The Washington herald., 1912-07-07
IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD

over 1900. As the schools Of the Stats
cannot teach any form Of religion the
challenge to the church Institutes a very
grave problem. Religious education, .
said Commissioner Harris in lss2. ..ha.
almost entirely ceased In our public
schools" and President Strong, Of Kan
sas, speaks of the students attitude IN
the State university az one of "aIoofness
from society and its institutions" This
problem Of the church, the council Is
attempting to face or rather Is endeay-
oring to combine the various activities
which are now in operation into 4 nu-
tual cooperation. The majority Of State
universities are said to be located In
| small towns whose churches are not gen
orally of a type to attract college stu
dents A university pastor says the
gulf between the university and the
mass Of church folk, is far greater than
any chasm between the rural community
and the mass of church folk" and one
has said the strongest preachers in the
country, should be stationed at univer-
sity centers and their salaries met by
| the church at large" The Presbyterians
are reported as about to build a $4,000
| church at State College, Pennsylvania,
10000 OF which has been raised by the
towns people and $1,000 Is being raised
an additional sum of $4,000 to form an
endowment. The Disciples have ive in
| stitutional church enterprises at as many
universities which they call Bible chairs
American Methodism $50 Years Old.
Methodism is getting ready to cele-
brate the one hundred and hftieth an
niversary OF its founding in America.
hut t. L. 81
date. and at odds North and South over
the honor Of priority. Commissions are
to be named at once representing the
Methodists North, South. and Pro-
testant. the three great bodies that are
heirs to the honor of a century and
half ago. These commissions will study
dates and decide upon that for tho cele-
bration. Owing to unusual circum-
stances. II is reckoned fairly certain that
Methodists South will win.
Two Irishmen planted Methodism in
America Both were local preachers,
One worked in the city. the other in
the country. One kept records of his
work, the other did not Philip Embury
was a Palestine Irtshman. That is his
stock came from that part Of Germany
once known as the Palatinate. He be-
gan work in New York. He was helped
by Babara Hicks and others. and the
Methodist Church that he built. called in
that Day a Wesley Chapel. was on the
site Of the present John Street Metho-
DIST Church. Out OF It grew that
church.
The other Irishman was Robert Straw
bridge. He came from Ireland to
Maryland. Whether he began to preach
Immediately upon his arrival or waited
a while. is not definitely known II 1t
was known. the exact date for the forth
coming Methodist celebration could be
more easily fixed He kept no records
that have come down, or few at any
rate. and buildings with which he had
first building was a log house Per-
haps Strawbridge built It himself for he
was by trade a carpenter.
For years a debate Of dates has been
going on among Methodists as to which
OF these Irish Methodist local preachers
first began work The commission now
to be named by the three Methodist
bodies will have to make some deci-
sion. first as to dates and second as TO
celebration.
Having churches in the South. and
this being a question located In part in
the South. MethodIsts North will be
compelled by courtesy to name some
Southern man on their commission Not
having any churches in the North, and
IL not being more of a Northern than
Southern question. Methodists South Will
not need to name any Northern men on
their Commission. The Methodist Pro-
testant went out from Baltimore chiefly
into the South and will. Of course name
members OF their commission who are in
sympathy. presumably. with the Mary
IA MArh0-
dists North are already admitting that
Robert Strawbridge, Irishman, and. not
Philip Embury. German Ir shman, Will
be fixed upon as the pioneer Methodist
Of America. and the Maryland and not
the New York date the one to be cele-
brate..
Whatever the outcome OF the contro-
versy over men and dates, it is settled
that within the next two or three years.
when Methodism will have been estab-
lished IN America a century and half
exactly, Methodists are to have cele-
bration, an offering worthy of the oc-
aston. Already financial gifts toward
various causes are talked OF. and dele
gates to come to America from other
countries. Whether the celebration takes
place In New York or Baltimore depends
upon the decision OF the commissions.
hut II is expected that both cities Will
have some part Methodists OF America
number 100000 actual membership. which
means a popula ton of 100000 to $780,
At