The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-20
NEXT Century Of
METHODISM NOW
VISION Of CHURCH

COLUMBUS, O., Sune 7O,-"what will
Methodism do in the next hundred
years?
This will he forecasted at the big
centenary celebration scheduled TO be
held at Columbus, O., June 20 to July
H. Fifty-two bishops, many thousand
pastors and nearly half a million lay
men VIII gather at the Ohio capital for
tory.
Put on as a fitting climax to the
SUCCESSFUL completion Of Methodigm's
$3.50, 900, 900 centenary drive, the cele-
ration has grown in prospect and fact
untl its actual proportions can hardly
be realized by other han an observer.
The slogan by which the big affair
y being put on is Bringing the World
20 Columbus and IL will be almost
literally carried out. Life exhibits from
all countries Of the world. civilized and
savage, win meet the gaze Of the huge
crowds which will throng the Ohio State
Exposition grounds, where the celebra-
ton is to be held.
Seven immense buildings are to be
used in the portrayal OF life exhibits
alone, and the total number Of
structures which viii be placed in use
Tor various purposes Of the celebration
reaches %,
Hundreds Of carpenters, scene paint
ers and curio-assorters are working Mt
top speed on the exposition grounds to
have all IN readiness for the opening OF
this biggest demonstration, commence
rating the o~ne-hundredth anniversary Of
the Methodist church's entry into the
mission field.
The assembling at Columbus OF the
JOINT commission Of the centenary cele-
bration marked the most momentous
occasion In the church's history since
the war between the states. The joint
commission consists Of W. w. Pinson.
chairman; John r. Pepper, vice-chair-
man; r. A. Ward. secretary: Bishop
James Atkins John +. Goucher, u. y.
forsyth, W. p, Beauchamp, John r.
Stone, Bishop John NJ. Moore, Miss
Belle Bennett, w. II. II. Gould. l.. c..
Murdoch and E, II Campbell, with S.
Earl Taylor as director general Of the
celebration. Or, James T.. Crowther ia
associate director-general and II. h.
Dickson Is organizing secretary.
Part OF the giant scheme Of mis-
sionary exhibits are the China building,
Africa building, India building, Korea
Japan Malaysia building, Latin-Amer-
tea and Europe building and the twin
buildings housing the American ex-
hibitS, continental and %inSular, Replicas
Of native settlements, from African viii
lagos to sections of Chinese cities, fin
the buildings, and hundreds of native
converts from the countries represented
VIII demonstrate at the centenary cele-
hratlon the spread of the Methodist
missions.
July s, which has been set aside as
War Reconstruction day. is expected to
% one OF the most largely attended on
the entire program. The Methodist
church has set apart S2b, 000, 900 for re-
construction work in Europe, To he
epent under the direction of Bishop
Theodore S. Henderson, head Of the de-
naftment Of war emergency and recon-
structlon. The Methodist work to be
undertaken In Europe Is mapped out
gust as completely and infinitely as it's
work In this country, and includes q
stipulated number Of war-torn villages
to be rebuilt.
Although the highest dignitaries OF
the Methodist church will be In attend
ahce at the celebration. the laAy of the
country Will be just as well represented.
Among the big laymen expected to be
there are John T. Stone, Thomas South
gate, George r, WEIGH, John r. Pen
per and James N. Gamhle-officiala OF
Trims whose products and regulations
are known all over the world.
The fact that laymen have inter-
ested themselves TO such an extent In
the centenary drive and the centenary
celebration Is significant In itself. The
work of raising $3.50, 000, 600 in the
American Methodist churches was en-
trusted to laymen chiefly, and now the
staging OF the most gigantic church ex-