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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 10, 1901)
IIB Twentieth century movement In tho Presbyterian church In tho United States really began three years ago In connection with the m Sunday school work. It was then proposed that tho churchos throughout tho United States should set before them tho task of adding 1,000,000 ucw members to their Sun day schools, which would bo practically a doubling of theso schools, by (ho year 1001. This movement alone, however, did not moot with a very vigorous and genernl re sponse. Tho growth In tthe membership of tho Sunday schools slnco 1S0S has scarcely been moro than normal. At tho genernl assembly held nt Minne apolis In May, 1S00, a more general move ment was Inaugurated. A committee, of . . which llov. H. R Sample, 1). I)., of Now York was chntrman, was nppoluted "to re port to tho next general nBseinbly ns to tho best method of fitly celebrating tho close of tho nlnoteenth nnd tho advent of tho twontleth century." That committee re ported a year Inter to tho nssombly nt St. Louis a plan which was adopted. This plan contemplates n concortod move ment of tho entlro church to be maintained throughout tho wholo year 1001. It Is to be both devotional and financial in Its char actor, tho wholo having for Its objects on tho ono hand a fitting expression of thnnks to God nnd on tho other nn enlargement nnd strengthening of the Presbyterian church In Its efforts for tho uplifting of humanity throughout tho world. Thu specific forms In which It was sug gested by the committee that tho move ment should express Itsolf were rollglous services nnd public meetings at tho open ing of tho year, a day of special services In connection with tho meeting of the coming gonernl assembly, and tho raising of a fund for cducatlonnl, missionary nnd beneficent purposes to bo known ns tho "twentieth 4 century fund." I'ci 111 If Mt-HliiKN. On tho first Sunday lu January, 1001, ovory minister was requested to preach a sermon appropriate to tho time nnd every church was requested to mnko an Inltlntory offering for tho gcnornl work of tho church, which offering was to bo sent forward to tho trcasuror of tho "twentieth century fund," to bo by him distributed to tho eight mis sionary nnd beneflclont boards of tho church according to a ratio fixed by tho general assotnbly. Most ministers nnd many churches compiled with this request. In addition to this It was suggested that spe cial recognition of this subject bo mndo nt tho services of tho week of prayer, follovv y lng tho first Sunday In January. It wns In pursuanco of this suggestion that tho four mass moetlngs of tho Presbytorlnn churches of Omaha wero he'd during tho first nnd second weeks In Jnnuary at tho First Pres byterian church, when the moderator of the general assembly. Rev. Charles A. Dickey, I. D., nnd tho field secretary of tho Board of Foreign Missions, Rov. Thomas I,. Mar shall. D. D., together with local Presby terian clorgymen, spoko on some of the groat lines of tho church's activities. Similar meetings hnvo been held In other lnrge cities of tho land, ns New York, Phil jt ndolphln, Vashlngton, Rochester, Indlnn apolls, Denver, nnd others will follow In other places before tho meeting of tho gon oral assembly In Mny. Tho general assembly, which convenes at tho historic center of American Presbytcrl- HEN John Wesloy founded thu socluty called Mothodlsts hu hud somo very clear Ideas us to tho best results to bo obtained In tho matter of living one's life. Ono ot his ldcaB was that no Christian should bu gloomy, down-spirited or moroso, und hu was wont to say In public and lu prlvato: "Sour Godliness Is tho dovll's religion." As for himself, ho said: "I dare no moro fret than curso and swear." It Is no wonder then that Mr. Wusloy's love for music was of tho most refined and beautiful character. He had an earnest and dovoted attention for tho oratorios and for organ playing. Ho was, In addition to being a groat reformer and a wonderful preacher, a real apostle of tho beautiful. On ono oc casion, when seolng with others a beautiful landscape, hu said amidst onthuslnstle praise of tho othors, "Shall wo glvo tho landscape all tho