The Washington herald., 1915-10-17

blShOp Earl STdnstOn, Oh tnis CITY, coy
of washington's contribution to the fund
of s15.oo0OoO which Methodists propose
to secure for the benefit Of retired min
isters and their widows:
1T is our purpose to give minister
when he has retired. sort of pension
for the effective work he has done. II
is our aim that each one of our retired
ministers shall receive SIS for each eff.
fective year of service. and for the
carrying out of that purpose. the Metz
odist Episcopal Church of the United
States requires a fund of slo.o0o.0oo. The
Baltimore conference has been asked to
give $500. 900 to this fund and the share
OF the Washington district is $4,000
Although it has been made a fund for
the benefit of the ministers. they will
not be curbed if they desire to con-
tribute. In fact, we expect that the
ministers will make up 10 per cent OF
the entire fund and the ministers OF
the Washington district alone will be
asked to contribute 5000. With thirty
five ministers. this means more than $2ot
from each one"
Today is being observed in Protestan
Episcopal churches as a day of inter-
cession in the interest OF religious edu-
cation. The synod of the province OF
Washington at its last meeting COM
mended the plan of days of intercession
and the board of education is working
with the approval of the synod.
An attractive leaflet has been. issued
by Rev. S. L. Mitman. Phi. D.. field Sec
retary of the provincial board of educa-
tion. 1t contains a call for all to re-
member "the all-embracing work Of re-
ligious education and to give such CO.
operation as will cause rectors and
parishes to make the best use of these
special days and vitalize the interest OF
every member. This leaflet presents
topics and suggestions for addresses and
interceSsion. They are arranged for
three days. il being hoped that the
Sundays. October Il and "a and one
weekday will be devoted to the OBJ
servance.
While the attention of the province is
cial board will try to ascertain the num-
ber of boys and men in the province
looking towards the ministry. This will
be the first attempt. on any considerable
scale. to discover how far the resources
of the church today are being directed
towards a sufficient and well-trained
ministry. The Rev. Frederic Gardiner.
L. H. D.. 421 Price street. Germantown.
Pa, is chairman of the committee hav-
ing this investigation in charge. He
has sent to eevry rector a blank request
ing certain facts: The names of all pos
sible candidates. the state Of present
preparation. the form of religious life
work for which the candidate is best
adapted. his financial ability. and atti-
tude of parents.
Such an investigation will reveal the
comparative weakness and strength in
recruiting activity of the church for the
ministry.
An address by President Wilson on
John Wesley. the founder of Methodisnl.
delivered twelve years ago on the occa
sion of the bi-centenary celebration at
Wesleyan University. Is reprinted in
tho Christian Advocate. Concerning the
method used by the great organizer the
then president of Princeton asid:
There is a deep fascination in this
mystery of what one man may do to
change the face of his age. John Wes-
ley. We have had reason to say. planned
TO reform. premeditated no revivification
Of society: his was simply the work of
an efficient conviction. How far he was
himself a product of the century which
H." revived it wer a futile piece of meta
physics to inquire. That even his con-
Victions were born of his age may go
without saying: they are born in us also
l'v !. study of his age. and no century
listens TO voice out of another-least
of all out of n century vet to come. What
is important for US is the method and
cause Of John Wesley's success His
lN"thod WAS as simple the object he
lad in vicT. He wanted to get at men,
and he went directly to them. not so
InICh like priest as like a fellow man,
standing in a like need with themselves.
And the cause of his success? Genius.
no doubt. and the gifts of a leader of
men. but also something less singular.
though perhaps not less indivdual-a
clear conviction of revealed truth and
of its power to save. Neither men nor
society can he saved bv opinions: moth
ing has power to prevail but the convic-
tion which commands. not the mind
merely. but the will and the whole spirit
as well. 1t is this. and this only. that
akes one spirit the master of others.
and no man need fear to use his convic-
tion in any age. 1t will not fail Of its
power Its magic has no sorcery of
words. no trick of personal magnetism
1t concentrates personality as if into
single element of sheer force and trans
forms conduct into life
John Wesleys place in history is the
place or the evangelist who Is also
master of affairs. The evangelization of
the world will always be the road to
fame and power. but only to those who
lake it seeking. not these things. but
The kingdom of God; and if the evan
Selist be what John Wesley was. a man
noised in spirit. deeply conversant with
he natures of his fellowmen. studious of
The truth. sober to think. prompt and vet
not rash TO act. apt to speak without
'Xcitement and vet with keen power
II conviction. he can do for another age
what John Wesley did for the eighteenth
'"nturN. His age was singular in its
need. as he was singular in his gifts
md power. The eighteenth century cried |
put for deliverance and light. and God
nad prepared this man to show again |
he might and the blessing of His SAL |
'ation.
The executors of the will of Mrs. John
D Rockefeller have paid S1onO 900 to the |
Noman's American Baptist Home Mis- |
ion Society. and sS0oOo0 to the Woman,s |