Epworth league methods

Introduction

In sixteen years the young people's work of the larger Methodist denominations of North America has produced a vast amount of printed matter. Apart from the widely circulated periodicals which the movement has called into being, a constant stream of leaflets, booklets, and text-books has issued from the presses.

There has been lacking until now an adequate text-book of Epworth League principles and methods. During the formative years of the League such a publication would have been premature and ineffective. But now the great outlines of policy and procedure in our young people's work have become fairly well denned. We have a compact scheme of organization, a distinct constituency, and a field of operations whose borders are understood and accepted.

The present volume does not attempt to be exhaustive. Xo single book could contain all the worthy plans, methods, and suggestions which have proved their worth in the test of actual operation. But the Epworth League movement is here set forth with such attention to detail that the book will be found a working hand-book, sufficient to give every chapter a complete and not easily exhausted scheme of work, with most of the plans worked out in full.

4 INTRODUCTION.

It is not expected nor desired that any chapter's activities should be limited to the material given in the present volume, but it will be found that practically every profitable form of League work has been recognized and explained.

For that reason the book will be found of very great value as a permanent possession of the Chapter. A copy should be provided for each member of the Cabinet, to be kept during his term of office and handed over with the other equipment of the office to his successor. By this means each officer will have access not merely to the material relating to his own department, but to a comprehensive survey of the entire field of League work. It will make for more united and harmonious effort, a better balancing and adjustment of the various departments, and an intelligent interest on the part of every officer in the whole work.

There is little need to explain that such a book as this can have no possible claim to originality. It is of necessity a digest. A great mass of miscellaneous material, accumulated through years of careful observation, has been brought under tribute. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Epworth League Chapters and other young people's societies have contributed, though in the main unconsciously, to these pages. With unimportant exceptions, all plans and methods are such as have stood the test of actual operation. There is little mere theorizing.

It would be plainly impossible even to indicate the

INTRODUCTION. 5

almost numberless sources of the material out of which this volume has been fashioned. The writer must content himself with a general acknowledgment of his debt to every worker who has preceded him in this field. One exception to this wholesale method of thanks must be made, however. To Bishop Berry, for fourteen years editor of The Epworth Herald, four years General Secretary, and now President of the Epworth League, a debt is due which requires personal acknowledgment. His suggestions, advice, and generous contribution of matter for these pages are gratefully recalled. If there should come any measure of success in Epworth League work through the use of this book, large credit will belong to him.

DAN B. BRUMMITT.

Contents

Chapter. Page.

I. The Genesis of the Epworth League, 9

II. The Organic Law, - - - 19

Chapter 1. The Genesis Of The Epworth League

METHODISM AND HER YOUNG PEOPLE.

The Epworth League is the young people's society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Under its banners practically all the young people of the Church are enrolled. Xo other Church has succeeded in organizing its young life so extensively, and, at the same time, so intensively, as has the Methodist Episcopal Church by means of the Epworth League.

But it must not be supposed that this Epworth League movement was the initial effort of Methodism to promote the social, intellectual, and spiritual culture of her young people. During all the years of her eventful history individual Churches have maintained societies for the special benefit of their younger members. In the years immediately preceding the birth of the Epworth League these organizations had multiplied until, in the larger Churches, they had become quite common. Many of the distinguishing features of these local organizations were retained in the more general organizations, and, in turn, have been inherited by the Epworth League.

The first movement to provide a uniform organization dates back to the year 1872. Some time previous to that date there had been organized by the Rev. Dr. T. B. Xeely, in the Fifty-first Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, a Church Lyceum, the chief object

EPWORTH LEAGUE METHODS.

of which was to encourage the systematic reading of approved books. Several similar lyceums were formed in neighboring Churches, and soon it was thought best, for purposes of mutual co-operation, to unite these in a city union. At a meeting of the Board of Managers of this central body, held March 3, 1872, it was resolved to memorialize the General Conference, then soon to assemble at Brooklyn, N. Y., asking formal recognition of the Lyceum. The memorial was referred to a committee, which made a favorable report, but, owing to the great pressure of business at the close of the General Conference session, the recommendations of the committee were not acted upon. At the succeeding General Conference, that of 1876, the request for official recognition was renewed. The Conference adopted verbatim the paragraph sent up in 1872.

The Lyceum was received with much favor in different parts of the Church. It did good work in stimulating the intellectual life of the young, and in promoting a taste for the pure and upbuilding in literature. The organization was destined, however, to give place to the Oxford League, a society which retained the idea of intellectual culture, but provided also for special activity in the realm of social and spiritual life.

Ths Five: Original Societies.