pralso, and thu Author none." Theso thoughts aro merely by wny of In troduction, to recall to us the scholarly, spiritual and rellncd nature of the man who t founded tho great church which Is known over tho world todny by tho namo Metho dist. When tho Methodist church had pro gressed nlong various lines of spiritual and religious growth It was but natural that tho peoplo took advantngo of tho develop ment along other linos, such ns archi tecture, ecclesiastical art, music, etc., and applied this development to tho tomples of tho Almighty. This hns resulted In mighty edifices, whoso nppearonco denotes that "strength and beauty are In His tnber naclcs." It has resulted In tho mellowing of tho sunlight of henven, which passes F? through tho many-colored windows of f Btnlncd glass, ns It wero through a cloud. Not tho least direct result of this broad ening of outsldo avenues of progress Is tho present choir, or body of singers whoso duty it Is to lift the hearts and souls of people to tho higher piano of spiritual feeling, and to lead tho congregation In the singing of Presbyterian Twentieth Century Movement uuism lu thu city of Philadelphia, Pu., on Tbursduy, May 10, 1001, will set apart Fii uuy, May 17, as a da) ot spouui scivuis to occupy foreuuuu, nlleruuou uud evening. Thu program fur thesu services includes sumo of thu must distinguished names tu thu Presbyterian church, in connection witn thu following themes: Pruf. Willis U. duly, 1). D., L.L. D., of Chicago, "lluvluw of thu Nineteenth Century," Rev. Henry C McCuok, 1). D., Philadelphia, "Piogrcss of thu Presbytorlun Church in thu Nineteenth Century;" Prof. Heuiy C. Million, D. D., "Tho Divine Purpose Developed lu the Progress of Time, ' Kov. George T. ruivcs, D. D., L.L. D., "Thu Problems ut tho Twen tieth Ccntur) ; ' Hubert 1.. Speor, " l lie Speedy Hiiugliig of thu World to Christ;' llov. Henry Vim Dyke, D. D., pouin, "Pro vlsluu of thu Twentieth Century;" ltev. Samuel J. Nleholls, D. D., L.L. I)., "Oppor tutilty mid Duty of the Presbyterian Church in thu Twentieth Century." 'Uiu must prominent leature of the twen tieth century movement is thu elfori tu raise u "Twentieth Century Fund" for thu enlargement and strengthening of the work of thu Presbyterian church both at home and ubruud. When In thu year 1S70 thu Old and Now School branches of tho Presby terian church, after forty-throe years ut separation, weru reunited, tho occasion was celebrated by thu proposal to ralsu u memorial fund of $5,000,000 as u special thank uttering to (led. Thu eoinmilteu up pointed to liuvu chargo ut this work was ublo llnally to report lu li7U tho sum of $7,!33,0S3.85 actually raised. And slnco that datu the growth of thu Presbyterian church has been far more rapid than lu the sumo number of years during any previous por tion of Its history. There was a great for ward bound lu 1S70-72 lu all Hues of work and tho ground then gained has never been lost. It was thought that thu opening of tho twentieth century afforded another and uven moro auspicious opportunity fur u similar advance. One Hundred Wmii'm ol' (iron III. Thu century Just clused had seen great things in the Presbyterian church. From u llttlo body with a membership at thu opening of tho century of only 20,000 and u ministry of only 1S3, with only a score of homu missionaries uud with no foreign missionaries or communicants lu foreign lauds, uud with no Sunday schools, mission boards or societies, and contributing to mission work only $L',CiUU per annum, thu Presbyterian church has grown until at thu beginning of thu now century it un rolls ii membership of moro than 1,000,000, with 7.IG7 ministers, over 1,000,000 children lu thu Sunday schools, eight strong buards for missionary and benellccnt work, be sides women's and young people's socie ties by thu thousands. Instcud of a score wo havo 1,713 home missionaries. Whereas, In heathen lands, wo had nothing a century ago, wo now have 37,i20 communicants, or nearly twice us many members us thu church had in thu homo land at thu open ing of thu century, and, besides these, wo havo among heathen peoples 730 American and 1,701 native workers, 027 churches and eighty-two hospitals. Tho contributions of tho church to missionary uud