The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-27
The INITIAL MOVE
FOR METHODIST CHURCH EXTEN-
SION TO BE TUESDAY NIGHT.
A METHODIST BROTHERHOOD
WILL BE FORMED OF PASTORS AND
OFFICIAL CHURCH MEMBERS.

sionary PastOr-WOrk Will Now
BE Pushed to Rapid COnsumma-
tiOn-SeveraI Plans Suggested for
Carrying on the Work In Savan-
nah-PrcparatOry Services in All
Methodist Churches.
The first move in the establishment
of the Methodist Missionary and In
made Tuesday night. Rev. T. d. Ellis,
presiding elder of the Savannah Dis
! trict has issued a call for a meeting at
Trinity Church, when the first step
! toward organization will be taken.
The meeting is called for o'clock.
Rev Mr.. Ellis yesterday sent out
| cards to all the Methodist ministers
in the city asking them to assemble
at Trinity Church on Tuesday night.
! Similar cards were also sent to all the
official members of the four churches
asking them to be present at the meet
| ing. The initial move in the missionary
campaign will be the organization of
| q Methodist Brotherhood, the order
being composed of all the Methodist
ministers and official members of the
church in Savannah.
The brotherhood viii decide upon a
regular time for holding meetings
where plans can be discussed, and the
advantages, and disadvantages of some
of the systems now in use in other
cities brought out. 1t is hoped in this
way, through the hearty cooperation
of those who have been actively en-
gagged in church work for some time.
to arrive at the plan of campaign and
the methods of work best adapted to
Savannah
| The social side of the Brotherhood
will also be given great prominence
and every effort made. to bring the Of
ficers and ministers of the four Meth
odist churches in Savannah into even.
closer relations than now exist. Every
session of the brotherhood win be made
business, social. and intellectual
meeting combined, and it is hoped that
in this way much good can be derived
for the work. The Brotherhood will
also take steps looking to the support
of the missionary pastor and will act
as his official board.
missionary Movement to Be Pushed.
The missionary and institutional
movement will be rapidly pushed for
ward from this time. During his last
visit to Sava nnah Rev. Mr.. Ellis was
given complete information concerning
the funds at the disposal of the board
which is to have control of the work,
of the interest that is being display
ed of the plans which are being
considered, and all the details of the
work as far as it has yet advanced.
He will make a complete report to the
bishop at the meeting of conference
in November. and the definite steps
toward selecting a missionary pastor
will then be taken.
Rev. j. A. Smith. who has been offer
ed the missionary pastorate, has not
made public his decision as to whether
ne Will accept or not. but he Will for
ward his answer to the presiding elder
| in few days. The answer will then
| be forwarded to the bishop exercising
| jurisdiction over the Savannah district
and he will act upon the appointment
of a missionary pastor. There is lit
| tie doubt, but that the bishop will
appoint Rev. Mr.. Smith, if he should
accept the offer of the place.
Tent for Missionary Pastor.
One of the plans that has been sug-
| gested in the informal discussion of
the movement thus far has been the
| use OF the tent method" for holding
meetings. If this plan should be
adopted the missionary pastor would
| nave large tent, easily moved which
| could be quickly erected in the partic-
ular section of the city where a series
| OF meeting were to be held When the
work was carried into another section
the tent would be removed to the de-
| inFR " 1t
| TINS plan is that the headquarters of
the work can then be established near
| the center of the district in which the
work is being carried on.
| While on his trip to Washington and
! Baltimore for the purpose of studying
the methods in vogue there, Rev. Mr..
Smith found that the open air meet
ing were enjoying great success. A
| good choir is selected and they, ac-
companied by the pastor, hold an open
air service in one of the city parks or
| in suitable locations near the city
limits Large numbers will attend
| these open air meetings who would not
go to church service.
| The open air meeting plan has met
with much favorable comment among
| those to whom it has been preached
here. The climate in Savannah is
such that for by far the greater part
of the year meetings could be held in
| the open air. During the warmer
months they could not be held under
any other circumstances and draw
large congregations. 1t may be that
this plan will be the one adopted here
as the principal method of carrying on
the work from the strictly religious
standpoint.
The entertainments will be of vary
ing natures, though just what will be
| used has not yet been decided upon at
| this stage. 1t is certain, however, that
! stereopticon will play a great part in
| the entertainment feature. The stere-
J opticon now used in the Wednesday
| night entertainments at Trinity
| Church will be placed at the disposal
of the board controlling the work.
Revival Work Has Been started.
Revivals have been started in most
of the churches in preparation for the
real missionary campaign, and all the
pastors OF the city are delivering spec
| ial sermons. Rev. c. A Jackson of
the Grace Church will deliver two
special sermons to-day to the older
people. AT the Epworth Church the
revival services will open tonight and
a special sermon will be preached by
Rev j. A. Smith. At the Wesley
| Monumental Church the revival serv-
ices held every Sunday evening are
| still in progress and special sermons
10 young people are being preached
! by Rev. II. G. Christian. At Trinity
Church Welcome Sunday will be
observed and special sermon to the