The Epworth League is the resultant of the amalgamation of five other societies — the Young People's Methodist Alliance, the Oxford League, the Young People's Christian League, the Methodist Young People's Union, and the Young People's Methodist Episcopal Alliance.

Of these the oldest was the Young People's Methodist Alliance. It came into existence August 25, 1883. Its birthplace was a woody grove on the old and historic

THE GENESIS.

i r

Desplaines Camp-ground, not far from the city of Chicago. It emphasized the highest spiritual experience, mutual helpfulness, daily Bible study, the avoidance of doubtful pleasures, and ardent loyalty to all that is embodied in the word "Methodism."

The prime mover in the organization and development of the Oxford League was Dr. John H. Vincent. The General Conference of 1876 made provision for the Lyceum, but it was found that the purpose of this organization did not meet the needs of the young people. Dr. Vincent, keenly alive to the real requirements of the multitudes of young Methodists, sought to supply the vital thing which the Lyceum lacked. He proposed to organize a young people's society that should provide symmetrical spiritual and intellectual culture. This society was called "The Oxford League," after the famous English university in which the "Holy Club," to which the Wesley's belonged, was founded. The new organization was received with favor by many pastors and leading laymen, and was given hearty and significant indorsement at the centennial anniversary of the "Christmas Conference," which was held in Baltimore, December 9-17, 1884.

The late Rev. Dr. J. H. Twombly was the originator of the Young People's Christian League. Years before, in his early pastorate, he organized the young people for service. One of his dreams had been the gathering of a great Methodist international meeting of young people. The hour of the fulfillment of his dream was .not far off when the Young People's Christian League was born, in 1887. The Young People's Christian League was started with broader plans than any society then existing in the Church. The Young People's Methodist Alliance at that time had only one class of mem-

EPWORTH LEAGUE METHODS.

bers, and the Oxford League required a uniform constitution, and neither of these societies was able to group together the already existing societies which were in many of our Churches. The Young People's Christian League aimed to unify the interests of these older societies, Lyceums, Guilds, Bands, etc., with their local histories and associations, by making them auxiliary to a central body without requiring any change of name or constitution or method of work, wherever these were acceptable to their local Church.

The Methodist Young People's Union had its headquarters in Michigan. The organization was the outcome of a meeting of certain alert Detroit Conference pastors. For some time they had been impressed that the time had come for the formation of a society for the social and religious culture of their young people — a society better fitted for this high purpose than any of those already in existence. The matter was first broached in November, 1887, and a Conference organization was formed, known as the "Young People's Society of Detroit Conference." A comprehensive constitution was adopted. Many of its best features were ultimately wrought into the plan of the Epworth league.

The fifth of the "original societies" was but an infant when the consolidation took place. The organizers doubtless hoped that they had found the solution of the problem that was vexing the leaders of the younger hosts of Methodism. One who was high in the councils of this new organization has said that the North Ohio Conference Methodist Episcopal Alliance was the outgrowth of a desire for the consolidation of all Methodist Episcopal societies of young people into one great connectional society.

THE GENESIS.

i3

The; Birth of the; Epworth League;.

There are certain localities of historic interest to which Methodists instinctively turn with gratitude and pride. Epworth, the home of the Wesley family, is one of them. City Road Chapel, in London, is another. Old John Street Church, in New York City, is still another. Others are old St. George's Church, in Philadelphia, and Lovely Lane Chapel, in Baltimore. Future historians of Methodism will need to place Cleveland, Ohio, in their list of favored names, for in that city the Epworth League was born. The event occurred on May 15, 1889, in the Central Methodist Episcopal Church. The old building in which the historic meeting was held has been removed, and a handsome modern structure, known as the Epworth Memorial Church, has taken its place.

As indicated in the foregoing paragraphs, negotiations had been carried on for some time between representatives of the five general young people's societies of the Church looking toward a possible union. That some steps ought to be taken to centralize and harmonize the work was freely admitted. But just what method would most easily and successfully bring about the desired consummation was a question not easily answered. Finally the leaders of the Young People's Methodist Alliance proposed a conference. This plan met with favor. In due time an invitation was extended by the Rev. B. F. Dimmick, the pastor of Central Church, Cleveland, to representatives of the various societies to meet in that church. The invitation was accepted. On the morning of Tuesday, May 14th, the leaders met face to face.

The work of the Cleveland Conference was not accomplished without serious and thorough discussion. The representatives of the various organizations had

EPWORTH LEAGUE METHODS.

come together on purpose to unite on a plan of organization. But each one was naturally inclined to favor the distinctive features of his own society. Several plans were proposed as a basis of union, and at the beginning of the conference these plans differed so widely that some despaired of reaching an adjustment.