bciicilcunt causes havo risen from $2,500 per annum 100 yoars ago to the sum of $12,S2.1,7fi!i dur ing thu year 1800. It Is estimated that dtiiini: thu century moro than 2,200,00') persons were received Into our church on Robed Choir in the hymns and songs of praise allotted to them. Formerly tho quartet choir (so called) furnished the music With tho Introduction of tho chorus Into tho Methodist church thero naturally arose tho question of dress. Tho Episcopal choirs had an easy task to do, for the vestments of tho choir are dictated by tho canons of tho church. So with tho Lutheran. Dut McthodlBin has no provision for any thing of that sort. Tho Catholic choirs need no robes, owing to tho general posi tion of tho Catholic choir, In tho renr of tho church. Tho Methodist church, which In most cases has Its choir gallory Immodlatoly ROI1ED CHOIR confession of faith and $87,000,000 was given to missionary and beneficent muses, besides the cost of supporting local congre gations The Presbyterian church in the United Stntes has grown during the lasi century from n feeble band to be by far the largest church of this denomination In the world, and that In spite of the fact that twice during the century aeiious de fections occurred from Its ranks. In the REV T. V MOORE. PASTOR OF WEST MINSTER PRESHYTERIAN CHURCH. OMAHA M KM II 10 It OF PRESHYTERIAN GENERAL COMMITTEE ON TWEN TIETH CENTURY FUND. year 1M0 the Cumberland Presbyterian church, which now lunubois 180,102 com municants, and in lisOl the Presbyter uii Church, South, which now numbers 225,800 comuiuulcaiilu, sepal uted from '.he parent body. Such a giuwth as this boomed to call for special lecogultloii to Cod. More over, ut the opening of thu new century everything seems tu call the church to a forward movement lu thu wuild. With prosperity lu our land, with vast oppor tunities of usefulness hero at home, and with every nation on earth becoming yearly moro accessible to thu gospel, Ii was strongly felt that wu should be, as a church, derelict, unfaithful to llod and neglectful uf our most splendid obligations If wu did not maku siiiuu special otl'uii to lake the tidu of opportunity at Us Hood am! to go forward. Tt t'lilit'lli Oiitur) Cniiiiiilltci'. Accordingly the general assembly of 1000 appointed a central committee whoso duty it should bu to have general supervision of thu work of raising a twentieth century fund. This committee bus taken Into Itself additional representative ministers and ulders fiom all portions of tho United States, llov. Marcus A. Urownson, D. I)., of Philadelphia, Pa., Is tho chairman and among tho members of tho lnrgo committee aro such distinguished ministers as Dr. Georgo T. Purves, pastor of Fifth Aveiiuo Proabytuiian church, New York; Dr. Chichester of Chicago, Dr. E. Trumbull Leo of Cincinnati, Dr. It. F. Coylu of Denver, Dr. John Hemphill of San Francisco and such laymen as John Waiiamaker. William Methodist Episcopal Churches back of tho pulpit, met with the condition that many persons lu tho choir wore unable to dress In a manner corresponding to other members, who were moro highly fuvored lu this world's goods. And yet u certain feel ing of humanity madu necessary thu pur chase of clothing which really surpussed the melius uf sundry singers. The, result has, of course, been that tho vested choir has In many cases been established. It Is thu only solution of tho difficulty. It Is simplicity. It Is not nn "Innovation," as some describe It, hut n roturn to John Wosleyan plainness. Certain churches differ as to the kind of IN FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, E. Dodge, John 11. louvoise, William It Hurley, thu latu Governor Mount of Indiana, John Wlills llaer of thu Young People s Society of Christian Endeavor and oilier ministers and elders The seitciur) and treasurer of tho fund is Rev. W. II. Roberts, 1). D.. L.L. D , of Philadelphia. Pa . the staled dork of thu general assembly. This committee has been actively engaged lu pushing forward the movement, with the result that 17d presbyteries ot the church hunt already appointed special commlitecs on this work. The objects for the advancement of which Presbyteliuti churches uro uiged to rulsu this twentieth century (uud are such us to cover almost every possible line of work lu which a church may engage. They are ns follows: 1. Tho Increase of contributions to all Ihe boards of the church. 