The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-07
YEARS WORK OF
MINISTER'S UNION
REV. SMITHS FIRST REPORT.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNION GEL
EBRATED LAST NIGHT.

which Were Held at the Wesley
Monumental Church - Collection
Was Taken Up to Make Up the
Deficit of $500 for the Past Years
Work.
. At Wesley Monumental Church last
night the first anniversary of the
Methodist Ministers Union was cele-
brated with appropriate services, Bish-
op Warren A. Gambler delivering the
address The church was filled to it's
capacity and Bishop Gambler was new
er more enjoyable.
Rev. J. A. Smiths report on the
mission work done during the last year
under the auspices of the Ministers
Union was a feature of the programme
and was as follows:
AS a preparation for the years
work in connection with Trinity
Church and under the direction of the
Methodist Union, l was given the
splendid opportunity, through schol-
arship obtained by DR.. Lambuth, of
spending three months in DR.. Whites
Bible Training School, in New York
city. AS a part of the course of study
special attention was given to all
forms of mission and institutional
church work. In a thriving kinder
garten and weekly stereopticon exhi-
billions some forms of this work were
already being carried on by Dr. Will
liams and a competent corps of help
ers.
Funds Were Lacking.
Considering the lack of sufficient
funds to equip our work thoroughly,
we have much to encourage us over
the results of the years work. On my
return from New York in April, it was
decided to enterprise just those forms
of work not requiring any large finan-
cial obligation. Dining-room Bible
classes were organized in different
sections of the city. About thirty of
these classes in the homes of shut
ins-and points where the unchurched
and unsaved resided have done great
and a good work.
To reach a multitude of boys, many
having but little Gf any home train
ing; to keep them off of the streets;
to furnish them a place of meeting,
where mind, body, and spirit, might
| be improved, a senior and junior
club was organized in the large hall
!, over the Sunday-school room of Trim
ity Church. At present we have a
membership of ITO boys. A small
sized gymnasium has been equipped
two military companies under the di-
rection of two of our consecrated stew
, ards are a part of our efforts to at
tract and reach the boys. At stated
times lectures are given and social
: entertainments are held. By request
2 of the boys DIR. Williams delivered
them a special sermon which was at
tended by a large number of the club
Through this medium many of the
parents have been reached and inter-
ested.
Home Makers Circle.
Assisted by the deaconness, Miss
Rice, and the ladies of the church, a
, Home Makers Circle was organized for
) the purpose of giving instruction and
! lectures to a large class of mothers in
the art of home making, hygiene, care
of the sick, cooking, and the training
of children.
We have been exceedingly fortunate
in securing the services of Miss Sarah
Charlton, who is to give moral and
: physical instructions twice week to
large number of worthy working
: girls. The work of Miss Charlton for
the church in this field will be produce
tive of much good as she has had eX-
perience in this line of effort in other
sections of the country.
The use. of the stereopticon, and the
wisdom of this form of work, has been
abundantly proven by the large au-
diences, which have gathered weekly in
t Trinity Church. Through the eye and
ear the gospel has been brought to
large numbers hitherto unreached by
5 the ordinary church methods. AT
5 these entertainments it is no unusual
thing to have quite a number of He
! brews and Catholics present.
! Through the kindness and liberality
: of a member of Wesley Monumental
i, Church we have been able to conduct
a mission Sunday school and preaching
place on the East Side of the city, in
a section, where it has been greatly
needed. This work is to be moved in
to more commodious quarters, and to
: a point, where at least thirty more
: children will be added to the school.
In this work we have been faithfully
. assisted by Mr.. H. E. Crittenden, a
= member of Wesley Monumental Church.
Success of Tent Services.
Y Realizing the fact that multitudes
were being unreached, untouched and
e ! unsaved by the churches. we purchased
\ a tent seating 500 people. For seven
+ weeks services were conducted under
j the tent. Large congregations gathered
nightly. In the last meeting the tent
: was altogether too small to seat the
l | large egationS-additional seats
e were placed outside-these were quick
= ly filled, and numbers stood each night
( throughout the services. No clap trap
f methods were employed to reach the
S masses. The simple gospel of Christ
L ! was preached. "A cructned Christ, q
e risen Redeemer was held up, and null
G titudes were saved, backsliders reclaim
: ed, and the church testified to an in
Y filling and gracious re-baptism of
the spirit. over sixty applied for MEM
bership i'm the different churches. We
are pleased to report that the collec-
tions covered the expenses of the meet
+ ings.
My pastoral work has not been con-
fined to Trinity Church alone. AS a
: matter of fact, much of my time has
2 been devoted to the unchurched in
!, every section of the city. Calls of
= charity, ministerng to the sick and
e needy, visits to the Jail and hospitals,
talks delivered at the Crittenton Home,
g baptizing children, marrying the liv-
4 ing. and burying the dead, has been
. a part of my labors.
. In closing allow me to record my
q deepest appreciation for the co-opera-
tion of the Methodist ministry, the
= churches and the loyal support Of the
!, Methodist Union. For all the hearts
, cheered, the lives helped, the homes
4 blest, and the souls saved. we gladly
: give the honor and the glory TO the
great Head of the Church who has
called us to this ministry.
Moving of Country People.
n At the conclusion OF the report Rev.
4 Chester introduced Bishop Gambler.
who spoke for nearly an hour In a
pleasing manner. He chose no fexf