Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-03-14
BROTHERHOOD
ORGANIZED


night and that influential congregation
is now On the list of churches that
have fallen in with this modern move
ment to bring the great body of men,
Indifferent as to the cause of religion,
into closer touch with devout and God
fearing people, to interest them in the
working and the affairs of the church
and finally through these agencies to
secure their conversion to God.
The supper and the meeting held
month ago paved the way for organiza-
tion Friday. Since then there has
been much enthusiasm among the men
of the church relating to the subject
of the brotherhood. 1t was known that
there was an abundance of good mater
ial on hand, men who were merely
waiting for the privilege of enrolling
their names.
All that was necessary Friday night
was the formal act of organization,
which was performed by Rev. o. G.
Morton, pastor of the First Presbyter-
ian church of Sunbury, who is the
brotherhood organizer of the North
umberland Presbytery.
A supper, furnished by the ladies of
the congregation. was served in the
annex at the rear of the chapel at 7
O'Clock, at which were present the
men who attended the previous meet
ing and who expected to join the
brotherhood.
The supper, as on the previous oc-
casion, was abundant, we'll prepared
and well-served. Immediately after
the meal, Rev. 0. G. Norton deliver
ed an address, which was terse aud to
the point, dealing with the subject of
the brotherhood. Following is a syno-
psis of Rev. Morton's address, which
had as its theme, 1.-The Church and
the Brotherhood. -
''Men of the church as class are
falling to the rear of the great hosts
of God in both service and benevol-
ence. This occurs largely because the
men are not organized into associa-
tions as women are. To evangeliZe
men, to pray and labor for their saliva
tion is the need of the hour, second to
no other call in the sphere of Christian
work. Men Of the church have heard
the call and the brotherhood move
ment is the result.
This mo, ement is the most import
ant in the work of the church. 1t
means that the Master is moving the
sons of God for a great purpose. 1t
means the lining up of the splendid
Drawn of the Presbyterian division of
the grand army of God. The brother
hood has been compared to piece of
machinery that is to be added to the
Presbyterian church's working equip
ment to do special work among men
In the church there are the scattered
parts of machine that are powerless.
They need All organizing force to gath
er them up and make a complete
throbbing machine Here is justifi-
cation of the brotherhood. Bring the
men into active contact with the pow
er of the church and connect them
with the power.
If man comes into too close con-
tact with commercialism he becomes
sordid in money-getting. He needs
contact with an organized effort in
the church to give him a balance be-
tween religion and commercialism.
There is keen demand today that
men may succeed in their daily avoca-
tions and be honest at the same time.
The brotherhood is not to go into
politics, but it's members will put
Christianity in all its affairs.
The United States census shows that
the majority of adult males are not in
direct connection with any Christian
church. About twelve per cent of adult
males are connected with the Roman
Catholic church twenty -four per cent
with the several Protestant churches,
and sixty-two per cent make no per-
sonal profession of Christian faith.
The total Roman Catholic and Pro
testant male church membership is
about 6, 500. 900. the total adult males
being about II, 100000 There are,
therefore. in this country, about ten
millions of men of full age who are
not in COMMUNICATE membership of
any church, and more than half of
them never enter church.
A portion of this great multitude of
men who do not attend church are in
our own towns. 1t is our duty to go
after them and bring them into vital
touch with the gospel.
Statistics show that there are two
females to every male in the Ameri-
can Protestant churches. 1t is import
ant to note that while the preaching
and official force is composed almost
of men the unofficial ac-
tivities, missionary, sabbath school
and pastoral, are largely carried on by
women. To leave men to one side. as
has been done in the past, is to lose
an executive force, whose value is be-
yond any otherEalike in quality and
quantity.
The worlds aggressive work has
been and is being done mainly by men
and will so continue to be done as
long as man is man.
Every sincere Christian In view of
the situation, should hail with plea
sure the organization of the brother
hood. The formation of brotherhoods
elsewhere has resulted in enlarged at
tendance upon the Sabbath and week
day services and quickened spiritu
ality. For the accomplishment of
blessed spiritual results God invites