The Washington herald., 1915-05-23
IN THE REALM OF RELIGION


| ings education IL put forward rs the
chief plea.
1t was on octobsr 81, 1911. that Martin
Luther. at that timt the Roman Catho-
lie parish priest Of Wittenberg. nailed
ninety defiant propositions to the door Of
have started the Reformation, and to
have started 1t on far more than reli-
gious lines. Lutherans now figure them
selves to be the largest Protestant body
| in the world. These celebrations are to
take place in the autumn of 1917, the re-
ligious ones on the Sunday nearest to
the exact anniversary date. and the civic
and educational ones on the exact date,
October 81 1t Is held to be none too
early to begin preparations for the big
demonstrations contemplated. In all
cities where Lutheran strength Is at all
great committees are already meeting
regularly. Most general bodies meeting
this spring and summer will be visited
by Lutheran Populations inviting Pres
byterians, Episcopalians and all others
to join in celebrating the anniversary.
The Philadelphia Y. NJ. C. A. opened
four new buildings in 1914 which cost
$4,000 It has now twenty-one centers
In Philadelphia and the neiShboring
Camden and Germantown. including
railroad, university and naval associa-
tons, seaside and country houses. Its
plant valuation is s2,5oo,ooo and member
ship 1874.
Petrograd is said to have a Young
Mems Christian Association of over 1000
members. ranging in age between 16 and
20 years. A recent writer calls II 1.-The
Invest association I've ever seem" He
says that the rooms are packed every
night, and that at the lectures standing
room Is at a premium. He observes that
the long daylight period In the summer
gives special opportunities for outdoor
athletics.
After several months visit in the Unit
ed States, Dr. Walling Clark has return
ed to Rome. leaving New York May Is
by the steamer '.Duca d'Aosta," en- route
to Naples.
The coming session of the General AS
sembly of the Presbyterian Church. at
Rochester. N. Y. will put the official
seal on a proposal for which the women
members and many of the men have
been working for years. says the Pitts
burgh Gazette-Times. It also adds: 1T
means the establishment of an order Of
deaconesses who will undergo the rite of
ordination in the same manner as the
male deacons and elders who have long
been leading figures in the denomina
TONS activities. More than two decades
ago the various presbyteries throughout
the country were asked to vote on the
question. A large majority decided in
the negative. Meantime deaconesses
have been introduced into many congre-
cations. but without official sanction.
Schools have been established for their
trade training and a distinctive garb has
been adopted. Yet in many localities the
Presbyterian deaconesses. unlike their
sisters OF other denominations. have
seemed to exist on sufferance. Now the
overture on deaconesses has passed the
presbyteries almost unanimously. there
being only three dissenting votes. The
the sick. helping the poor, winning re-
cruits for the Sabbath school, befriend-
ing the lonely and assisting the pastor
wherever practicable in his daily work
There are many who believe that the
action to be taken at Rochester will pave
the way for the entrance of Presbyterian
women into a much wider sphere of in
duence in the church. Already there are
women trustees. and the next step will
be their ordination as elders. In view
Of the large share they now bear In the
actual labors and responsibilities of the
denomination. as we'll as their generous
contributions to its financial support and
to the cause Of home and foreign mis-
sions 1t would seem only right that they
be accorded this additional Official rec
ogn&ion. From this position 1t will be
only step to Their ordinations as minis
tiers. following the example of some sis
ter churches"
The Bennett class of the Northminster
Church, Eleventh street
and Rhode Island avenue. held a mems
meeting on Tuesday evening to comment
crate its first year as an organized class
Andrew Wilson. president Of the Anti |
Saloon League Of the District of Column |
bia. delivered a strong address. relating |
some inside facts of liquor problem in the |
District. In addition to other features |
music was rendered by the Sunday school |
orchestra and by the Aeolion male quar- !
tet. The following officers were elected |
for the ensuing year: President Lawr- |
ence Wilson: vice president. c. D. Cor
man; secretary, r. X. Bailey; treasurer. |
Fred Conrad.