Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

that the Bible, together with the prac-
teal application of its teachings. brings
men out of the darkness of sin.
The Baraca movement. originated in
the First Baptist Sunday school at
Syracuse, N. Y, October 20. 1890. by
Marshall A. Hudson, business man,
was one of the first successful EFFORTS
in the organization of young peoples
Sunday school classes. though it is not
a fraternity in the more specific sense.
Starting with single room where
boys and young men were invited to
spend pleasant evenings through the
week, the Bible class taught by Mr..
Hudson Sunday was gradually built up
to membership of several hundred.
The girls organization, which later
became affiliated with this movement,
received the name of the Philathea
classes. and still later the juniors or
Intermediates were added. the total
Baraca membership having recently
passed the million mark, it is asserted,
and this movement having spread more
widely than any other niZation
within Protestant Sunday schools. 1t
has done and is doing a great deal to
educate the Sunday school world in
the cooperative spirit and to eliminate
the stagnating influences of the de-
nominationalism which repels that
spirit.
The Baraca classes have distinctive
and admirable organization. system
and methods. and with keen apprecia-
ton of the value of judicious adver-
quarters in Syracuse a great printing
plant. through which an abundance Of
helpful literature has been sent out to
Sunday schools all over the world and
wide publicity secured. The word
"Baraca" is an Authorization of a He
brew word found in II Chronicles and
means blessing, the object of the
movement being to bring a blessing to
humanity. The Worldwide Baraca
Union was organized in June, 1898 with
headquarters at Syracuse, and Mr.
Hudson is president.
The Phi Mu Sigma, which is the only
actual Greek letter fraternity of any
wide range among Sunday school men,
was founded and organized May 81,
1908. by DR.. Clifton p. Clark, a Wash
1ngtonian and a member of Mount
Vernon Place NJ. f. Church South. In
the Sunday school of that church he
has for a number of years been an
enthusiastic and successful teacher of
young men and boys, and the great
problem of how to hold the big boy
in the Sunday school has occupied
much of his attention
Although this fraternity was con-
fined to DR.. Clarks Sunday school class
for several years, it proved very sue
cessful in that class, and since Janu-
airy, 1914, when il was extended to
other classes in other Sunday schools,
IT has grown rapidly, until at the pres
ent time there are tWent%-one local
chapters in the District of Columbia
and about as many more in Sunday
schools Of nine different states, the
denominations including Presbyterian
Episcopalian, United Brethren, Chris
tian. Methodist Episcopal Methodist
Episcopal South, Methodist Protestant
and Lutheran. The organization is in
corporated under the laws of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and has distinct and
wei form ulated objects, as follows
~ To hold the Young in the Sunday school
and gain a new hold vino have left 1t.
~ 70 lead the Young man 10 conversion and
church membership.
q, To build up the Young man himself physi
cay. mentally morally. spiritually.
a. To cultivate to the proper extent the inter
denomina tional spirit Of fraternity in the broad
sense-unitins on great principles fog larger
work
The motto of the Phi Mu Sigma is
purity in life and while its social
life is delightful and helpful, it is es-
sentially a Christian organization in
all its aims and relationships. with the
clannlsh spirit replaced by the desire
to NIL the greatest needs of every young
man. A general constitution is used,
but each chapter makes its own by
laws and has its local government to
meet it's own problems The training
of teachers for young mems classes is
encouraged and promoted. The leaders
realize that when new chapters are in
stalled an excellent opportunity is af-
forded for increased fellowship among
Sunday school men, and the programs
on these occasions have been made very
enjoyable and profitable, the instaIla-
tons being open to members of all
chapters, prominent men being invited
to speak after the ceremony of initia-
ton and ideas on Sunday school work
being discussed
Two annual conventions have already
been held. both in Washington, and the
enthusiasm shown and results achieved
have been exceedingly encouraging.
For some time past a well equipped
fraternity nome has been maintained at
931 6 street northwest, and this. to-
gether with the summer camps and a
systematic course in athletics has
proved to be a feature of very great
practical value. Dr. Clifton 7. Clark is
supreme master of the Phi Mu Sigma.
One of the most unique and interest
ing movements in the line of affiliating
mems Bible classes is that originated
by A. J. Drexel BiddIe. the young
Philadelphia millionaire who has de-
voted a large part of his time and en-
ergies to Sunday school and charitable
BILE classes has been growing since the
spring of 1911. and has spread across
the seas to Great Britain, South Africa
and Australia, as well as into the West
Indies.
The idead of starting this federation
and ultimately extending 1t all over
the world occurred to Mr.. Biddle n