The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-02

| New York, April 1.-tSpeclal)-One ol
 the most interesting and important mis-
 sionary meetings of the year has just
 been brought to a successful close in this
 city. It was the Women's National For
 eign Missionary jubilee. Carnegie hall,
 where the eliminating mass meeting was
 held on Friday, was jammed to the doors and more than 4000 women from all sec | tions of the country partook of the lunch- con on Thursday. The session opened with a great missionary pageant at the
 Metropolitan opera house Tuesday. | Women had the entire jubilee in charge
 and foremost among them are, Mrs. | William Butler, Mrs Montgomery and Mrs. Peabody.
 | Mrs Butler is known as the mother | of missions' pioneer missionary. she sailed with her husband pr. Butler, in April, 1856, from Boston to Calcutta, She again went to India in 1906, although then | in her eighty-fifth year, to celebrate the mission jubilee. In spite of her 90 years, | Mrs. Butler recently made an address | of 45 minutes before a great audience. Her home is in Newton Center, Mass, | a suburb of Boston
 | Mrs. Montgomery was really the nov ing force of the jubilee meetings She is the daughter of a Baptist minister, d graduate of Wellesley college, author of
  other books, member of the board or education in Rochester, N. Y., where she lives. ex-president of the State Fedora ton of Women's clubs, an advocate or woman's suffrage and brilliant lecturer on civics and topics of social reform Mrs. Peabody is editor of 'Everyland.' She says: Those who are upinterested in Missions might call 20 enthusiastic women cranks but they won't be likely to think 25O0 are, and what can they say to 25,OOO or 250,00o celebrating together
 The 17.O0O Roman Catholic bishops, monsignori. priests and other clergy in America propose a new gift to the Pope. There has long been Peter pence contributed by all Cathonc peo- ples for the support of the Pope ana his work but that is contrlputloll from the laity. The new glft Is rom
 the clergy, and so far as known ID pc culiar to this country. The archplsh ops will first approve the plan, ana then submit it to the other clergy. date for its collection and remittance has not yet been set The clergy every where declare themselves taNorapie to it. Peters pence from this country grows steadily, as does all contribu- tions to Catholic world missions. me money is used, of course, not slhply for the maintenance of the Vatican al though that requires big sums, but Tor the central administration or the church, the support of cardlnals III the curia and a growing amount or ms sionarv work done by the church ltseit and not for any of the orders. If the nlan of an annual gift from the clergy of America be decided upon, central treas asurer will be chosen and the amount sent in a lump sum.
 Announcement was made today that the National Congress of Religious ilb- erals will be held in this city on April s6 27 and 2S. More than 1000 dele gates from all parts or the country are | expected to attend. The Ssessions will be held in the | Church of the Divine Paternity, In Cen l. | tral Park West, of which the Rev. Dc. Frank O. Hall is pastor; m cooper Union. the Friends meeting house and Temple Emanuel.
 Among the speakers Will De Hehry |I, Stimson and Rabbi Silverman. l The congress meets every two years. | The last gathering was in Philadelphia.
 It is really an outgrowth of the ln- | Iternationa1 Council of Liberal Thlnk CTS. It's main object is the consldera- a- | tion of civic movements. Theological | subjects are not discussed. Unitarians
 comprise large percentage Of US mem
 bership.
 | American Protestant missionary SO cieties at work in Portuguese, Africa have been deeply concerned since the
 recent revolution in Portugal over
 what attitude the new government
 would take toward Protestant mission
 ary societies.
 word has reached the headquarters oi
 inc Methodist board here of an in
 feresting and significant interview hele
 recently in Lisbon. Portugal, between Bishop Joseph c. Hartzell and Dr. Al fonso Costa, minister of justice. ane
 ecclesiastical affairs. and Capt. Axevidt Comes. minister of colonies and marine
 pr. Costa said he wanted it under
 ,tood that the new republican govern ,,,ent lis not anti religious. but is anti
 Jesuit and anti-reactionary He de- c,arcd they propose to give perfect re Iligious liberty to all
 In the government schools all re, lliaious instruction has been prohibited lhut church schools may continue theil l-,vorlx on condition that reports be mad lito she government. This policy will bs followed in Portugafs foreign colonies
 The continuation committee appoint
 cd by the World Missionary confer
 ence in Edinburgh last June will hol' j lis first prolonged session in Englan'
 rom May IS to 20. The committe' consists ois 35 members 10 of them rep , resenting mission boards of Norti 'America Among these are pr. John u