The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09
IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD

| a system, cannot know local needs, and
| that their leadership among the rank
and file Of the membership amounts
practically to nothing at all. The do
| cesar bishop after the manner Of Roman
Catholic and Protestant Episcopal prac-
tice. is favored very generally. it is said.
If such plan be adopted. fully $50 bishops
| would have to be chosen.
Laymen as members Of the annual con-
ferences is the natural outcome Of the
present larger interest in church affairs
of laymen. and there seems little or no OPP
position to the change. But the putting
on of the time limit to pastorates brings
in again a matter that divides Methodist
opinion, and will. If pressed, certainly
bring on lively discussions in the Mime
apolis conference next year. Methodists
had the itinerant system in full down
to 1900. At first ministers changed each
year, then each two years, and finally
there were longer periods allowed. Scan
of men to and from financially strong
churches, while denying them, as was
frequently charged, although perhaps
wrongly, to weak ones.
The ten years since the no limit has
been practiced have shown a few strong
churches, with strong men in their pas
torates, to stay longer than formerly.
buC all OtnefS nave changed ratHer more
frequently than when compelled to
change. Formerly contentment reigned
in many churches. because 1t was known
that at certain period a change could be
made. That change cut off, dissatisfac-
ton has obtained all the time, and prog
ress has been hindered.
Negotiations are on between Metho-
dists North and South, and Methodists
Protestant, to unite and make one big
hO6 nf Arm A
mittee representing all three bodies
meets in Chattanooga within ten days.
Some leaders say these radical changes,
if pressed, will defeat unity plans. Others
say they will help them. Still others,
and among them the New York laymen,
declare they must legislate for their own
necessities. The propositions going into
all conferences will, it is said. excite
wide discussion. with the outcome IN
certain.
A Travelling Missionary Exhibit.
New England is just now alive to an
exhibition of missionary work in home
and foreign fields. 1t is called the
World in Boston," and the world is
to stay there, so to speak, from April
90 to May 20. 1t is missions in the con-
create; an ambitious attempt to portray
in buildings, people, pictures. and per-
everywhere is making to spread Chris
tianity: to show to the supporters of
missions at home conditions under which
the work is done, and some of the sue
cesses achieved. The Boston exhibition
is of interest in other cities. since a
company has been formed that will own
the outfit, and later cooperate with
where. There will be the World in Chi
cago." the World in Cincinnati" the
World in St. Louis
The scale of the Boston exhibition ex-
ceedS even that of London. No fewer
than 10000 persons, trained and cos
TUNED. are to serve in the booths, and
be able intelligently to answer questions
of visitors concerning their countries
and Christian work in them. This vast
number is needed. since all are to be
volunteers. and theX remain only a few
hours each daily.
The choir is to be stupendous in size.
Its number is 2,400 of whom alone LOO
will be sopranos. Some members of the
choir will serve also in the pageant.
This pageant is a musical drama, and
is to be given every afternoon, in a hall
seating 5000. The characters are to act,
and there will be five episodes. The first
will depict the American Indian with a
chiefs lost daughter: the second, in
Africa, Livingstone ministering to a
wounded Arab slave raider: the third,
the Christian Queen of the Sandwich
Islands, who defies and overthrows an
evil goddess at the mouth of a volcanoes
crater: in the fourth there is funeral
pyre for a child wife, in India, and in
the final one a grouping of all, formed
in The shape of a star.
Saturdays are to be children's days,
and there are to be days for each New
England State, days for Baptists and
Methodists. for students, and for many
other classes. The Episcopal Bishop of
Massachusetts is to make the address
declaring the exhibition open, and
speakers are to include Booker T WASH
ington. Mrs. Helen B. Montgomery, of
Rochester. the leader in the recent
Woman's Missionary Jubilee. and Presi-
dent Capen, of the American Board, the
oldest of American missionary societies.
People everywhere are taking interest
in this venture because it covers the
whole missionary problem-the city in
America, missions in America, missions
observation-disclosures it is big, because
it comes at a time when Christian atten-
ton is alert, because ii is to cost many
thousands Of dollars expended in a really
worth while outfit, and because it is
later to be presented in other cities, or
at least centers in America.