The Washington herald., 1909-04-22
Ranks Are Largely Increased
as a Result.
NOW LARGEST IN THE CITY
Bible Students of Metropolitan Me-
mortal NJ. z. Church Have Now an
Enrolment of 647 MembeEs-The
whites" Triumph over Reds"
Following Great Final Spurt.

school, and with the VictOrs StrenUoUsly
Iordlng II over the vanGuished, the MEM
bershIp contest Of the Metropolitan Bible
Class came 10 q tumultuous conclusion
in the Metropolitan Memorial Methodist
Episcopal Church last night
The two militant cohorts, the white and
the red. were lined in fighting array op-
posite each other in the church audi
torium. After FIVE months OF the most
spirited warfare the contestants were Oh
the qui- -vive 10 hear the result and after
many tantalizing delays, It was an
nounced amid an explosion OF cheers and
hand-clapping.
Victory Was Narrow.
The whites" won by the na-rowest
margin. Their victory was due 10 a
final spurt IN the last few days Of cam
paigning. The final score. by points. was
given as 3S57 for the whites and 5.7S4
for their doughty opponents. These total
scores comprised the results Of the at
tendance and the gaining-new-membe
divisions.
In the attendance fight the whites"
won out by the barest lead. making I.7S7
points TO the reds lisa points. They
cIinched their victory with superior
strategy in the membership fight. for in
this they made 2I70 points, while the
reds were content with an even 20a0
With both sides unbroken IN their con-
hdence and optimism until the decision
was given. the whites" gave vent 10
their feelings with cheers for themselves.
tributes to their leaders, and consoiatOry
songs for their enemies. we lost be-
cause we lost" was favorite form OF
affectionate reference to the enemy. and
team songs OF the 'rah. rah order
rent the circUmambieut atmosphere.
The leaders OF the whites was Miss
Margaret Hull. and as recognition OF her
hard and undinching work. she was pre-
sented with a gold class pin by the rank
and f1Ie OF her team. and with a shower
bouquet Of carnations Mrs :. c. BTin-
ley. the leader Of the defeated reds.
was also given ample evidence Of the
loyalty and affection Of her cohorts. She
was presented with a large framed pic
ture Of the class. and with a bouquet
Of re1 carnations
T5e growth OF the class. spurred and
stimulated by the contest. has been re-
markable- It has now reached the un-
pr1cedented number Of 647. and the at
tendance last Sunday was 432. compelling
the director TO forsake the large and
spacious Sunday school room and conduA
meetings in the church auditorium
Now Largest Glass.
The Metropolitan Bible class is now by
far the largest in Washington. It's only
rival being tfe Vaughn class, OF The Cal
vary Baptist Church. II is composed ex-
clasively Of adults. and although It has
had an active career Of eight years. the
determination 10 expand was made re-
Gently. and the canvass has exceeded the
rOSiest anticipation OF its leaders There
have been 22I accessiOns since March !.
and of these 103 were enrolled last sun
day
How we won" was told by Burton
Clark one OF the white leaders. and
H. 2. Durham spoke for their opponents.
Harry g ObeThOlZeT. as director OF the
class. reCOnciled the warning interests
with his facetiOus celebrations with the
vfctoTs and his mock coincidence with the
vanquished- He urged all 10 enter upon
a period OF united activity, for the larger
interests Of the class 70 work together
for a common end. Having gained the
largest Bible class membership in the
Capital, the leaders are ambitious 10
reach out for further conQuesJS-
Miss Ida Campbell was hrst lieutenant
on the white side. ard Miss Aida Cob
lentz for the red The wind-Up OF the
contest was marked hy an enjoyable lit
erary and musical programme Mrs d
Olin LeeCh. Joseph Merrick- and Miss
Laura COllisOn sang favorite songs IN a
charming manner and ". ". Milan gave
a reading from Meredith's Lucille"
Congratulations offered
A sextet Of the whites" presented a
brief dramatic burlesque dealing with
features Of the contest. Brief remarks
were made by ". ". Milan. superin-
tendent Of the District Sunday School
Association. in which he extended his
hearty congratulations. Luncheon was
the concluding feature OF the event