The Washington herald., 1912-10-20
LONDON LAYllAN
GIVES NETH0pISTS
A WORLD CENTER

Sir Robert PERKS. probably the focs-
most Methodist iayman in the world,
has. % far attained hts .sssat amhition
a. to be able to open the Methodist
Church House In London. This houss
occupies tho site Of the old London
Aquarium, and 10 the center for world
Methodism. Much emphasis 10 laid By
Nethodists upon the fact that n -is--a
close ,nelghbor 10 Westminster Alb
hey and Westminster Church House. ths
world center Of the Anglican eommun-
ion. In some respects Hsthodists sur.
pass both Abbey and Church House.
while dissenters. have headquarters a
advantageous as the best.
II was Sir Robert who made this
great Methodist world center possible.
Fresh from his sUccess at raising 1000.
900 guineas from 10000 Methodists. he
proposed this Church House. The Eng
liah Wesleyans were aghast. not merely
at the expense to Be incurred. but also
At the boldness Of Nonconformist body
ventufing into Westminster's exclusive
preserves. The most consecrated fol-
lower Of John Wesley never dared to
his private resources, put up &lo0.0 .00t
for the site. and then appealed to Wes-
leyans Of England and Methodists In
America to come to his support. The
balance Of the purchase money for the
site was raised and Methodists owned
the most strategic site in the world for
such headquarters Houses OF Parlia-
ment are q stones throw distant II ia
the center Of the world Of political, re-
lieious. and literary affairs. as the
small square in front Of the Mansion
House IL the center Of the worlds finan-
cial affairs.
During the past decade and a halt
English Wesleyans have put into sue
cessful operation a series of halls. So
called. in Birmingham. Manchester. and
other principal provincial cities, which
are Wesleyan headquarters from which
Methodism is helped. They are build
ings containing great meeting places.
and headquarters for women's work.
mems work and social work for the
poor. In these several centers great
clubs have been organized. Especially
influential are the clubs OF Methodist
women These take UP not merely Chris
tian but social. political. prison and 9TH
er reform. and more and moro are in
fluential throughout the kingdom.
Carrying out the ideas Of Sir Robert.
the London Hall II the greatest of the
headquarters in II. designed and built by
English Wesleyan women, are for the
Methodist women Of the world. Social
features. such as Christian women Of
America have not yet ventured on. are
Incorporated In the new Methodist head
quarters in Westminster. The house it.
self Is not fully completed. although
opened. The hall. its central feature. is
the part now dedicated. American -wom-
en- are especially invited to make use OF
the accommodations when visiting Eng
land.
Not content with conqussts in England.
Sir Robert has repeatedly visited Ameti-
ca and urged some OF his ideas upon
American Methodists. He wants a SINH
lar Methodist headquarters in New York.
cooperating with the one in England.
and he desires American Methodists to
have part in his brotherhood by which
Methodists of the world help each other.
in whatever land they are. He desires
Methodists Of all principal American
cities to take up the system Of lay
preachers SO successful in England. and
Methodists here have given the matter
some attention. The new hall in Lon
don. the neighbor of Westminster Alb
hey. is constructed OF stone, in Tudor
period architecture. and compares with
the best traditions of England in all re-
spects.