The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-05-11
LArMEN FOR CHURCH WORN.
First commencement Of New School Many
Men Are Interested.

First commencement Of New school Many
Men Are Interested.
In Christ Church, Broadway and Seventy
first street, occurred last night the COM
mencement Of a school which is unlike any
other school in America or England, 1t
il the Church Workers Commons and was
begun last January, somewhat as an eI-
pertinent. The exercises last night and
the report accompanying them showed a
success beyond the expectations OF the
projectors.
The Rev. DR.. George F, Nelson, arch
deacon Of New York, presided and adj
dresses we're made by laymen from the
school. There we're present delegations
from parishes and missions in Bronx bor-
ough and friends Of Episcopal Church
extension in New York. The rector Of
Christ Church, the Rev. George Alex,
Strong, spoke also and said that the in
fuence Of the school has been considerable
upon the members Of Christ parish.
The commons il unique in its assumption
that there are business men in New York
who after working all the week stand ready
TO 90 on Sundays and perhaps on a week
night or two and conduct religious services
I'M missions too weak as yet TO AFFORD the
services Of ordained men; that there are
men also who are DESTROYS OF speaking
and able to speak upon missionary work
before mems clubs and at parlor meetings,
even il they have never been 10 Japan or
Alaska or other mission fields about which
they presume to tell others. No pay Ia
offered To these men for their work. They
are required TO pay their own car fares
and often to contribute to causes they
might not otherwise he compelled 70 help'
The commencement of the school last
night showed that there are such men in
steadily increasing numbers, The school
is confined to the Episcopal Church. For
its initial year more than twenty men en-
rolled as students besides an equal numher
of women, or a trial enrolment OF fifty
eight. instruction was given in mission
class teaching, in Sunday school superin-
tendence, in the raising Of money for chart
table purposes, in the preparation OF ad-
dresses and their delivery and in the reading
Of the prayer book service.
The outcome Of this first attempt at such
school il a new organization OF laymen IN
sersey City, formed by men who came
10 New YORK to attend the school and vent
back home TO get other men 10 work there;
the providing OF men TO start two more
Episcopal missions in Bronx borough;
one man 10 take the place Of a Clergyman Of
Westohester county this summer, the placing
Of two volunteer laymen upon the stan
Of Christ Church, and the furnishing OF a
number Of other men 70 parish rectors OF
Manhattan and The Bronx 10 work at what
ever the rectors direct. A number OF mis-.
sion study classes are 10 be started, and
some Of the graduates will form the nuoleus
Of a speaker bureau to give information
concerning the missionary work OF the
Church In New York, In the West and In all
the world.
The plan isto reopen the school In October
and TO add new features to II, including
Bible instruction for teachers. The faculty
OF the school has consisted In part OF clergy
and in part Of laymen. In London there
il a school for the instruction OF men who
are 10 go upon stats Of parishes, to take
the places OF minor clergy and to receive
salaries, but this New York school Is the
first In this or any other country, so far
as known, TO instruct men not ministers
and not aiming to become ministers how
to work, and yet expecting them TO receive
no pay In any form. Enrolment for next
October's session OF the Commons has
already begun.