The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-12-10

Continued from Page One.)
members have been largely inactive,
except as to contributions, the value
of the correctional system is not
known to the laity except the com
paratively few who attend the Confer
ences. The Laymen's Movement seeks
to interest all the male mcnt3trS n
every activity of the church from the
home SUNDAY school > the newest
mission field. and to find a SPECIAL
work for ever" member 1t is believed
that ignorance of what the church is
trying to accomplish. Of the great
things it is doing, of the needs for the
spread of the gospel ana the opera
tons for the good of humanity is
largely responsible for the
tive small contributions 70 these
causes. Education and information
would promote interest. Get every
layman interested and the Christian
forces in the church would be DOW
erfully felt in the uplift of mankind.
In the early days the Apostles thought
they ought not to "SeWe tables" but
have full time for the work where
unto they were called. Today in 100
many churches the preacher has been
made to pull the load that the mem
bers ought to pull.
In the Western Conference this
Laymen's Movement Ia already be-
come a mighty power. Under the
stimulating leadership of MIR. Charles
H. Ireland, Of Greensboro, it has al
ready proved it's value IND the posi-
bilities of large usefulness In this
Conference, General Julian S.. Carr
and other Methodist layrnen who are
ready to work and to give for the ad-
vancement of the interests of the
church. called a meeting at this Con-
ference to discuss the wisdom of or
ganizing. By special invitation Mr..
Ireland was invited to address the
,pnnfinu IN EHriln1y n1ornJnr 70 n
packed church General Carr in an
able and strong address. put the i'm
portance of the movement upOn the
heart and conscience of the laymen.
His address will be printed in the
church papers so as to reach all the
laymen who were denied the pleasure
and help impaired by the impressive
delivery. When he had finished. Mr..
Ireland, who may be called the father
of the movement, followed in a truly
of the work. His address illustrated
the power there is in a great idea
when it takes hold of a mans heart
and mind. A successful and progress
sive business man, Mr.. ireland illus
trates in his life the principles that
he breaches, and no preacher in his
Conference is more in Ia
bors and good works for his church
than Mr.. Ireland. His zeal and init
mate knowledge Of church work has
made him see hat the church has a
great and valuable asset in its unused
laymen that could move the world If
put to work. Therefore he has with
system and enthusiaSm-those twin
essentials for any good cause-thrown
himself into this work and his address
was full of inspiration and uplift and
made q profound impression. He is
a business man who sees the need
that laymen take owe the business af-
fairs of the church and he makes that
prominent in the Laymen's Movement,
but he does not believe 1t can succeed
if it is a mere business work that Is
to be undertaken by the laymen upon
a larger scale. He believes that all
real religious activity must be mis-
sionary and that the organization
must enlist laSmen in every line of
Christian activity excep preaching in
the pulpit, and that its mission is
spiritual development as we'll as bust
ness system. He, therefore, put its
aim upon the highest plane No
church organization that depends