The Twentieth Century

Nov. 1900

A Proposition For a Universal Religious Celebration of Its Incoming

The century will end on the Monday following the Sunday after Christmas. Why may we not by general consent and mutual understanding mark that day out from common time — aye, even from "kalendared" days — by lifting a wave of united Christian worship that will roll around the world, which "he hath called from the rising up of the sun even unto the going down of the same?"

I would have on that day a celebration of the holy communion in every church and chapel and meeting house throughout all Christian lands, with the use of such special prayers and lessons as the ecclesiastical authorities may see fit to "set forth," and a special collection for missions, writes the Rev. William N. Dunnell in The Churchman. And I would that at midnight of that last day of the century, in every place of worship, the people gather, "young men and maidens, old men and children," to praise the name of the Lord, and as the new century came in I would have every voice and heart and soul, every chime and organ, swell "the great Creator's praise."

Where it is possible I would have the holy places illuminated. Where there is lack of clerical supply I would have some faithful layman lead the devotions of the people. Let no one, in city or country, on plain or mountain, in bondage or free, aship or ashore, be without the opportunity of joining publicly in Christianity's twentieth century "birth hymn."



Saw Nine Generations

Harriet Williams Brand, who died recently in Brooklyn in her ninety-second year, had the rare good fortune to see representatives of nine generations of her family, extending from her great-great-grandfather to her great-great- grandson.