New-York tribune., 1907-06-16
A MISSION CRUSADE.
Preached by american Laymen and
Business Men an England.
London .June

LOndon, June D.
The American laymens idea of systematized,
businesslike supervision of missions IS leaven-
ing the whole lump of British Professionalism.
The mission boards of the various religious
bodies outside the Roman Catholic communion
united in inviting a representative committee
OF laymen to cross tho Atlantic and to explain
what was the new system of cooperation which
was bringing working Christians together in
America The delegation since its arrival
week ago has been most actively employed, and
n profound impression has been made wherever
the laymen have been heard. It began opera
tioHs at the Bible House. where there was
conference with tho secretaries Of the mission
boards of the Established Church. the Wes-
leyan. Presbyterian. Congregational. Baptist
and other religious bodies. This followed
by a breakfast. to which two hundred influential
English and Scottish laymen invited, and
by mass meeting at Queens Hail. which was
presided over by Sir Mortimer Durand and
addressed by the American delegates. From
London the visitors went to Bristol. where the
Lord Mayor welcomed them. and they were
asked 10 explain their methods OF work TO
picked body OF Iaymen OF all communions. At
Sheffield they were received with equal hearth
ness by the Lord Mayor and English laymen.
and In Edinburgh there was a breakfast. fol-
lowed by a spirited mass meeting. at which II
was decided that Scottish organization should
Toe formed on the American plan. Tomorrow
the delegates are 10 be received by the Lord
Mayor of Liverpool and the Bishop OF that
diocese IS TO preside at n public meeting which
they viii address. From Liverpool they will
return to London to entertain some OF their
English friends at luncheon and 10 receive
farewell dinner at the Inner Temple SO sue
cessful have these American delegates been in
at home and abroad that English laymen's
organization similar 10 their own IS 10 be- formed
without delay.
Captain Mahan. the most representative mem
Der OF the American committee. has been pre-
vented by his physicians orders from joining In
this laymen's campaign; but impressive let
ter has been read from him wherever his asso-
ciates have spoken. In this letter he asserts
that In the activities OF the mission field where
they brought face 10 face with alien condI-
tions Christians will ultimately find the solution
OF the worst of their homo problems-nameIy
their corporate separateness from one another
and be brought together in tho single supreme
purpose Of common. concerted action At the
conferences and public meetings Mr.. Alfred f.
Marlng is ordinarily the first among the dele
gates 10 talk about missions from the point Of
view Of a business man. and to show the disad-
vantages Of the present system OF divided coun-
ellis and lack of organization. Mr.. William Jay
Schienelin usually follows him. and gives an
account OF the origin and progress OF tho lay
movement In America, which has received the
support OF all the Protestant organizations Nh
J. Campbell White is the statistician. who has
the facts OF mission work at his fingers ends
and makes a convincing demonstration OF the
necessity for united action If the results are to
be immeasuraby enlarged. Mr. Silas McBec
editor of The Churchman" and chairman OF thu
delegation, invariably sums up the case in an
incisive and earnest speech. In the course Of
which he reads eloquent letter from Secre-
tary Root in support of the movement. In the
London conferences and meetings the Canadian
delegates. Professor Hoyles. of Toronto. and Mr..
Woods. have also taken active part These