The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-04-29
GEN. WEAVER SPEAKS
Tells Of the Laymen's Missionary
Movement.

Inc CHURCHES OI OShdlOOSd Ouhudt
afternoon and evening united in a
great missionary meeting that was
conducted by General James b. Wea-
yer, of Colfax. An afternoon service
was held for men and the evening
congregation was the result of a
union of the several congregations OF
the city churches, seven ministers par.
ticipating. 4
4 The service was In connection with
what is known as the Laymens' Mis-
sionary Movement, that during recent
months has been attracting atten-
ton and gathering force in all parts
of the land. Recognizing the con
Iinual struggle and efforts of the
churches and church societies of all
denominations to maintain their mis-
sionary funds, either home or for.
eign, and the reluctance with which
the church. membership contributes
to the work of missionary charac.
ter, a new missionary effort has
organized among the business men OF
the church. They have taken up the
missionary work as a business propo-
sition and are handling IL much as
a business man would a business
problem. They have analysed the ex-
tent of missionary. work, its cost, Its
results, etc. They know how much
Is spent for missionary work each
year by the church body and the indi-
vidual and they have done more tC
| solicit support, TO advertise mission
airy work in general and to- encour
age effort of an enlarged character
In the missionary field than anything
in years. The average amount OF
money provided by the Methodist
church member per annum is sixty
FIVE cents. So stated General Wea
yer last evening. why, brethren
you spend more than that in year
for chewing gum
The afternoon meeting for cner
| was Introductory to the service Of the
evening. General Weaver explained
the work of the Laymens' movement
and told OF the state meeting at Des
Moines that recently attracted wide at
tention. He explained his place In
the work and laid before the laymer
| their plain duty. The General spoke
in forceful' way and he laid down
the facts in plain language. Rev
Allen, of the M. Z. church, presided
and Rev. zendt pronounced the bene
diction.
| The Central M. e. church was filled
almost to it's capacity at the evening
service The musical program wa
unusually excellent and the opening
service of prayer and scripture wa
appropriate to the occasion. Rev
| Allen again presided during the ser
Twice and he turned the meeting owe
to General Weaver to run in his owl
way, saying that the speaker needed
no introduction to an Oskaloos:
meeting and that everyone in th'
congregation was pleased of the op
portunity to hear him again. -
The General is as much at home IL
presenting religious argument as HI
is expounding political fact. He ha
lost nothing of his personal power IL
magnetism and speech and he hell
the large audience for over an hour
The talk was of evangelistic nature
showing the duty of the. church bod.
in relation to missionary work. Ct
We into all the world and preach tn,
gospel" The evangelization of tn
world was the theme of the dis
course and Individual duty as apple,
to the church was detailed and EN-
phasized Many old soldiers we're II
the congregation to hear their oil
comrade In pulpit effort and durini
the course OF the evening Genera
Weaver took occasion TO pay
touching tribute to these men.
| The truths expounded and the al
guments clinched evidently fell upol
fertile soil The sentiments express
ed from time to time met with tn
approval and "amens" and othe
words of appreciation came from al
corners of the house. Every one VIII
heard General Weaver Sunday even
ing has new" idea of missionar,
work in the d world, at home an
abroad, and his Relationship to tn
same. Not everyone can be mis-
sionary, but everyone can assist i
the support of the missionary who /
sent forth into the evangelistie field