The Washington herald., 1913-08-24
RELIGION AND SOCIAL SERVICE
NEWS AND COMMENT.

The election Of officers Of the National
Association OF organists last week al
ocean Grove concluded the annual con-
vention. Officers elected are: DR.. J.
Christopher Marks, of New York, presi-
dent; William C. MacFarlane, assistant
president: Walter N. Waters, West Ho-
boken, secretary; Chester H. Beebe,r OF
Brooklyn. treasurer; Tall Esen Morgan,
musical director, Ocean Grove, national
superintendent
People Of religious faith and Of scien-
tifc study are in an expectant state of
mind over the promise of Sir Oliver
Lodge. president of the British Associa-
ton. to present new evidence IN PROOF OF
immortality in his annual address Sep
tember 10 in London, before that asso-
citation Sir Oliver Lodge maintains that
a truly scientific mind can not stop m
study and research with pure matter and
material forces. He contends that ulti-
mate continuity of existence after death
is essential to science.
The Westminster Version Of the
Sacred Scriptures" is to be undertaken.
the first volume the First and Second
Epistles to the Thessalonisns, TO be is
sued soon. Four volumes of the Testa-
ment are planned for the first group, 10
be followed later by the Old Testament.
The work is to be a careful, critical
translation from original texts in the
light of modern scholarship and recent
discoveries which throw light on obscure
matters in current versions. This work,
il IS announced. has the approval of the
cardinal archbishop and the English hier-
archy Of the Catholic Church. The pub
fishers are Longmans, Green & Co, New
York.
The General Convention of the Univer-
saIist churches is to be held in Chicago
October 22-96. Much interest centers in
the reports that are to be made in re-
gard to the progress made under the new
policy by which a president or superin-
tendent of the whole denomination was
elected. While Universalist churches are
democratic in form of government gen.
eral director of the work of the churches
as a whole indicates tendency toward
a practical modification of the democratic
ideal. if not toward a policy of central
ization. What results have been accom-
plished under this plan will be made
known at the coming convention.
The Daily Vacation Bible Schools of
Philadelphia are about closing the most
successful year in their history in that
city. One Of the famous 'all-day' COM
mencements of the organization was
held yesterday in the Bethany Presby-
terian Church.
More than 500 children attended the
commencement. half of these in the
morning and half in the afternoon. The
number of pupils is so large that they
cannot be comfortably housed in any
church building in the city at the same
time.
For the last five weeks. in more than
seventy different places in Philadelphia,
the schools have been conducted for
several hours each morning. The chill
dren have been taught useful occupa-
tions. such as making hammocks, sew
ing. and other things that will stand
them in good stead later. In addition,
Bible story is instilled into their men,
ories.
The Rev. Charles :. MacfaTland, secre-
tary Of the Federal Council of the
Churches of Christ, has recently issued
his rerort for the first half of the year
1913. in which he points out the work of
the Joint commission on theological SEM
inaries. in preparing recommendations
relative to courses of study on social
and industrial matters, in the designa-
tion Of special Sundays to be devoted to
the various causes. the consideration OF
international relationships between this
country and Japan at the request of
American missionaries, the committee
appointed on the Church and Country
Life with Clifford Pinchot as chair
man; the survey entitled The Country
Church. by the Rev. Charles 0. Gill.
and the religious campaign in COnneC-
tion with the Panama-PaCihc ENpusi-
ton. Resolutions relative to the eN-
Dloitaton OF cOmmerCialized vice at the
exposition are being sent to the au-
thorities from religious bodies all over
the country. DR.. Macfarland goes to the
Pacific Coast in October to initiate the
campaign.