The Oxford League stood for all-round culture, and took as its model the Holy Club, of Wesley's Oxford days. The Young People's Methodist Alliance was intensely spiritual in its purposes and aims. The Young People's Christian League was more a federation than a compact organization, seeking to affiliate all classes of young people's societies through a central body. The Methodist Young People's Union had large aims for spiritual, literary, and social work. The North Ohio Conference Methodist Episcopal Alliance had scarcely been at work long enough to develop any peculiarities of plan or organization when the historic meeting at Cleveland was called.

Two days were spent in the discussion of various proposals looking to a union of all existing societies. At one point in the proceedings the representatives of one of the organizations felt impelled to withdraw from the conference. Later they returned, and the work of finding a basis of union issued, toward midnight of the second day, in the unanimous decision to organize The) Epworth League, and to make it the successor and sole heir of all the societies represented at the conference.

The years that have intervened since that memorable Cleveland Conference have been years of stirring history. A new Epworth host has come to the front since then. The leaders of that day are older by seventeen years. Some of them have passed on before. A few are still active in young people's work. Many are leaders

THE GENESIS.

of thought and action in the Church. But no other service they can render will so greatly make the Church their debtor as the work they did so faithfully and so unselfishly when they called into being the Epworth League.

The Justification of the Years.

Half a generation has passed since the Cleveland meeting. Many people have asked and are asking whether the outcome of these years has proven that the founders of the Epworth League were as wise as they have been proclaimed by enthusiastic Epworthians.

The ordinary facts of to-day's life in the Church are sufficient answer. There is no disposition to claim that the Epworth League has accomplished everything which its founders dreamed might be done. But its shortcomings are the flaws in a record whose value can not be estimated. The League must be judged not by how much more it might have done, but by how much less would have been done without it. The great majority of Methodists have come into the Church since the League was organized, and have always known it as a part of the Church. Its work has been taken for granted. But there can be no doubt of the value of its service to the Church and the community.

The Epworth League has sustained a weekly prayer-meeting, which, in the main, has been a distinct addition to the activities of the Church. This meeting has been a training-school in devotion, in Christian confession, in fellowship, and in leadership.

It has discovered great fields of practical service which, before its advent, were almost wholly unoccupied by the young people. The Mercy and Help work in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the similar Charity and

16 HP WORTH LEAGUE METHODS.

Help work in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Soutn, and the corresponding work in Canadian Methodism, have done much to make pointless the criticism that Methodists were too busy getting happy to pay much attention to the miseries of the world.

The remarkable Deaconess movement, which has grown side by side with the Epworth League, has been very largely helped by the League. Scarcely a League convention is held but the deaconess is there, to invite and direct the practical philanthropy of the young people. Hospital, orphanage, and training-school have been benefited by this co-operation in many ways, for the gifts of money and supplies have been crowned by the gift of self. Many a devoted and successful wearer of the white ties is a gift of the Epworth League to the Church.

He would inquire unwisely who left the League out of his studies of the present missionary revival. The Station Plan derives it chief support from large or small organizations of the League. In a single State the Epworth League has assumed the entire support of a score of missionaries in the foreign field. This plan, which provides the personal element so much needed in the support of mission work, would be almost a negligible quantity but for the Epworth League. Apart from this form of missionary activity, the League has furnished a channel for the diffusion of missionary intelligence. Mission study classes, missionary institutes, the emphasis on missions in conventions and rallies, would be impossible but for the League. And the supply of missionary recruits in the past decade has come very largely from the ranks of the Epworth League, in which missionary interest has fired missionary zeal, which has fused the purposes of many a life into the white heat of personal dedication to the missionary enterprise.

THE GENESIS.

i7

The Conferences of Methodism are very largely the business meetings of a great and complex institution. They are necessarily cumbered with much serving. The Epworth League, with its minimum of machinery, has had opportunity to provide in its general gatherings for the cultivation of the spirit of fellowship, for the emphasis on the connectional idea, and for the conduct of exceedingly profitable "Conversations on the work of God."

The Epworth League, through its consistent and continually increasing emphasis on personal dealing with the unconverted, has helped to provide a fruitful means of evangelism. And in the stated revival efforts of the local Churches there is a mass of unassailable testimony which accords the League high place as a loyal and effective agency, affording aid of the utmost value to the pastor and the officiary in the work of reaching the unsaved. •

The Church's growing interest in the study of the Bible is largely traceable to the activities of the Epworth League. During the past few years there has been a revival of Bible study remarkable both for extensiveness and intensiveness. The organized encouragement of this work is almost wholly in the hands of the Epworth League. It has called out new and specially prepared courses, whose text-books have had a popularity as gratifying as it is remarkable.

