The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-14
WAX. ENTHUSIASTIC
AT EPW0RTH MEETING

The centenary movement of the
| Methodist church, south, which has
| for its purpose the raising within
! the next five years of S35,000,00 for
| the evangelization OF the African
abroad and at home. was given i'm
petus yesterday afternoon at a union
meeting of the Richmond chapters
of the Epworth League institute OF
the Virginia conference.
Miss Elizabeth Butterworth clearly
and forcefully presented the cause OF
home and foreign missions. Others
who spoke we're Miss Ruth Wyatt,
who took as her subject The Stew
ardship of Prayer: William Davis,
vice president of the union, who spoke
on THE Stewardship of Property"
and X. Z. Proctor, president of the
organization. who talked on THE
Stewardship of Life.
Miss Butterworth Divert at some
length on the Epworth league In it's
relation to the African, at home and
abroad. The Methodist church, she
said, originally was a mission, and
we ush think of tho Epworth league
as a mission. While 10 are minister
ing to the African on the other side,
we must not forget the black man At
our back door"
The Methodist centenary movement.
she said, among other things, has for
It's object the evangelization Of 49,.
600, 900 Africans In the Belgian Congo.
which Is one-third the size of the
United States. Before the gospel can
be taught to these people, the Metho-
dists first must educate the leaders
among them. The task. she admit
ted, was one that staggered the mag
ination. but, If it is gone about in the
right way. 1t can and will be done, AL
though 1t will take the combined eff
forts Of the denomination. In conclu-
sion, she urged the furtherance Of
the centenary movement by local
chapters of the Epworth league.
Miss Ruth Wyatt spoke of the CT
ficacy of prayer Prayer. she said.
Is necessary to the success Of the
movement. AS the whole world Is
so is darkest Africa looking to the
Epworth league to send the gospel
to them.
William Davis related the Biblical
story Of the talents and urged upon
his hearers the importance of tith-
ing for the advancement OF the gospel.
Ten per cent. OF the earnings OF
church people he said, should be de-
voted to the work of the church. to
home and foreign missions, to the
reconstruction OF Europe and to the
reconstruction In the stricken zone
of churches and the establishment OF
religion.
r r. Proctor said the Stewardship
OF life involves the challenge of the
soul, the spirit and the body and the
conservation to the Almighty of these
three elements. Conservation Of the
intellect is demanded and needed as
much today as is conservation of the
heart. President Wilson. he said, has
enabled the world to realize its need
IN this day--Iofty ideals.
He deplored the fact that the very
people that we want and need in the
church today are going in for other
things. Men whom we need in the
m nistry are going into the profess
siOns-law and medicine"
He urged also the conservation to
the cause of Christ of energy and
muscles.
The Methodist church, South. has
had allotted as its quota to raise in
the pending movement s3so,0oo.
$3.50. 600 OF which Is TO be devoted
10 foreign mission work in Africa
and s1o0,0 900 is to be expended on
Payne College. an institute for the
colored race, at Augusta, Ca.
The Virginia conference OF the
Methodist church. South. is asked TO
raise 5000 each year for Ave years,
making a total OF $4,000. 1t is 70
help in raising this last named sum
that the Richmond chapters OF the
Epworth League institute OF the vir-
ginia conference of the Methodist
church, South are addressing them
selves.