Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
OUTHERN CAMPAIGN
LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERS PLAN
MING WORK.

Members of the Congregational. United
Brethren and Methodist Protestant denomi-
nations in the District of Columbia, OF
whom there is large number, are pTepar-
ing. church organizations, to take part
along with their sister churches in other
cities of the north and west in grand
southern campaign. The movement is really
confined at present to the Congregational
Church but on account OF the intimacy
which has developed between the three de
nominations result of discussion OF
their proposed union the work will be sup
ported IN large measure by the other two.
Indeed. the consolidation may he conSum-
mated before the campaign to win the south
is well under way by the CougregationaliSts.
Rev DR.. S. NJ. Newman, pastor of the
First Congrcga tional Church of this city,
and one Of the prom nent min stors OF the
church at large, VIII represent NaShlng-
ton at the great Southern Congregational
congress, which was opened yesterday even
ing in the Central Congregational Church
of Atlanta, Ga, with addresses by Govern
or Terrell of Georgia, Ex-Governor Northern
and Others, Mr.. Newman IS trustee of
the Atlanta theological Seminary, the only
institution of the kind Of any denomination
in Georgia, Alabama anG Florida. He viii
address the congress Thursday evening on
THE Spiritual MSSiOn of ConSrega tlGnal
ism Today he will preach the dedicatory
sermon in connection with the formal set
ing ASIDE OF the new central 0lufcn 10 the
Worship of God.
Before leaving this city 10 go south DIR.
Newman in conversation with a reporter
for The Star outlined briefly the purpose
and plans of the congress now in session.
He said CongregationaliSts believe they
have found field in this part of the south
in which their denomination can gain an al
most unprecedented increase in membership.
The very fact, he said that there are no
UNCONVENTIONAL educational institutions in
the states mentioned. except the COngrega-
tional seminary at Atlanta, is evidence of
the fact that the other churches of the
United States have neglected this field in
their efforts to spread the scope of their
work.
He regards Georgia as the "empire state
of the south" and believes that this con-
gress will awaken interest that will spread
throughout the section and give a great i'm
petus to the work OF his church.
At the congress in the week that opens
today every phase of the situation will be
discussed and carefully pondered In con-
Sultaton with the Congrega tional ministers
will be prominent members of the United
Brethren and Methodist Protestant church
es, including Rev. DR.. Washington GLADDEN.
of Columbus, Ohio, member of the United
Brethren committee on church union, and
Rev. DR.. F. T Tagg of Baltimore Md, ed
itor of one of the most important Meth
odist Protestant publications and president
of the last national convention of this de-
nomination. The whole of next Friday will
be devoted to the subject of church union
and the ways by which the south may be
won by concerted effort.
States Cooperating.
The following states are cooperating in
the gathering: Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky,
West Virginia and Missouri. 1t is the first
congress of this nature ever held in the
south. OF course all Congregat ional, Unit
ed Brethren and Methodist Protestant pas
tors have been invited TO be present, wheth-
er they reside this section or not. The
churches in the states named are supposed
to have sent at least one delegate Large
delegations We're desired The General Asso-
citation OF Florida and the southeast is hold
ing its convention in connection with the
congress.
Rev. DR.. Frank E. Jenkins, a well-known
minister of the Congrega tional Church, has
had the following to say of the conditions
in Georgia:
Georgia alone is larger than the six New
England states with the> upper half of the
northernmost county Of Maine clipped off.
Its famous city of Atlanta is the center of
the new south the source of It's strongest
impulses. There are four Congregational
Church organizations in Atlanta and only
six others in the larger centers.
Hundreds of communities in this state
need our work and scores of them are
eagerly calling for II. ongregationalists
have worked on the negro problem as no
other body of Christians have done. They
have given the negroes better schools than
the whites have had 1t has been a noble
work with serious defect. We have failed
to emphasize the need and possibilities of
work among the whites. Our work along
old lines only will lead TO jealousy. con-
troversy, and final disaster To our good
work for the colored race we are called to
add equally good work for the white race
surely as well worth saving as the other.
Only thus can we safely elevate the negro
and really solve the negro problem.