There is more giving, more generous giving, and more systematic giving, among the young people, because of the work and influence of the Epworth League. There is more private prayer, more religious meditation, more devotional reading of the Word of God, through the efforts of the League.

In brief, every activity of the Church, every outgoing" of Christly service, every element in the upbuilding of strong and symmetrical Christian character, every interest of the kingdom of God, has been blessed and profited through the providential use and spread of the Epworth League throughout the Methodist world.

Chapter II. The Organic Law

Th£ scheme of League organization is in harmony with the connectional theory of Methodism. The parent body is the Epworth League of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with its Board of Control. Then comes the Presiding Elders' District League, and, as the unit of organization, the Chapter in the local Church. There are other organizations, such as the Conference League, the State League, and General Conference District League, but these are not essential to the connectional scheme.

The Epworth League has its being by the authority cf the General Conference, and is entirely under the control and direction of that body. The General Secretary, who is the executive officer of the League, and the Editor of The Epworth Herald are both elected by the General Conference, and all the legislation concerning the League either originates in the General Conference or is delegated by it to the Board of Control.

The Board of Control consists of fifteen persons appointed by the Board of Bishops. One of the fifteen must be a bishop, and he is President of the Epworth League and the Board of Control. The others are chosen from the several General Conference Districts, of which there are now fourteen. It is required that seven of them shall be laymen and seven ministers.

The chapter in the Discipline which relates to the Epworth League provides a constitution for the government of the entire organization, framed by the General

EPWORTH LEAGUE METHODS.

Conference. This is called for convenience the General Constitution. It can be altered or amended only by the General Conference.

General Constitution.

Article I. Name. — The title of this organization shall be "The Epworth League of the Methodist Episcopal Church."

Article 2. Object. — The object of the League 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 constant growth in grace, and to train them in works of mercy and help.

. Article 3. Organization. — With a view to carry out the objects of the League, the Chapters and such other Young People's Societies as may be approved by the Quarterly Conferences, shall be organized into Presiding Elders' District Leagues, and may also be formed into General Conference District Leagues. Other groupings may be arranged for the advantage of the work, such as Annual Conference Leagues, State Leagues, City Leagues, etc. The Chapter shall be under the control of the Quarterly Conference and pastor. Any Young People's Society may become an affiliated Chapter of the Epworth League; provided, it adopt the aims of the League, that its President and officers and general plans of work be approved by the pastor and Official Board or Quarterly Conference, and that it be enrolled at the Central Office.

Article 4. Government. — The management of the Epworth League shall be vested in the Board of Control, which shall be appointed by the Board of Bishops, and shall consist of a bishop, who shall be President of the Epworth League and of the Board of Control, and

THE ORGANIC LAW.

one from each General Conference District. If the number of the General Conference Districts be odd, the Bishops shall appoint one member at large, in order that there may be an equal number of laymen and ministers. The Editor of The Bpworth Herald, the General Secretary of the League, the German Assistant Secretary, and the xAssistant Secretary of Colored Conferences, shall be advisory members of the Board of Control. The Board of Control shall meet four times in each quadrennium.

Article 5. Officers. — The officers of the League shall be a President, a Vice-President, a General Secretary, and a Treasurer. The President shall be chosen as hereinbefore provided. The Vice-President shall be chosen by the Board of Control from its own body. The General Secretary shall be elected by the General Conference, and shall be the executive officer of the League. Pie shall have charge of the correspondence, and shall keep the records of the League, and perform such other duties as the Board of Control may direct. The Editor of The Bpworth Herald shall be elected by the General Conference, and shall perform such duties as relate to the editorial department of Epworth League publications. The Treasurer shall be elected by the Board of Control.

All these officers shall be elected quadrennially, and shall hold office until their successors are chosen.

Vacancies in any of the above-named positions, except the Presidency and the Editorship of The Bpworth Herald, shall be filled by the Board of Control.

Article 6. German Assistant Secretary. — The Editor of the Hans und Herd is constituted the German Assistant Secretary of the Epworth League.

Article 7. Assistant Secretary for Colored Conferences. — There shall be an Assistant Secretary of the Epworth League for work within colored Conferences, to

EPWORTH LEAGUE METHODS.

be elected quadrennially by the Board of Control, who shall perform such duties as the Board of Control may direct.

Article) 8. Finances. — The salaries of the General Secretary, the Editor of The Bpworth Herald, and the Assistant Secretary of work within colored Conferences shall be fixed by the Book Committee, and paid by the Book Concern, together with such administrative expenses as may be authorized by the Board of Control.