2. Tho enlargement of I ho work of l he boards as suggested by Itieiu. 3. The Increased endow litem uf academic, collegiate and theological insl tuitions. I. Tho p.omcui of local chinch dolus. t. Thu Improvement of tlio piopertles of congiegallolis and Institutions. 0. Chinch extension lu cities. 7. The establishment or endowment of hospitals and oilier benevolent lusiiiuitons connected with tho church. 8. Special ellorls for strengthening the general Interests of the church assumed by individuals, congregations, pi csh) lilies or synods. No spcelllc sum is suggested (or ihls fund, us was done lu tho casu of the reunion memorial fund. Hut It is, ot couise, ex pected that thu total reached in this case will bu decidedly larger than lu the cauu of thu curlier fund. Thu word "fund" as here used Is not Intended to liupl) that all mouuyu raised fur tho general objects specl lled above shall hu accumulated lu the hands of tho central treasurer of this com lullteu. Hut any moneys raised by a church over uud above Its usual annual gifts ami expended as a special ullorl lu thu advance ment ot any uf tho groat objects designated, is to bo considered a purl of thu twentieth century fund. Such sums us uro spent lo cally or aro forwarded directly to Ihe In stitutions they aro Intended to help uio to bo reported to tho treasurer uf the fund. It Is, however, thu expectation that large bums will bu given fur tho general work of tho denomination. Such contributions uru to bu sent tu tho central treasurer and, If made without any upeclllcatlons, uro by him to bo distributed to the eight mission ary and bcnctlcuul boards of the church, according to ratios which havo been llxed by tho general assembly. Hut lu all cases where donations aro made fur Hpeclllc objects, whether Ihe money goes to Dr. Roberts or not, (ho wishes of thu contributors aro to bo strictly carried out. Not only, therefore, Is Ii hoped to Increase contributions to I ho mis sionary mid huiiellceut work of tho church ut large by this movement, hut also that under its general stimulus churches will pay off their local debts, enlarge their buildings, found hospitals, establish city missions, endow educational institutions, build new churches lu growing suburbs and In festering slums; lu fact, do anything and everything which means a forward move ment In tho service of God and humanity and an enlargement and strengthening or Presbyterian churches loeullv ami of the robe worn, but thu guuuiul idea is fur a college or Geneva gown, which Is a close Imitation of that worn by John Wesley himself. For tho choirs which Include children, there Is the while surplice of the Episcopal church. Thu New York Christ lau Advoiate, which Is edited by the well known Dr. J. M. Buckley, whose mime Is as well known In American Methodism as that of John Wesley hluiBolf, contains lu the Issue of January 31 an article on The Vested Choir," from which tho following quoin Hons aro taken "Our ministers began the disuse of vest inents because1, In the early yeais of Ainerl OMAHA Presbyterian church throughout thu world. Princeton church, Philadelphia, l'a., has given $.1,000 to begin the endowment of the William llelilj Giucli chair lu Princeton Theological seminal y. Washington college, PentiH) Ivauia, Albau college, Oregon, and Helleviio college, Nebraska, have revolved eolisideiable sums. The Prosb) (erhllis ot St. Lotus have under ciilisidciulloll tho e tabllshineut of a I'icsb) terian hospital. Mau of the presbyteries have Instituted special movements for the bciieltt of their own congregations, for instance, thu pres bytery ot Philadelphia, North, lesolved to endeavor to secure ihe removal of the debt of every one of Its congiegallolis, mc stronger churches aiding the weaker, and all uniting in this most laudable movement Other presbyteries uro eoiiiemplaltng a slm liar undertaking. V lull Vein llxi.il N llolliu. ihe Westminster Piosh) telian chtlich. Omaha, has decided to pay oil Its eliilio remaining Indebtedness ol $i'.,.imi by October 1, l.owe Avenue i lunch, umahu, is