. The larger cities
Of the state will receive special mention
and the article will be devoted to secular
as we'll as religious subjects. To Rev.
G. l.. Morrill, of Chicago avenue church.
Minneapolis, has been assigned the task Of
writing The Religious Status OF Mime
apolis." Those who have known Mr.. Nor
rill since his first residence in Mime
apolis, twelve years ago, will not be sur
prised to see some pretty incisive obser-
Vations in his article.
Conditions are believed to be slightly
strained just at present between two of
the largest Minneapolis churches, both
practically downtown institutions. They
are both of the same denomination. One
he's gone and lured away the others sweet
singer a choir star which Is alleged by
the party Of the second part to have had
an understanding that she was to stay
the year out The church which loses
her Is in much the same frame Of mind
as a housekCeper who has had her best
domestic helper taken away by friend at
higher pay. However. the uses of adj
versity are manifold; the church which
loses It's solOist has made an additional
appropriation for music and is now look
ing for a singer who shall place the choir
on even higher standard than formerly.
These ere prosperous times when every
branch of industry and commerce is fully
occupied and turning a profit. Are the
churches receiving the proportonate
share of the increase? r h 0 u IN a
would like to hear from churchmen on the
subject.