Article) 9. Central Office. — The Central Office of the Epworth League shall be in Chicago, 111.

Article: 10. Local Constitution. — The Constitution for local Chapters shall be in charge of the Board of Control; provided, however, that no enactment shall be made which shall in any manner conflict with this General Constitution.

Article ii. By-Laws. — The Board of Control shall have power to enact such by-laws for its own government as will not conflict with this Constitution.

Article: 12. Amendments. — This Constitution shall be altered or amended only by the General Conference.

Local Constitution.

The Local Constitution, which applies to and governs the individual Chapters, is framed by the Board of Control.

The Local Constitution may be changed by the Board of Control, but only so far as the changes may be in harmony with the General Constitution. It can not be changed by local Chapters, and is not subject to adoption by them. Whatever modifications are made in it from time to time by the Board of Control become immediately operative in every Chapter, and the work should be adjusted to these changes promptly. The

THE ORGANIC LAW.

Local Constitution, as it now stands, is as follows, as revised by the Board of Control at Philadelphia, May 6, 1903:

Article i. Name. — This organization shall be known

as the Epworth League of the Methodist

Episcopal Church of , and shall be subordinate to the Quarterly Conference of said Church. It shall be a Chapter of the Epworth League of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Article 2. Object. — The object of the League 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.

Article; 3. Membership. — 1. Members shall be constituted by election of the Chapter, on nomination of the Cabinet. 2. The pastor shall be ex officio a member of the Chapter and the Cabinet. 1

Article: 4. Departments. — The work of the League shall be carried out through four departments as follows: 1. Department of Spiritual Work. 2. Department of World Evangelism. 3. Department of Mercy and Help. 4. Department of Literary and Social Work.

The distribution of work under each department shall be as follows :

I. Department of Spiritual Work. — This department

1 Whenever a Chapter so decides, there shall be two classes of members — active and associate. Active members shall, in addition to election as provided in Section i, subscribe to the following pledge:

I will earnestly seek for myself, and do what I can to help others attain, the highest New Testament standard of experience and life. I will abstain from all forms of worldly amusement forbidden by the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and I will attend, so far as possible, the religious meetings of the Chapter and the Church, and take active part in them.

In such cases, active members only shall be eligible to election as officers of the Chapter.

EPWORTH LEAGUE METHODS.

shall arrange for the regular devotional meetings of the Chapter. It shall look after the spiritual welfare of the members, inviting those who are interested to join the classes of the Church. To it shall be committed the work, wherever possible, of organizing and training a personal workers' class. It shall, at least once each year, present the subject of the Morning Watch Enrollment, endeavoring to enlist all the members and friends of the League and Church in the movement. It shall endeavor to interest the young people in systematic daily Bible study, and shall have supervision of the Bible study classes. To this end it is recommended that a Committee on Bible Study be appointed. It may plan special revival meetings, and neighborhood outdoor and cottage services, and other meetings of like purpose. It may also conduct devotional meetings for special classes of persons, as sailors, railroad men, etc., and may also conduct prayer-meetings for children where there is no Chapter of the Junior League. It shall help the Superintendent in building up and strengthening the Sunday-school. To it shall be committed all the evangelistic and devotional activities of the Chapter. Where the work of the League is so divided that the work of the different departments is interwoven, the Department of Spiritual Work shall arrange for the devotional services in sociables, lectures, and all meetings of similar character.

II. Department of World Evangelism. — This department shall endeavor to interest the young people in the missionary and other benevolent interests of the Church. It shall enlist the members in the systematic study of Christian missions. It shall have charge of the circulation of the Missionary Library and literature. It shall arrange for the monthly missionary meetings of the Chapter, and shall circulate a cycle of prayer for World

THE ORGANIC LAW.

Evangelism. At least once each year it shall present to the Chapter the claims of Christian Stewardship and shall seek to enroll the members in the Christian Stewardship Enrollment. It shall continually keep before the young people the aim of the department, as embodied in its motto, "The world for Christ in this generation."

III. Department of Mercy and Help. — This department shall arrange for the systematic visitation of the members of the Chapter, the sick of the neighborhood, the aged, and the newcomers to the community. It shall interest the League in the charities of the place, and plan to give aid when needed. It shall promote, whenever possible, campaigns of temperance reform, the signing of the temperance pledge, and the circulation of temperance literature, and shall conduct temperance study classes. It shall have charge of social purity work, tract distribution, Christian citizenship, and kindred activities. All kinds of charitable work, when undertaken by the Chapter — such as visiting hospitals, nursing, distributing flowers, starting industrial schools, conducting employment bureaus, coffee-houses, day nurseries, etc. — shall be under its care.