to pay olf Its debt of $2,ouo, the Presbyteilau church at i'ekaiuah, Neb., Is to build . inatise, gem roiis gifts of money ami prop erty aggiegallng during (ho last 5 ear some $7ii.MiU has been given to (he Omaha Theo logical seminary, both from friends in Omaha uud elsewhere, besides smaller eon lilbullons leported to the writer fiom lime to time by churches thioiighoiil Ihe state ti. (hu general work of tho bo.nds, such as the church ut Wood River, $135, at llaucroft, Emerson, etc, tinder the stimulus of (his movement I ho $1.0U0,0U0 mortgage remaining on tho splen did Presbyterian building at l.'iii Fifth ave nue, New Voik (Ml J, Is being rapldl) wiped mil. Alreud) us much as $350,000 lb promised and the balance Is suro to come. When this Is accomplished Ihe Presbyterian church In (lie Hulled States will have one of (ho llnest pieces of business properly tu tho ell) of Now York, with a new olllio building on II as a permanent endow inent. yielding u steady Income for the missionary work and allordlng central olliccs fur Ha great boards free of the expense of icntals. Tho synod of Nebraska has appointed a special committee on this fund to Interest tho Presbyterians of thin stale lu (he inovi -moat. The special object which Is pioposed to Nebraska Presbylei lull churches Is the raising of endowment fur the Theological seminary In Omaha ami for Ihe (wo young, hut vigorous and Important, Presbyterian colleges at llellevue and at Hastings, Nidi. Tho Omaha Theological seminary was recommended by the assembly of 1000 to tho church at large fur an endowment of $100,000 ami ii Hi long eommllloo of eastern men Is now at work endeavoring to raise Ihls sum as a part of tho twentieth eeuluiy fund. The general assembly's committee on the twentieth century fund will probably not picsoul Us 11 ii it 1 report until May, I0U2, an tho entlro year 101)1 Is to bo devoted to tho prosecution of this work. Hut the committee is oxpoedd to report progiess it tho coming meeting of the general as sembly lu Philadelphia lu May, 1001. Mean while the Indications aro (hat (hu entire church Hum tho Aliunde to tho Paclllc Is awaking and addressing Itsolf with flesh vigor to the advancement of Christ's King doiii lu the world and that no part will re main Hummed uud therefore uuhoiiellled. Omaha. Neb. T. V. MOORE can Methodism, they were called in preach In barns, lu hay lofts, log dwellings, lu the open air, and to spend long days ami nights lu thu saddle, fording streams uud following dlllltlllt finest paths. All these dllllcilltles made thu carrying about ami tho wearing of vestmentii dilllcull. Hut tlioie is no canon against It. And It seems that one with an eyo for harmony and a sense nt unity would naturally experience a sense of uplifting in thu survlcu if thu bunds of ministering singers were to appear lu simple uud uni form garments." Luck ot spaco prevents thu printing uf tho wholo article, which proceeds to give a description of a service at Tromuiit Metho dist Episcopal church, New York. Ilulieil I bull- In OiiiiiIiii, Thu First Muthoillst Episcopal church ot Omaha has taken tho Initiative in this sec tion of thu country, and already two chinches havo madu inquiries ot the choir muster of this church as to how to procure robis, or gowns. Tho choir of this church has a reputation fur outside or Omaha and has attracled considerable attention. lu this church the choir slugs a full choral communion service once every three mouths, which has been the means of creat ing a widespread and Intense Interest In this sacrament uf the church. Tho choir ! under Ihe direction of Thomas J. Kully, who Is also tho organist. Mr. Kelly Is an Irishman, and was trained in the purest school of church music, that Is the Angli can. Tho robes of this choir are Mowing (lenevu gowns, of bluek hrllllunl luo, which uro brightened by the white linen theinlHottes for tho women,. uud silk white puff ties for the gentlemen. Tho question of gowning this choir vvus suggested some years ago lu the church paper, called the Guidon, of which Jona than Mollen was then editor, nnd tho Becd was sown by various articles on thu subject appearing editorially, followed by a "cut" of thu deaconess mid children or tho Metro politan choir.