The Washington herald., 1915-08-01

public schools. initiated in New York
City. is considered of great Importance
and will be watched with much interest
by ChurChmen. Last season one school
department in the Bronx. consisting OF
pupils to the number of 1900 dismissed
the children for period of 50 minutes
three times week. sending them to the
churches of their parents to be instruct
ed by their ministers or priests. 1t is
reported to have worked so satisfactory
that the scheme is to be continued on
larger scale the coming school year. A
central school has bzeen fixed upon in
each of the boroughs. Manhattan, Brook
lyn and the Bronx. The initial enter
prise was carried on under the direc-
ton of Rev. G. L. Wenner. of the Luz
theran church. conference of a hun
dred representatives of religious bodies
has recently been held in which an or
ganization has been formed. with Bishop
Courtney. of the Episcopal church. as
chairman. to pursue the experiment.
Church leaders of every name are agreed
to the necessity of some Bible train
ing in the public school. EX-President
Taft has suggested a period in which
religion may be taught at the option of
the pupils or their parents. 1t 10 a
notable fact that large number of the
children of professedIy Christian par
ents are growing up sadly ignorant of the
Bible. Churchmen may indulge them
selves al least IN the hope that some
such scheme as this may solve the
problem.
The Federal Council of the Churches
of Christ in America through its COM
mission on Christian education has pre-
pared a course of thirteen lessons on
international peace. A study in Chris
tian fraternity. This course will he
published during October, November and
December of this year in the Sunday
school and other periodicals of the var
ious churches affiliated with the Fed
eral Council. Already these lessons are
assured circulation of three million
among senior and adult Sunday school
classes. and it is expected that their
distribution will ultimately reach five
million. While not discussing the pres
ent war. these studies aim to create
and crystalline sentiment among pro-
Tossing Christians in the interests of in
ternational fraternity and inter-racial
sympathy and appreciation. The lessons
will be printed and distributed both
in England and in Germany. The les
book and full commentary, now in press.
OF 2o,0o0Go0 young men in this cour-
try. between the ages of sixteen and
thirty-five, about 100000 are church
members. 100000 attend church irregu-
larry. and the other 100000 are suppos-
I'd 10 be alienated entirely from the
church.
Mrs Finley ]. Shepard formerly
Miss Helen NJ. Could recently enter
tanned fifty ministers from the ham,
let's and valleys of the Catskill Noun
tains. at religious conference held
at kirkside Lake. the headwaters of
the Delaware River, on her estate at
RoXbury. y. Y. under the direction of
Rev. DR.. wilbert W. White. president
Of the Bible Teachers Training School
of New York.
Sleeping and dining tents were
pitched. For four days these tired
ministers enjoyed the conferences in
the mornings. In the afternoons the
instructor of the RoXbury
Y. NJ c. A. taught the preachers
how to keep in good physical trim,
and the lake afforded fine bathing. In
the evenings, addresses by noted
clergymen from the various mission
boards and churches in New York
were given in the beautiful stone Jay
Gould Memorial Church, erected some
years ago by Miss Gould and her fam
ly. During the conferences, the chill
dren of the village, for which Mrs.
Shepard has done so much, were not
neglected, but were gathered in meet
ings. Bible classes were organized,
and the children entertained with tab
eauX and stories.
Bishop Bristol, of the NJ E Church. !
former pastor of Metropolitan Church, |
his city, has recovered his health ana
S at work again. He attended the re-
cent meeting of the board of control
of the Epworth League, of which he |
is president. which was held in San
Francisco. A note in the Epworth Her
AID says: when Bishop Bristol call
I'd the board to order on July !, in \
Central Church. San Francisco, every
member present noted with delight
hat the leagues president was his
Did alert and energetic self. Marks of :
mis- long illness are upon him. of
but not many. and even these |
ire fast disappearing. 1t was good to
zee and hear him, and know that he
lad really come back"
DIR. H NJ. Hamill, president Of the
Sunday School Associa-
ion, who died a few months ago, is
o be concentrated both at home and
broad. At Conference Point Lake
Wis. the corner stone of the
iamill Memorial Library was laid on
July ,. Mrs. Hamill assisted in the
ceremony. During a visit to Japan DIR.
damill conceived the idea OF q build,
Kobe, to be used as headquarters for
Sunday school organizations and
He offered to give si.44I and
occurred from q friend a pledge Of al