EPWORTH LEAGUE, THE (epwOrth leg), OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
(1) Birth of the Epworth League. The Church will always honor the cradles of great men and great institutions. Jerusalem, Bethle hem and Tarsus are prominent in the thought of all Christians. Epworth, Oxford, John Street, New York, and St. George's in Philadelphia, will ever remain Meccas of Methodism. To this royal line must be added Cleveland, Ohio, where on May 4, t889, the Epworth League was born. It was the fruit of the union of five other young people's societies which had sprung up in thi.. church. Twenty-seven delegates, after two days of prayerful conference, evolved the plans of the Epworth League. Within a few hours it re ceived the official sanction of the Board of Bishops, then in session at Delaware, Ohio. Hundreds of existing societies promptly adopted the new name and constitution, many new chap ters were organized, and this new brigade of the church wheeled into line with a precision un paralleled.
(2) Its Organ, "Our Youth," an existing paper for young Methodists, became the representative of the League during its first year. The Board of Control at its first meeting advised that a regular League organ be established at Chicago. The first number of the Epworth I Jerald appeared June 7, 189o. The new paper met with a cordial reception. It has had a steady growth from the first; and now ranks among the leading religious periodicals of the times, having in fact the largest circulation of any denominational weekly in the world. Its editor is elected by the General Conference.
(3) Its Early Growth. During the first year 1,820 chapters were registered. The following year there were 3,782 new chapters added. The third year there was an increase of 2,5oo chatters. Though the advance could not possibly continue at this rate, a notable increase has been made, chapters being organized in every country where the Church is established, and in most of the mis s:on fields.
(4) Its formal adoption by the Church. The General Conference at Omaha, in May, 1892, form ally adopted the League, and made it a depart ment of the church, with the central office at Chicago. Its privileges and limitations were care fully defined. Its government was vested in a Board of Control consisting of one member from each General Conference district, elected by Gen eral Conference. This Board meets visually during the four years to survey the work, formulate plans, revise the local constitution when necessary, and to give general direction to the affairs of the League.
(5) Conventions. The young people soon began to meet in conventions for counsel and inspiration. District and st.ite conventions followed each other in rapid succession. The climax of this rising tide of enthusiasm and connectionalism was reached In 18o3 and tgol, when the first International Con vention was held at Cleveland, the birthplace of the League. The attendance, the program, the fellowship. the mighty impulse for larger accom plishments, mere that could be desired. Similar were held at Chattanooga in igos, Toronto 1897, Indianapolis in %Fig% San Frai• cisco %trot, Detroit in to03,and at Denver in 19o5.
(0) In other Churches. The year 1891 wit nessed the formal adoption of the Epworth League by the :Methodist Episcopal Church South,and the Methodist Church of Canada.
(7) Its Object. The object of the League, as stated in the constitution, is "to promote intelligent and vital piety in the young members and friends of the church; to aid them in the attainment of purity of heart and in constant growth in grace, and to train them in works of mercy and help." (8) Its Membership. Young persons of good moral character may become members on nomina tion by the cabinet and election by the local chap ter. The cabinet is composed of the president, the
four vice-presidents, the secretary, the treasurer and the junior superintendent.
(9) Its Departments. The work is carried out through four departments as follows: (1) Depart ment of Spiritual Work. (2) Department of World Evangelism. (3) Department of Mercy and Help. (4) Department of Literary and Social Work. Each of these departments is in charge of a vice resident. The Junior League is in charge of the Junior Superintendent. The Secretary and Treas urer are respectively entrusted with the corre spondence and finances of the Chapter. The work is arranged in the symbolism of a Maltese cross, the emblem of the League. There are three mot toes, the chief of which is "Look up, Lift up." (10) Classes of Members. \Whenever a chapter so decides, there may be two classes of members, active and associate. Active members subscribe to the following pledge: "1 will earnestly seek for myself, and do what I can to help others attain, the highest New Testa ment standard of experience and life. I will abstain from all those forms of worldly amusement forbidden by the Discipline of the Methodist Epis copal Church, and I will attend, so far as possible, the religious meetings of the Chapter and take some active part in them." (1 1) General Officers. The general officers of the League are President, General Secretary, Assistant Secretary for the German Conferences, Assistant Secretary for the Colored Conferences, and the Editor of the Epworth Herald. These officers are ex-officio members of the Board of Control. All except the Assistant Secretary for the Colored Conferences are elected by the General Conference. The administration of the work is in their hands, subject to the general supervision of the Board of Control. Formerly a general cabinet with officers corresponding to those of the local chapter was charged with the duties of administra tion, but was discontinued by the General Confer ence of 1904, held in Los Angeles, California. The general offices of the Epworth League are located at No. 14 W. Washington St., Chicago, with the General Secretary in charge.
(1 2) Its Broad Fellowship. While the Ep worth League is a denominational society, loyal to its own church, it has always kept open doors for fellowship with all other Christian young people's societies This spirit of comity is positively de clared in two of the mottoes. The responsible leaders have always been willing to meet others on an equal footing of mutual rights and privileges. This spirit of fraternity teemed quickening in January, .1898, when the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor and the various Epworth Leagues agreed to select uniform topics for the devotional meetings. The Baptist Young People's Union and the societies of several other churches subsequently adopted them, so that now thou sands of young Christians throughout the world study the same great truth each week. What a proof and bond of faith and fellowship this is (13) Its Increasing Prospects. . The present is the most prosperous period in the history of the organization. The membership is increasing. State, conference, district, and sub-district organizations are active. The international conventions are largely attended and most enthusiastic. The League is contributing largely to missions through special funds, increasing the efficiency of the Church mis Special emphasis is being placed upon Bible study, Christian Stewardship, and Per sonal Evangelism. With the early zeal turned increasingly toward practical methods and fruitful activities, the work of the League goes steadily and triumphantly forward. J. F. B.