The Washington herald., 1913-02-15
Methodist,

Alarm obtains among Nonconformists
| in England just now over reports OF
! &, 900 losses in number OF Sunday school
! pupils in England last year. Wesleyans
report largest losses. being no less than
L, 100. Baptists. Congregationalists. and
Presbyterians alike fell off. The charge
is made by leaders that Sundy school
lesson helps talk about the Bible instead
Of presenting the Bible itself In short.
so-called higher criticism is charged
with being the largest factor in the
untoward showing.
Methodists in this country, on the other
hand, make a Sunday school showing
for the past four years that breaks ali
recent records. The increase in scholars
last year was 5000 in regular grades,
or, including home and cradle, 259,ooo, so
tnat officers and teachers In Methodist
schools I'm the United states now num-
Der 4212,2oo. Teacher training classes,
started only four years ago. now enroll
II 900 learners. Adult Bible classes. start
cd IN 1909 have lS4.Op members. Sunday
school missionaries, giving all of their
time are now at work in twenty-five
States. New churches in considerable
numbers are growing from these schools.
The plan of residential supervision
by Methodist bishops IL already giving
satisfaction to Methodists in New Hamp-
shire and Vermont. as il has enabled
Bishop Hamilton, of Boston. to give the
two States more Episcopal service within
the past two months than they had en-
jnycd during the interrcgnums Of con-
ference sessions for the preceding four
years.
The Epworth League connected with
the Petworth Methodist Episcopal
Church, Eighth and Shepherd Streets.
held a Iincoln's Birthday celebration on
Wednesday night that was unique. 1t
took the form of a banquet. served by
the ladies of the church, following which
n fine programme Of post-prandiaI toasts
were given. Those who took part were
Rev. b. S. Haywood, d. D., of the Sib-
ley Memorial Hospital: Rev C. L. Wise,
pastor of the Iowa Avenue NJ. L. Church;
Messrs. Thomas Mears. T. B. Ely. Edwin
A. Mooes, Wood Freeman. and F. L. l..
Hitler. Rev. William \. Haggerty, pas
tor OF the church. was POSTMASTER and
emphasized the worth of Lincoln as a
helper Of his fellow-men
DR.. James Shera Montgomery will give
the concluding sermon in the series. "If
! Had My Life TO Live Over" at tho
Metropolitan Memorial Methodist Church
Sunday evening. the special subject being
The Anonymous Workers.
Special Lenter services under the dirac-
tion of the pastor, Rev. Joseph NJ NJ.
Gray. were inaugurated last Tuesday
evening at Hamline Methodist Episcopal
Church. Ninth and r Streets Northwest.
Meetings will be held every Tuesday ;Lni
Thursday night during Lent. The theme
of the pastors discourse next Tuesday
will be Guilt" Thursday night the
topic will be "Chyist's JOY" Services
will be held every evening of Passion
Week. except Saturday Elaborate plans
are being made for the Good Friday
service. The Ham!ine Quartet assisted
by large chorus, under the direction Of
George. V. Blakeney. will give 'The CRU
cifixion.''
Next Friday evening the Epworth
League Of the church will give George
Washington ''T' Darty. programme
Of unusual interest is being arranged for
the occasion.
Several changes have recently been
made in the Hamline Quartet As con-
stituted at present. the personnel in
cludes Miss Merriam MacFail. soprano;
Miss Marian Mccoy, alto; Elijah Kin
sella, bass. ard George V. Blakency.
tenor and director.
The annual luncheon for the benefit of
Sibley Memorial Hospital will be given
in Old Masonic Temple. Ninth and F.
Streets Northwest, next Wednesday,
and Friday, from Z to D, m
are on sale at all of the Metho-
dist Episcopal churches.
Unusual success is being had in the
work at Grace NJ. Z. Church under the
new pastor, Rev. d. Townsend Weaver.