Evening star., 1936-11-22

mass meetings Wednesday night.
Sectional Meetings Tonight.
Tonight at O'Clock sectional meet
ings will be held simultaneously in
churches in various sections of the
city and in outlying towns in nearby
Maryland and Virginia.
In addition to the mass meeting.
the mission will include seminar
classes, meetings of clerical, lay and
young peoples organizations, radio
broadcasts, sessions in various educa-
tional institutions and other events.
The local gathering was arranged
by a committee of 100, under the
auspices of the Washington Fedora
tion Of Churches. The national move
ment is being sponsored by the Federal
Council of Churches, headed by DR..
Ivan Lee Holt.
The response in the cities which
the mission has visited since Septem-
Der Is has been almost unbelievable,
according to Paul Patton Faris, Phila-
delphia, director of publicity. In
Chicago, where the mission closes to-
day, the ministers meeting on the
opening day attracted 1,500-a figure
surpassed only in the opening meeting
in Pittsburgh. The total attendance
In Chicago on the first day was esti-
mated at 10000.
Faris said the experience of the
missionaries seem to indicate there
are two aspects Of the missions which
impress the people: First, that this
Is q united movement of all Protestant
forces, and second, that the whole
church community Is back OF the
mission.
Endorsement Here Unanimous.
Endorsement by the Protestant
clergy of this city has been whole
hearted and unanimous. The COM
ment of a group of clergymen con-
tacted yesterday follows:
Right Rev. James e. Freeman,
Bishop of Washington, described the
mission as "the most efficient one that
has ever come to my attention" !"
Bishop Freeman participated in the
mission held in Pittsburgh, and next
week will speak at similar gatherings
in Philadelphia and Boston.
THE great speakers in this move
ment were carefully chosen" he de-
clared. All of them have command
ing ability. 1t appears to me that
one Of the greatest by-products OF
the mission is that it is stirring the
churches throughout the country to
make more aggressive efforts in behalf
Of the work of Christ.
my experience in addressing a
group of 800 ministers during the
Pittsburgh mission was that the clergy
was stirred very deeply, and sin
cerely believe the effects of this unique
and very timely undertaking Will
spread to every church throughout
this area. We have made great prepa-
rations here and we expect great
things to follow this movement"
Rev. w. S. Abernethy, pastor OF
Calvary Baptist Church, said: II
the mission does here what 1t has ac-
complished in other cities. 1t will be
one of the greatest religious revivals
we have seen here in many years.
The object is to awaken the religious
interests of the people, and after the
mission closes, more than 100 Protest.
ant churches in Washington and vicin-
ity are planning eight-day missions,
beginning next Sunday. We are all
interested in the economic recovery
Of the Nation, but we must remember
that this must be preceded by spir-
itual recovery"
Rev. Robert M. Williams, pastor Of
Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church.
said: "The mission undoubtedly will
make q parge contribution to the spir-
ttual life of the community and re-
vive interest in evangelism. which has
waned for many years. It Is most
worthwhile project, and one which
gives us an opportunity to hear some
Of the outstanding ministers Of our
time"
To Awake Church Interest.
Rev. r. L. Wood, pastor Of Pet
worth M. Z. Church, said: "One OF
the many opportunities furnished the
preaching mission in Washington is
the reawakening of interest in the
church of thousands of people who
have moved here within the last few
years. Many Of these persons were
active in church life in the communi-
ties from which they came, but lack
ing the usual contacts with the
church, have not identified them
selves with the religious life Of Wash
ington. II the preaching mission
creates an atmosphere which will help
these individuals find q place in the
church, it will have rendered real
and lasting service. The movement
has my whole-hearted Endorsement.
Rev. J. Z. Briggs, pastor Of the
Fifth Baptist Church, declared: 1T
is my hope and expectation that the
mission will have a tremendous in
nuence on the church and the people