The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-13
WITH DINING
ROOM CLASSES
METHoDIsTS BEGIN WORK.
DIAN OUTLINED BY MISSIONARY
PASTOR IN LECTURE LAST NIGHT.

yeaders Will Assemble at Trinity
Church and Discuss TOpic-Win
Then Separate and Go to Different
Homes and Hold Bible CIass-Ep-
worth League Asked to Join in
Movement-Rev. j. A. Smith Tells
oe Good That Has Been Done in
Some of Worst Sections of New
York.
In a lecture of little more than a half
hour in duration, Rev. ]. A. Smith.
missionary pastor of Savannah, last
night outlined the first line of work
which will be undertaken by the Metho-
dists of Savannah in the church ex-
tension movement which they have
instituted. The lecture was deliver
ed before the Epworth League OF
Trinity Methodist Church and many
visitors.
In beginning his lecture, Rev. Mr..
Smith stated that the work which was
10 be- undertaken would gradually grow
and that with this object in view he
had made a study of all lines of the
work. The time at his disposal, how
ever, would not allow of a full dis
cussion of the work contemplated and
therefore he had deemed it best to
discuss only that line of work which
would be first instituted beginning
probably this week. This is what is
known as the Dining Room Bible
Class" In speaking of this work,
Rev. Mr.. Smith said:
Timing Room RihIA CIaSCS ic
line Of work that, by actual eXper-
fence, has been found to be of great
benefit, especially in reaching those who
are not accustomed to church-going.
As this is the great object of the ex-
tension movement, we have deemed it
best to begin with this work, adding
feature to feature, as conditions shall
warrant and as the workmen shall be
found.
study Under Trained Leader.
The Dining Room Bible Class is
conducted in the different homes of
the city by those who have first stud
led the topic under a trained leader.
For this primary study all the workers
will assemble in Trinity Church, or
some other designated place, and the
leading points of the lesson brought
out by a trained Bible student, prob
ably one Of the ministers of the city.
"All Of the workers assembled will
be required to take notes on the sub
ject for their use in the meetings,
which will Immediately follow. This
church meeting will probably last for
half or three-quarters of an hour.
The workers will then separate, and
go TO the designated homes in the city
and hold the meetings.
"A special committee, appointed ex-
pressly for that purpose, will have ar
ranged for the places of holding the
meetings previous ito the leaders meet
ing at the church. Those who live at
the homes will be asked to invite in
their neighbors, and in this way Bible
classes numbering four to thirty can
be easily secured.
Benefits of the Work.
The benefits derived are very
great" continued the speaker, land a
rich reward to the workers. The meet
ings are held principally in the homes
OF shut-ins and others who do not have
the opportunities we have for attending
church services. The blessings of the
Gospel are thus brought home to those
who might otherwise never know them.
To the workers themselves there
are many benefits. They come in closer
touch with the teachings of the Bible,
and by doing good to others do much to
brighten their own lives.
The moral effects in a community
are also great. This is not a theory,
but demonstrated truth, as may be seen
by any one who will visit certain sec
tons of the great cities. Though con-
ditions now existing in New York do
not exist in Savannah, yet we hold
that they will come here,
The tide of immigration is setting
southwark. and the people who made
the conditions in New York will make
them in Savannah, If they are given
time enough. BY our meetings we hope
to offset this effect and at the same
time to do much to uplift all parts of
the city"
In closing, Rev. Mr.. Smith related
the change that has come over Null
merry Bend and Five Points, once two
OF the toughest and most dangerous
sections of all New York, through the
work of the Christian people of the