The Washington herald., 1915-02-12
WORLD TURNING
TO Mission WORK
Harding Explains Pub
lie Interest in Coming
Meeting.
COMMITTEES ARE NAMED
Many Prominent Men Selected to Help
in Preparation for Gathering
February l8.

Rt Rev. Alfred Harding. Bishop OF the
Episcopal Diocese of Washington issued
the following statement Thursday night.
analyzins some of the reasons why all
the Episcopal laymcn and clergy of
Washington are giving and should devote
So much attention to the plans for the
great missionary mass meeting to e
held under the auspices of the Episcopal
churches at Memorial Continental Hall
the night of February IS. Bishop Hard
ing said:
Interest in the cause of missions now
adays is probably prompted by practical
considerations. In this very material age
it is probably true that the practical
argument introduces missionary interest
to the average mind quicker than bare
faith. The laynlan who is interested in
the welfare OF his own parish Is begin
ming to realize that interest confined to
one mere parish is not only selfish and
un-Christian. hut quite unworthy of the
modern mind and inadequate to a lay
mans fun possibilities.
The war in Europe Is promoting the
study of geography and of nations and
peoples. People never get so well dc
quainted as hvhen they are fighting
There is a picture in a recent number OF
an illustrated English newspaper showing
German and English soldiers fraternis-
ing over the barbed wire entanEIements
Thus il is that men even on battIefields
have natural instincts that know no na-
tionaI boundary and a desire for the
friendship Of the world
Committees Named.
The thousands thronging to hear Rev
Mr. Sunday preach. the recent audience
Of 4c0 Chinese students in ChanEsu
thronGng to hear a lecture on the Bible,
with its promises of life. and the interest
of many busy laymen in our own Wash
inEton as to the missionary mass meet
ing. show that the most earnest search
wished for in every heart Is the all-Con
soIinC religion Of Him who said Come
unto me all ye who are weary and heavy
laden.
The men who are working for the mass
meeting represent many OF the churches
in tho city. Bishop Harding called d
committee of some of the reCtors Of the
city to consider the question of speak
rrs. Rev Dr. r. II. McKim. Rev Dr
Roland Cotton Smith. Rev DR.. Herbert
Scott Smith. Rev. &. P. Sparkling, Rev.
G. F. Dudley. Rev. Charles f. Buck. and
Rev. Dr. {. Ernest Smith were on this
committee.
Rcv. &. r Stctson. who was charged
with organizing the meeting. called for
the aid or tho Central Missionary Com
mittee composed of Admiral Stockton.
Byron 5. Adams. Rev. c. L. Buck. Will
lam Waller. and Or Charles DcdeI. A
committee on the cathedral council was
appointed by the bishop. This committee
is composed Of the Rev. Or. Herbert
Scott Smith. Rov. =. r. Sparkling. Rev
6. =. Dudley. Dr. William c. Rives. and
Arthur :. Brown. Mr.. Byron s. Adams
is the secretary and treasurer Of tho com
mittee on the mass meeting. DIR. Charles
Diedel is chairman OF the committee on
tel,
put in charge Of organizatinS the work
of the great choir. with the help Of Will
lam Waller. Admiral Stockton is chair
man Of the committee on general ar
and has as his assistant Mr..
William VI. Levin.