The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-11-05
LAYMAN'S MISSIONARY
MOVEMENT


unite, is one Of vital importance to
the country and to the world. The
plan is to get the men whose names
are On church rolls to take more in
terest in their churches and to start
a move that will soon overflow the
earth with the gospel of Christ
The man of greatest liberality of
views may feel inclined to criticize
this movement for being confined to
Protestant churches. If this is an in
dication of narrowness, we do not
know who is to blame. We do not
know whether the Roman Catholics
are left out of the movement because
they were not invited to take part or
because they declined to take part.
We do not know that the churches
are drawing closer TO each other in
the dawning light of universal tOlera-
ton, and we know that this light will
grow stronger until every church that
processes to be founded on the teach
ings of Jesus will stand side by side,
heart to heart, shoulder to shoulder
in all good work, and that universal
federation will give place to univer
sal brotherhood.
The missionary part of the work is
important, taken in connection with
the work at home and if the Protest
ant churches did not invite the Ro-
man Catholic church to join they
may be excused on the idea that ia
one respect at least the church of
Rome does not need the preparation
that they need. The members of the
Roman Catholic church-men as we'll
as women-are loyal to their church,
and need no awakening in this re-
Spect. And considering their wealth |
hey are doing vastly more missionary
work than the protestant churches
ire. The wealth of the world is in
Protestant nations. The United
states, Great Britain, Germany, are
III Protestant France, nominally
is really agnostic Only the
'OOrer nations now really adhere to
he Church of Rome. 1t may be stat
d without risk of mistake that the
Protestant wealth of the world is five
ines as great as the Roman Catholic
-ealth, and when the protestants give
We dollars for church work for ev-
Ty dollar the Catholics give it will
e time to take in the Catholics and !
pur them to further effort
The large majority Of Protestant
the names on the rolls I
do not treat their church relations
Religious services are
argely gatherings o. women. with
IAN here and inere. We doubt :
'Fcther the women nj 80 for lelig-
DUs enjoyment. Many of them have
o where else to go to escape the mo- T.
OtOnOus routine of home. 1t is
lear that an awakening is needed in !.
churches-nOt a period Of
excitement, but a lifetime ,
{ steady endeavOr. This movement -,
; intended to impress on the men 4
ceiling that the church is the place
or man as well as woman, and that ,
IS affairs should receive his earnest
ttentiOn and his best energies.
The Characterization Of the world IS
great object. but not the least i'm
ortant part of it is the Christianiza-
ion of the Christian churches. 1t Is
10 common model that Christians pro
ess a purpose TO initiate. Nothing
hort of absolute perfection can reach !
Re plane On which the Great Teacher
stood when he laid down the rule Of
ife, DO We unto others even as We
would that they should do unto you."
Love your neighbOr as yourself"
so far as mans relations |
10 man are concerned, is unselfish- |
ness. Are Christian nations less sci |
fish than pagan nations? If not. they |
should look after themselves. and they !
should show their unseIfstness 10y
looking also after others.
Their mOvemen tbs intended tOl
make sol-called Christians Christians.
They can never become Christians. so
long as they consider anything else
more important than Christianity. il
men who profess the faith will try 10
make themselves worthy of it; if .hen
they will give to their faith the same
energy and intelligence and earnest
ness that they give to their business
they will step upward to a higher
plane. and will lift the world to il 50
that peace and brotherly love will
reign wherever man abides.-Times-
Union.
PILES! PILES! PILES!