Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-20
THE LAY ELEMENT OF THE CHURCH.
Its Use and Development Discussed Be-
fore the Evangelical Alliance.

The regular meeting OF the Evangelical
Alliance was held last night at Grace
Street Baptist church. with the president,
Rev. DR.. Tudor, presiding and Mr.. b. M.
Quarles as secretary. The attendance was
good. Among the ministers present were Rev.
Drs William L. Judkins, J. Y. Fair, William +.
Hatcher, and Rev. L. A. Cutler ana george L.
Williams.
The subject discussed was How lay elements
of churches can be utilized and developed.
After q rev Introductory remarks DR.. Tndor
introduced DR.. Kerr, pastor OF the first Presby-
terian church. who delivered the opening ad-
dress In place OF DR.. Landrum, who was una
vOidably absent
Tps speaker said that he was not satisfied
with what he had seen OF lay evangelism, and
contended that the laymen should stand where
they stood and not go beyond their bounds.
Law evangelist was under no authority ana nau
no restrictions, while a minister was. Even Mr.
Moody would have better influence II he were
ordained. DIR. Kerr said the layrlan has great
and noble sphere. In the frat place, II Is his
duty 10 keep the church comfortable. This Is
small matter, but important. The financial
management OF the church Is IN his hands.
This is only a means TO an end. When once a
church is comfortably fixed as far as money mat
ters are concerned IL begins TO exert good OUT
side influence. Laymen should have family
prayers and be engaged In sunday -schooi worA'
either as teacher, scholar ocer, visitor, or con-
tributor. They should work Tor home missions
and mold neighborhood prayer-meotings.
Rev. Jabez Hall, the next speaker. stated that
be would take a different thought from Dr.
Kerr's, as the latter had covered the ground 80
we'll Laymen, he said, were restricted In their
WORK and had but little field for operating upon
tho whole mass Of humanity. lie was sometimes
inclined TO think that tho word signifed the Ia
tent men of tho church. Mr.. Hall, In the course
of his remarks referred 10 the need OF q good
nnblic library here and the corrupting inilu-
ences of dime novels and cheap literature. he
said that Richmond should have a society LOT
the prevention OF cruelty 70 animals and chill
dren Saloons are, the speaker declared, Kept
omen here on the sabbath despite the law: ms
oouId be prevented II Christian men would stand
by those whose duty 1t is TO enforce tne law.
Mr. Hall made aiuslon TO the actions OF Dr.
parkhurst, the New York minister who visited
the slums Of that great city, and said the eIni.
nent divine faced all these vile things nlmseli
because he could not trust the omciai reports
about them. DIR. Hall said he would not express
bia opinion as 70 whether the now notorious
PRESBYTERIAN divine acted wisely or not
Rev DIR. Fair, who was called upon TO supple.
ment the remarks Of those who preceded nun, saio
hs Was OF the opinion that after all the
world world only be saved BY the efforts OF lay
men. S,,s .h. a.
Rev. MIR. Williams expressed the beiief that II
christ were in this city he would not only De
liver discourses from carpeted puipits, pu'
would preach TO base-ballists and "crap-piay-
ers D who profsned the Sabbath Ia secluded sec
tions OF the city. Policemen could scatter sucn
gatherings but could have no moral enecs upon
them. ,..,.., ..-.,o.,n, ,n n,
tbe Alliance invite all the ministers OF various
denominations to hold union-'neetings on tne
nrst Monday In October and every month tnere-
after. The resolution was adopted
The secretary announced that the Alliance
uonid hold its next meeting In November.