The Washington herald., 1913-03-14
BRYAN SOUGHT
FOR Bible CLASS
Secretary Of State viii Be Re-
quested to Address Men
Sunday Mornings.
PLAN OF c. E. UNION
Advocates Want Service in Special
Hall Without Regard to Sect
or Creed.

One of the most far-reaching plans
for interdenominational religious work
ever attempted in the District of CO.
lumbia is under immediate contempla-
tion by a number of ministers and lay
men of various denominations in this
| city, under the general direction of the
strong District of Columbia Christia n
Endeavor Union. The plan has been
outlined by President ReXford l..
Holmes, of the local Endeavor Union,
and by several preachers of WELL
known churches.
II has long been a matter of earnest
discussion, but an unsolved problem
nevertheless, among the religious
bodies of the Capital how to interest
| in religious work the hundreds of men.
and especially the young men. who
come from every Stale in the Union to
Washington to enter the government
service and to attend the schools and
evening classes Of the city. Hundreds
of these men never attend any church
or Bible class. and the principals in the
proposed plans believe they should
somehow be interested in the Sunday
school and the church. How to bring
this about has been the perplexing
problem.
Next Saturday afternoon delega-
tion of fifty clergymen and laymen
will call upon the Secretary of State
and lay the needs of the men of Wash
ington before the attention of MIR.
Bryan, who is deeply interested In the
furtherance of religious work among
men. The presentation of the matter
will be made by Rev. Hermon s. Pink
ham. pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist
Church, of this city.
Big Hall to He Used.
Mr.. Pinkham will propose to the con-
of tat
formation of an interdenominational or
undenominational mems Bible class TO
meet on Sunday afternoons in some
large downtown hall, which shall be
known as the Bryan Bible Glass, ana
which shall he taught by the Secretary
of state Following each class ses-
sion. the hundreds of men present Will
be presented with small, card. on
which they will inscribo their names
and addresses, whether 2 Christian. and
the denomination, if aGy, toward which
they have leaning.
These cards win he promptly turned
over to a lar-e committee. composed oi
clergymen and laymen, who will at once
get into touch with the men and invite
ther. to attend some church and men
R.oIe class in church of their preferred
denomina ton and thus To make room for
other men who will wish to enter the
Bryan class.
In this way. according to President
Holmes. the membership Of the class will
be kent down TO about leo. with con-
stantIN growing affiliated roll of those
men who have been members of the class,
hut who have graduated" into churches
and organized mems Bible classes in the
city
Following the presentation of the case
TO the Secretary of State, by the Kew.
DIR. Pinkham, the Rev. Thomas c Mac-
shall. ID. D.. moderator of the FrespS-
terry of Washington, will tell the Secre-
tary of his enthusiastic approval OF the
plan, and will voice the sentiment of the
Washington ministers that the abilities
and magnetism Of Mr.. Bryan are neeoeu
bv the men of the community.
One of the interesting features OF thc
proposed plan will be outlined to Mr..
Rryan by Percy S Foster. lately chair
man of the inaugural music committee,
and well known all over the country as
a leader of convention singing and large
cboruses Mr. Foster has been asked TO
assume the honorary dictatorship OF
large permanent chorus of men. TO act
as a sort of choir for the Bryan Biole
class il the plan is successful. and he VIII
state to Mr.. Bryan his Willingness TO
make this important feature Of the pro-
pOsed class meetings a success great
deal of the actual work of organizing
and drilling the permanenet chorus, now
eyere, will fall upon William E Braltha-
waite. superintendent of the music de-
partment of the Christian EndeaVor
Union, in whom Mr.. Foster has implicit
confidence.
Choicest Easter Flowers and Plants.
Pooling orders now Shaffer. lith N Eye.