Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-06-05
Lsymen's Movement Aeeomplishes
Much
Some Interesting Facts About The
Great Mission Movement in
This Land.

@tAtr7t''t1 a.
This Land.
The most interesting experiment vet |
made in promoting interest in evan
gelizing the world, has recently
been made on the I'aeiiie coast. The |
district secretaries Of ali the foreign
mission boards, instead of visiting the
leading cities alone, decided to coop
crate in united campaigns, under the
auspices of the Laymen's Missionary
Movement. The preliminary arrange
nents il each city were made by one
Of these district secretaries in person.
Mr.. j. Campbell White, general sec
rotary OF the Laymen's Movement ac-
cepted the invitation to speak at six
OF the leading cities, viz: Spokane,
Seattle, Portland, Greater Oakland,
Los Angeles, and San Diego. Mr..
Harry w. Jones, an architect of Nine
apolis, and member Of the Laymen's
Commission for the personal lnvesti-
CATION of mission fields, also accepted
the invitation to accompany the party.
He assisted in all the campaigns ex-
cept the last, at San Diego. The mis-
sion board secretaries, in addition to
assisting in the interdenominational
meetings, held at least one denomi-
national rally in each city.
In the six cities visited, there is an
aggregate population of 100000. The
returns were not in every case COM
plete, but reports were made OF the
contribution of liz 1000 church mem
bers IN these six centers Of population.
Their aggregate offerings last year to
religious work in America, were 81
49,, 800 Their gifts to foreign mis-
sions were Sll6,000. After careful dis
cussion in each city, both by an inter
denominational committee and by de-
nominational rallies, il was voted to
undertake to increase the foreign mis-
sionary offerings OF these six cities, as
soon as possible, TO a total of $4,000
| annually, or just over four times what
was given last year. 1t il not expect
| ed that this entire increase will be
made in single year. In some cities,
a graduated scale Of increase was
| adopted, running through two or even
three years. When this ideal has been
reached, it is to be observed that the
total for work abroad will he less than
20 per cent of the amount row being
spent by the same constituency at
home.
An increasing number of individu-
| ais and congregations are determining
that they viii devote at least one
fourth of all their offerings, toward
| the evangellzation of the non-Chris-
tan wo. Id They argue that if SO per
cent is spent on local religious needs
and rs per cent ON various forms or
aggressive Christian cffortin America,
the remaining rs per cent is surely a
small enough proportion with which
to prosecute an adequate campaign of
evangelizatlon among thousand mil
lions of non-Christians abroad.
The district secretaries of the mis-
sion board are enthusiastically in IA
vor of this method of united mission
| airy campaigns in great cities. The APP
peal is the same to all churches--to do
their Utmost TO reach the people in
their own special fields at the earliest
possible moment. Without any over
| tapping or competition, there is abun-
dance for all our churches to do in
evangelizing the vast multitudes
| which no one else is attempting to
reach. The fact the whole work is be-
ing attempted on comprehensive and
cooperative basis, appeals power fully
to the laymen of all churches,
During the last six months, the Lay
mems Missionary Movement has held
campaigns in twenty-five cities in the
United States, containing 2,546, 900
people, $40, 5S5 COMMUNICATE church
| members were reported. They gave to
religious work in America last year,
SIS ,405, 800, and to similar work abroad
s297 400. They have decided to under
take to raise total of $7,l75,000 an
nually for foreign Christian work, an
aggregate increase of $877 $50. In
many cases, two years or more are
taken in which to work up TO this
higher standard.
During the same period in Canada,
the Laymsn's Movement has held
cam paigns in seven cities, containing
all aggregate population of $4,000. or
these, l36, 1913 were reported as Protes-
tant church members, who gave to
local Christian work last year, $2,043,-
775, and to home and foreign missions,
S344 ,537 They voted TO undertake to
increase the amount to missionary pur-
poses, to 1917 900, an increase Of $685.
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