Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09

Historically January is the month for
church revivals. 1t is generally the time
when 4 definite effort is made in the
Methodist Church to develop special re-
ligious interest, and through the week or
prayer and other agencies it has come to
be regarded as a season of special work by
all the evangelical churches.
In regard to the origin of the custom Rev.
DR.. Wallace Radcliffe, pastor OF the new
York Avenue Presbyterian Church, reiateo
a bit of church history to a reporter OF The
Star. He said the movement started from
an appeal for prayer in 1856 by Foreign
missionaries In India. The opening season
of the year soon came to be observed as
one of prayer by almost all OF the CHRIS
tan churches in this country and In Eng
land, and foreign missions was the par
ticular object tor supplication. The Evan
gelical Alliance of the world has Tor many
years given out topics and general dlrec-
tons for the services from its headquarters
In London and New York. OF recent years,
however, the week of prayer and revival.
while IL has retained its essential character
istics has ceased to be devoted to missions,
and has in large measure passed from a
general UNCONVENTIONAL and tnterdenomina-
uonal movement to one undertaken by IN
dividual church congregation The Epis-
copal Church has almost entirely given up
the custom. But it Is still generally true
to say that all the evangelical churches OF
idea. The Evangelical Alliance of the
World still issues It's plans at the beginning
of each year, but these are by no means
followed by all the churches that observe
the custom. Each church in its own way
and often through its sub-organizations en-
dsavors to awaken new interest in the
GOSPEL Of Christ and the spiritual life.
The evangelical churches in this city
have nearly all held special services every
day this week. AS reported in The Star
several days ago. the Methodist Episcopal
churches are holding series of union re-
vfval meetings to last two weeks. This
week they have been held in Wesley Chapel,
corner o; 5th and F streets northwest;
next week the services will be In Hamline
Church. corner of 9th and F streets. Rev.
c. M. Boswell. Philadelphia evangelist, is
conducting the movement for this denomi-
nation in Washir gton.
The Presbyterian, Congregational. Bap,
Lutheran churches have nearly all beld
special services this week. There have been
womens meetings each morning in the
First Congr egational Church.
1t Is expected that as a result of the
meetings the membership of the churches
will be greatly augmented.
Similar services are being held all over
thu country at this time. A campaign has
been undertaken by the presoytery of
New York which promises to be very sue
cossful. In some instances the meetings
case Of the Methodist Episcopal meetings
in this city. While active interest remains
In the various movements it Is likely they
will be prolonged
The Womans Christian Temperance
Union has arranged to hold a public meet
Ing in the First Congregational Church.
corner of 10th and G streets northwest, at
o'clock tomorrow afternoon. The topic for
the meeting will be Late Victories for Our
Cause" There will be addresses by Mrs.
Margaret Dye Ellis and Others and rnu-
steal program will be rendered. Mrs. Ellis
Is the superintendent of the legisla tive de-
partment of the union.
According to the Church Economist the
missionaries of the evangelical denomina-
lions in japan have been preparing for
some time hymn book in Japanese that
may be used in common among them The
compilation includes about $50 hymns that
experience has shown to be of special value
In missionary work. The announcement
was made that the book, which is printed in
Japan: was to appear October 81. Such q
compilation this would be regarded as
interesting both because it will show what
hymns an lnterdeno:ninational committee
will agree upon as peculiarly we'll suited to
missionary needs, and also because 1t will
exhibit the essentially undenorninat ional
quality of the really good hymns. 1t is very
generally considered that the authorship of
such hymns takes wide range in sectarian
connections.
The primary Sunday School Teachers
Union, whose headquarters are in the Wo-
mems Christian Temperance Union building
90 9th street northwest, has issued a pro-
gram of its meetings for the next month.
At the sessions on the following dates from
40 to 5:15 O'Clock in the afternoon the
study of the lesson will be conducted by the
following ladies: January 8, Mrs. 8. r.
Reeves; January Is. Mrs. Washington Top
ham; January o. Mrs e. G. Graham; jan
uary %. Mrs. Vena Wells. A teacher-train-
ing class, conducted by Mrs. Wilbur F.
Crafts, will precede the regular meeting of
the union each Friday afternoon from $40
to 4:10 o'clock. Teachers of classes of all
grades have been asked to attend the latter
meetings
At each session of the Primary Teachers
Union, after the lesson ten minutes will be
devoted to the Beginners Course Lesson"
The next regular quarterly evening meet
ing of the union will be held Friday, Feb
ruary 5. The president is Mrs. Weston
Flint and the secretary Mrs. Washington
Topham.
The finance committee on the Methodist
Episcopal union revival services has
ranged for a meeting at the Office of men,
Der of the committee Mr.. c. w. F. Swart-
zell. 916 F street northwest. this evening at
T:30 o'clock. The other members are A. B.
Browne, w. T. Galiher DR. Richard Kings
man, Maurice Otterback and Frank Israel.
Rev. James D. Buhrer, the new pastor Of
the First Reformed German Lutheran
Church, corner of 9th and n streets north
west arrived in this city Wednesday even
ing, with his wife and two children. HIS in
troductory service will be held tomorrow
morning at II o clock.
Mr.. Buhrer will occupy the pulpit left va
cant in the summer by the death of Rev.
Gustav Facius, who was for many years
the able and beloved leader of this con-