Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-22
FOR THANK OFFERING
MASS MEETING OF MEN OF THE
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
To Raise Fund as a Testimonial OF
Gratitude for Tricentenary Of
English Christianity.

A mass meeting or the men OF the EpiS-
copal Church In Washington for the pur-
pose of considering the missionary thank
offering to be presented at the general con-
vention in Richmond in 1907 as an express
sion of gratitude for three hundred years
of English Christianity was held last even
ing in Epiphany Protestant Episcopal
Church. Bishop satterlee presided over
the meeting, and seated within the chancel
were Bishop Alexander Mackay-smith of
Philadelphia, Rev DR.. Alfred Harding,
rector of st. Paul's Church; Rev Richard
p, Williams. archdeacon of the diocese of
Washington; Rev. Dr. Randolph McKim.
rector of Epiphany Church, and Rev John
LaMothe, assistant rector of Epiphany
Church. The entire first floor of the edifice
was reserved for men. The ladies were
seated in the spacious galleries.
Bishop Satterlee In opening the meeting
laid particular stress upon the fact that
the meeting was called for the purpose of
considering the thank offering to be made
in Richmond in 1907. He dwelt especially
upon the fact that thanks should be given
for having been born in a Christian coun-
try, and said that the offering was to be
an expression of thanks for Christian civili-
zatiOn. Bishop Satterlee then introduced
Bishop MackaySmith. who made an elo-
quent address, in which he stated that the
movement should awaken great enthusiasm
among the laymen of the church. He
called attention to the fact that the men
of the Methodist faith had raised millions
in a movement in their church, and that
the men of the Episcopal Church should
also raise millions to be presented at the
convention in Richmond in 1907.
Mr.. Randall's Address.
Mr.. ]. Writ Randall of Annapolis. Md,
was next introduced by Bishop Satterlee.
Mr. Randall told of the early history of
the civilization by the English of this
country. which was the beginning of
Anglo-Saxon Christianity in the new
world His address was quite lengthy,
and at the conclusion the speaker told in
graphic style of the early worship of the
Jamestown Colonists and of how they
held services in a tent and holy com
munion on the first day of their arrival.
Mr. George Wharton Pepper of Phila-
delphia was introduced by Bishop Satter-
lee as one of the bright young men OF
the church" He is member of the
Episcopal board of missions in New York
and also a member of the special commit
tee appointed at the general convention
in Boston in 1904 to have charge OF the
thank offering arrangements. He said
that If the men of the church believed in
their hearts that the mission of Christ
was to the whole world they must
feel their own responsibility to bring
about the personal relationship that
Christ desired with every human soul
Continuing, he said: Our interests must
be in the work and our efforts must not
be confined to our own parish or diocese
In conclusion Mr.. Pepper urged those
present to take up the work with vigor
You should take the pledge cards., he
said and it should not be question
with you as to whether you can give, but
as to the amount which you Will give to
aid in the great movement
The Offering taken at the meeting will
be devoted to paying the expenses of the
In
which has been used in the work OF the
movement. Pledge cards were also given
to the men present for their SubScrlp-
tions to the thank offering. The District
committee of the diocese of Washington
Is composed of Rev. DIR. Alfred Harding,
Rev Richard p. Williams, Rev DR.. Ran
dolph McKim, Rev. Arthur ). johns, MI
Arthur s. Browne Mr.. Melville w. RULER,
Mr. William II. Singleton, Mr.. Charles H
Stanley. Mr.. James H. Taylor and Mr..
Charles T Warner, secretary.
Object of Movement.
The primary object of the missionary
thank offering movement is to quicken
among men, d sense of the Importance Of
the church as a factor in national, social
and domestic life and to awaken or to
stimulate in them a feeling of gratitude
for the past and of responsibility for the
future The secondary object of the move
ment is to give to each man an oppor-
tunity to express his gratitude and in some
measure to discharge his responsibility by
uniting in a worthy missionary thank-offer-
ing The offering will be voluntary, and
entirely apart from and in addition to the
annual contribution that each man makes
for missions in the diocese, in this country
and in other lands. The committee appoint
ed at the Boston convention in 1904 to
have charge of the Offering explain in
their appeal that the first duty of the
churchman is to keep the church alive and
growing and to this end each one must
pay his share of the expense, so that each
parish may pay its share. The thank offer
ing is intended to express the measure of
interest and enthusiasm above the level Of
mere financial duty because of the fact
that there is urgent need both at home
and abroad for additions 10 the efforts
of the church.
1t is explained that churches. chapels,
schools and hospitals are greatly needed
and that the men Of the church should
join in the effort to make the thank Of
ering a great one to put into the hands of
the board of missions, over and above the
annual expenses, which would give the
work of the church an impetus such as it
has never had before 1t is explained that
1t IS in the scope of the plan of the
committee for the individual to be at liberty
to indicate building or part of a build
ing or an endowment or some other per-
manent use to which 1t Is desired that the
offering be applied.