The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-04

proyal and cordial appreciation The ur-
gent demand for such trained workers
especially in our growing cities, evidences
the fact, that the measure adopted was
not premature or ill-advised. You may find
it wise, however; so to modify legislation
on that subject as to more rapidly pre-
pare such workers for active service and
place them under the immediate direction
of pastors
Scarrltt Bible and Training School.
The Scarritt Bible and Training school
for missionaries and other Christian
workers, established by the authority of
the general conference, has, during the
fourteen years of its existence, aided i'm
the training of $50 young women. OF the
1865 graduates SO are foreign missionaries.
IS are trained nurses and 3S are In the
home mission field either as missionaries
or deaconesses. Thus nearly all the mis-
sonares in both the foreign and home
work under the auspices of our conse-
Grated women are graduates of the train
ing school There has been steady in
crease alike in it's facilities and its eff
cheney during its entire history. Both as
regards its equipment and its staff of
capable teachers It reflects great credit
on our worthy women who have planned
it and still carry forward its great work.
modate the increased number of students
preparing for the missionary work at
home and abroad, and also as deaconesses
has led to the discontinuance of the nurse
training department and the hospital. The
early opening of the Barnes hospital on
a much larger scale means the contr-
uahce of this important part of the work.
Barnes Hospital.
fs gratifying n he able 10 report
that the large bequest left TO our church
by the late Mr.. Robert A. Barnes of st.
Louis is being administered wisely by
three laymen of our church, under whose
management the fund is now grown to
more than million and a half for the
building and endowment of a great hos
pital. A choice site has been purchased
with frontage Of nearly twelve hundred
feet on Forest Park, on which 1t is con-
templated erecting a thoroughly modern
and well equipped hospital as soon as can
be done with the care needed for SO great
an undertaking. On its completion the
church will be able to extend greatly her
work of usefulness not only in the treat
ment and care of the sick and injured,
but by the encouragement given to origi-
nal research in its well-equipped labora-
tories. A training school for nurses is
to be established in connection with the
Barnes hospital, and under its auspices
will be afforded the best training for
Christian young women who may wish to
devote their lives to minlstering to the
sick and injured Two vacancies in the
board of trustees of the hospital have been
filled recently by the bishop last presiding
over the st. Louis conference under the
terms of Mr.. Barnes will.
Wesley Memorial Hospital.
We note with satisfaction the estab-
lishment of Wesley Memorial hospital in
the city of Atlanta. Valuable property
has been purchased and adapted to hos
ptal purposes at considerable cost, and
the institution most efficiently organized.
The wards have been crowded almost from
the day of opening, demonstrating the
timeliness and wisdom of the enterprise.
Consolidation Of official Papers.
We have noted the growth of a senti-
ment which looks toward the consolidation
of our official newspapers. 1t seems to
be generally accepted as true that the
present number of official papers pub
ished in the connection is larger than
is justified by the conditions of their
fields of patronage. The power and use
fulness of the press in their advocacy
inhere in certain standards and qualities
of excellence which can be reached and
maintainly only when corresponding re-
sources must be found so far as our
church newspapers are concerned. in
large and healthy subscription patronage.
We believe that If the official organs of
the annual conference could be substan-
TALLY reduced and published in COM
manding centers of we'll regulated terri
tories the excellence of each might be
greatly increased and the influence of
the whole vastly augmented. We offer
no suggestion as to how these ends are
to be reached, but commend the matter
to your consideration as one of much
Importance to the church.
FraternaI Messengers.
Acting under authority of the last gen.
eral conference, your bishops appointed
fraternal messengers to bear the greetings
of our church to the general conference
of the Methodist church of Canada, to
the general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and to the Wesleyan
Methodist conference in England. The
Rev. w. b. Murrah, d. D.. was accred-
tied to the Methodist church of Canada,
the Rev. J. C. Kilgo, d. D.. to the Meth
odist Episcopal church and Bishop f. L.
Hoss to the Wesleyan Methodist church.
Their eloquent messages were received
with every mark of cordial appreciation,
and no doubt have contributed much to
strengthen the ties that bind together the
several members of our great eeciesiastf-
cal family.
Christian Unity.
Recent years have wrought a marked
change in the relations of great Christian
denominations toward each other. Eccle-
siastical controversy has given way to
the spirit of Christian unity and catho-
licity. A closer cooperative fellowship
is the universal desire and earnest prayer
All evangelical denominations are pur--
posed to remove as far as possible need
less waste and rivalry.
inter-Church Conference Federation.
During the month of November, 1906
in the city of New York, an inter-church
conference on federation was held, In
which thirty churches with over twenty
millions of communicants. were represent
ed. BY authority of the last general con-
ference delegates from our church had
seats in that body. 1t was held solely
for common counsel, and as an expression
of their oneness in the Lord Jesus Christ
The vast significance of such a conference
cannot yet be fully appreciated.
The dominant note Of the great meeting
was that 1.-THE church,s one foundation
is Jesus Christ. bur Lord" and the ground
of every appeal for a more perfect one
ness was that the world may believe
that thou hast sent me-" Its declared
purpose was more fully to manifest the
essential oneness of the Christian church.
es of America in Jesus Christ as their
divine Lord and Saviour, and to pro-
mote the spirit Of fellowship. service and
corporation among them"
The plan of federation adopted by that
conference will be laid before you for
consideration and proper action.