Evening star., 1909-05-15
Epworth Leaguers Celebrate
With Banquet. { N
TWO HUNDRED AT TABLE
All District Chapters Represented at
McKendree Church. = 80
SPEAKERS TELL OF PROGRESS
Work in This City and Throughout
the Country Reviewed in En-
II
tertaining Manner. ~

The most interesting and pleasing event
Of the year in Epworth League circles
took place at McKendree Church last
evening in the banquet given to COM
memorate the twentieth anniversary or
the founding of the league. Over two hum
dred guests sat down to the tables, rep
resenting practically every chapter in the
District The banquet hall was beautiful-
ly decorated, the walls and pillars being
covered with pink roses and other flow
ers. this work, well as the serving OF
the banquet, being In charge OF the young
ladies of the Mckendree Chapter.
The guests assembled In the auditorium
and at o'clock marched down to the
banquet hall. The tables were arranged
in the form of T, with the POSTMASTER
and the speakers at the top.
District Supt j. w. r. Sumwalt was
chosen to act as toastmaster. and kept
every one In the best of humor. After
complimenting the committee on arrange
mentS on their efforts to make the ban.
quet a success he introduced Frank 1.
Israel of McKendree, whose subject was
Our Banquet"
Mr.. Israel spoke in an optimistic vein.
saying that lit has been said. and 1t i5'
well worth repeating, that this Is the
best century of all the centuries: that or
all the decades this Is the best decade.
and of all the years OF the decade this Is
the best, and of all the months of the
year this is the best, and of all the nights
of the month this is the best night"
District Work Reviewed.
Former President j. Finney Engle OF
the District League gave a history of the
Epworth League in the District from its
beginnings under DR.. Woodward and Mr..
Swartzell. when conservation meetings
were held once a month in the different
churches. He told about Mother"
Waugh of Dumbarton. who was a great
found at the meetings, rain or shine.
cold or hot. He reviewed the progress
that was made under Presidents Sites.
Matthews and Tasker. and told of the
mass meetings held under the direction
of Mr.. Pugh, the Y. NJ. {. A. secretary
and first vice president of the District
League, at which every chapter carried
banners.
In conclusion he said: ''I want to give
you toast and a sentiment. The toast Is
to the noble band Of loyal leaguerS who
laid the foundation, firmly planted there
on the superstructure and watched over
the growth with prayer and service. /
wish l had time to name some of them.
Their names are worthy to be placed IN
the Epworth Hall of Fame. Let US hold
up the banner, carry 1t forward manful-
ly and place it upon the highest PIN
nacle."
The Story Of Epworth. ~ /
Mrs. H. b. Moulton was the next speak.
err her topic being "Epworth.' Mrs.
Moulton held the attention OF every one
by the interesting way In which she told
of the founding of the Epworth League.
She said in part: Twenty years ago the
young peoples societies of the Methodist
Church were many and various, but five
Of them had attained sufficient strength
to become noted. One. the Oxford
League, formed by DIR. Vincent and led
by DR.. Huriburt. largely emphasized Int
erary culture. Anoher. the Young Peo-
pies Alliance, laid special stress on the
spiritual life. The other three were the
Young Peoples Christian League, ine
North Ohio Conference Methodist Epis-
copal Alliance" She told of the constant
crossing of lines that there was with SO
many societies. which made the need tor
one organization imperative. Finally a
conference of delegates from all five So
cieties was held in Cleveland to try to
effect a conSS 4dation.
1T seemed Almost impossible, however
to reach an understanding satisfactory to
all. and the Oxford League delegates ask
ed that they be allowed to withdraw, stat
ing that they could not give up their con-
Stitutfon. The delegates from the North
Ohio Alliance followed suit. Consterna-
ton reigned and 1t looked as IL the very
object for which the meeting had been
called was to be failure. But instead Of
adjOurning prayer meeting was held and
reconciliation followed. The delegates OF,
the Oxford League returned and com-'
promise was reached. The constitution OF
the oxford League with a few alterations
was adopted, the colors of the North Ohio
Methodist alliance-red and white-were
adopted and the motto of the Young Peo-
pies Christian League was taken-'Look
Up; Lift Up But the society was with
out name and none could be agreed
upon. Finally that of Wesley League
came forward. The word league seemed
to be unanimous. but what the first name
should be was another matter. The ma
iority voted for the name Wesley
League but no one was really satisfied
with it. Then DR.. Dougherty, who repre-
sented the oxford League. got up and
started to say oxford League and Ep-
worth Hymnar and by slip of the tongue
said 'Epworth League and Oxford Hymn
NAL Immediately the delegate at his side
said to himself, There is the name for our
society' and he made speech recon-
mending 1t and it went through unani-
mously."
Others who spoke were Harry L. Freer.
fourth vice president of the league, on
Activity" Mrs Z. +. Marshall, the sec
ond vice president. on Home Missions;"
Rev. E. c. Powers. pastor OF Brookland
NJ E. Church. on the Live Church., and
William A. Morris, the District president.
who laid particular stress on the eHorts or
the Washington District League to raise
| the debt on the Philippine church.
| Announcement was made of a stereopti-
| con lecture to be given early in June on
The Last Days of Messina," by Prof.
| Roberson A vote of thanks was given
| the committee having the banquet In
! charge and to the members of the Mcken-
dree chapter.
Ia.l.. nAica Of The Star