The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-05-22
THE LAYMEN'S MEETING.
Presbyterian Missionary Conference I'm
Clinton.

Clinton, May 1.-THE Laymens
Missionary Conference of the South
err Presbyterian Church for the State
OF South Carolina convened here in
the Thornwell orphanage chapel al
S:45 this afternoon. The sessions were
presided over by the Hon. w. F. Stew
enson. Of Cheraw. After a prayer by
Rev. Alexander Martin, Of Rock Hill,
Prof. A. E. Spencer, Of the Presby-
terjan college made the address OF
welcome. which was responded to by
Mr.. Stevenson. The music was led By
a large choir Of young men from the
Presbyterian College of South Caro-
lima.
The first address Of the afternoon
was by Mr.. H. C.. Ostrom Of Athens.
Ca, field secretary Of the movement,
on the timelihess Of the present mis-
sionary uprising to men. In an earn
est and convincing address Mr.. o.
from made 1t clear that conditions at
home and abroad make this day Of
vast opportunity for reaching the
heathen world.
DR.. d. Clay Lilly Of Kentucky spoke
with great earnestness and power on
the subject Of ''The Unused Portion" {"
The afternoon session then closed with
a benediction by DR.. Alexander
Sprunt Of Charleston.
In the evening, before an audience
OF 1920 Of whom $50 were men, Rev.
DR.. 8. p. Fulton. of Kobe. Japan, gave
an account OF the Presbyterian mis.
sions in japan. DR.. ]. o. Reavis.
Nashville. Tenn, co-secretary Of for
eign missions, forcibly presented "The
World Field Of the Southern Presby-
terian Church and its Needs" Mr.. C.
v. vickrey Of New York city gave a
very interesting account of his extern
sive visit to mission lands. This closed
the evening services.
The conference will hold three ses-
sions tomorrow with addresses by lay
men, ministers and missionaries. So
far 245 visiting delegates have been
registered; about SO others are ex-
pected by the night trains. It is very
significant that 800 laymen should
leave their business to consider the
work Of foreign missions.
Clinton. May 19.-The last session
of the Laymen's Convention was
marked by especially able and thrill
ing addresses.
A solemn stiffness fell over the
whole assemblage. which numbercd 4
az least fifteen hundred people. when
Mr.. Stevenson announced that. after
the opening song, special prayer
would be offered by the Rev. DR.. S. M.
Smith for Mr.. Morrison and Mr.. Shep-
pard, the missionaries Of this Church
who are on trial in the Courts Of the
Congo. under charges of having de-
famed the reputation and so injured
the stock value Of the Kassai Rubber
Company.
The first address of the evening
was that Of DR.. George Cromer, of
Newberry. on the topic "Why Mis-
sions Should Interest Laymen." Dr.
Cromer's speech was model Of con-
ciseness. and was one of the notable
ores Of this gathering. He mentioned
some reasons why missions should in
terest laymen. He said that the best
MEN are now interested in this sub
ject. and with the best reasons. One
ct these is the low. subordinate one OF
commercial advantage. Higher than
this, though not the highest. is love
for their fellow men. A strong reason
Is found In the clear teachings Of the
Bible that is Gods plan for the
world to be evangelical through hu-
man agency, and that by service for
others men grow. The best reason
should be loyalty to Christ as a King
f1o compared the Christians attitude
with the declaration Of Cecil Rhodes
OF his life purpose, to float the English
flag over as much of Africa as was
possible In his lifetime. He said that
In the end, man would be judged
not by the orders he received, but by
what he keeps. Self-respect should
call a man into the field to work 70,
love Of his Master.
The second speaker Of the evening
was Mr.. l.. c. Vass, who has a most
interesting personality and a breez,
way Of expressing himself. He de.
scribed his work in Scotland supervis-
ing the building Of the second Laps.