Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-02-20


benediction.
Test night ST. Paul's Church was
filled TO OVERLOOKING with the united
congregations of the eleven Protestant
CHURCHES in Alexandria. Promptly at
the appointed hour the service began;
This service consisted OF the Apostles
Creed and prayers by Rev. I. ?. Phil,
Iips. selection from Scripture by Rev,
William J. Morton; the brnedictiou
was pronounced by Rev. A. ". kudl,
sill. Old, favoritc, and soul-st'rring
hymns, such as Onward, Christian
Soldiers" Jesus shall reign where eI
the sun, ;" All hail the power OF Jesus
Name" Watchman, tell Us Of the
night" and "Blest be the tie that
binds" were joined in heartily by the
congregation.
After the appointed order OF service
Judge ]. X. NJ. Norton, in few ap.
propriate remarks introduced one OF
The sneakers, Hon. James I. Lloyd,
member Of Congress from Missouri.
Mr.. Lloyd has spoken before IN Our
midst hut never to such an advantage.
The subject he chose was appropriate
10 the occasion, The Laymcn." Mr..
Llovd is man prominent in politics,
n leader in his party, who, notwth-
standing the immense amount OF Work
to be done incident to the position he
holds, found time to contribute hrs
part in the service OF Christ.
Rev. Yutaka Minakuchi, OF TOXIC,
Japan, was the second speaker appoint
cd. He is Il very forceful speaker,
and what he told Of the work OF the
Christian Church in the Far East was
listened to attentively, rs he spoke
with q knowledge that comes from
personal observation and experience.
He is a graduate Of the University OF
North Carolina and post graduate OF
Yale, and the subject he selected was
The Urgency and Crisis IN The Ear
East. =
A special feature was the reports OF
the UNCONVENTIONAL meetings. Atthe
supper on Saturday night it was re-
solved that the contributions from the
ten churches he increased from S2,54t
to 50, 500. The men present went
back 10 their respective churches, to
interest the others, and to discuss
among themselves what part OF that
amount they would endcaVer 10 raise
during the coming year.
Judge Norton called for the reports
from the churches alphabetically,
which were rs follows:
Mr.. J. L. Foster for the First Baptist
Church reported that they would raise
$3.50 of the amount.
Mr.. Geo. X. Bender for the Second
Baptist reported that they would try &c
raise $50.
Mr.. II. L. Ramey for Trinity Metho
dist Church said they thought then
share to be $50
Mr.. ]. E. Alexander SAID the Metho
dist Episcopal Church South would
raise SGSS.
Mr.. J. H. Trimyer announced thai
the Methodist Protestant Church
would endeavor to make Sl1O their
contribution.
Mr.. n. S. Grernway of Bethany NJ.
P. Church, said that they would try to
raise $500.
Mr.. w. H. Melchior stased that the
Second Presbyterian Church would IN
crease their already large amount to
81 ,G37.
Mr.. G. !. Boothe reported that
Christ Church would raise $500.
Mr.. T. McCuen Of Grace Church said
that their congregation would endeavor
to raise $125-and Mr.. I. 5. Lambert
stated that st. Paul's would try to con
tribute S400.
Judge Norton then announced tina,
the total amount, according to these
reports, would be S4,0S0 instead oil
50, 54G, which was the amount raised
last year, and upon this announcement
being made the congregation rose as
man and sang the Long Metre Do%o'gy
This was the climax. IS it were, OF the
convention. Nevor before has such q
meeting been held in Alexandria. The
laymen have brought the churches to-
gether as never before in their history.
The clergy OF the church have been
trying for years to find some point on
which they might unite, but without
success 10 any extent, and it has ro-
manned for the laymen to discover 1t.
They went 10 first principles, TO bed
rock, the very command OF the Saviour
foreign missions.
The large congregation was seated
by uShcrs from each OF the eleven
churches.
Another noteworthy feature Of this
service was the fact that the Offering
was taken up by eleven men, one from
each OF the two Baptist churches, the
Lutheran Church. the two Methodist
Episcopal. the two Methodist Protest
ant, the Presbyterian, the three Fro.
testant Episcopal churches. These
men marched down the center aisle
while the congregation was singing the
last verse OF that popular missionary
hymn of John Wesley. From Green
lands Icy Mountains" and as they
presented the offering at the chancel
| rail-, the entire congregation joined in
that hymn OF all the churches, the Long
Metre Doxology.
Such meetings as this show what is
possible when divided Christendom
unites, and under the guidance OF the
Holy Spirit, if followed up, as is plan.
! ned, the results will be beyond ths
comprehension of even the most san
guine.