Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-06-08
R. /. Gardiner Presents Report Favor.
ing Congress Of Laymen--- Address,
eS by Pres. lamberton, Prof.
Stills and c. R. Woodruff,

PORTLAND. Me, June (-Meeetlng fOi
the fourth time in New England. the
18th annual conference of Church Club;
OF the United states was opened at St
Luke's Cathedral hall today. 1t is not
q largo convention as regards the mum
ber Of delegates present but it's intlu-
ence. if one may judge from the spiri
and interest which marked the ad
dresses and discussions, cannot fai
to b" far-rcaching. The delegates mum
bcring aoout 100. are men prominent in
the business ana professional life o'
many "f the larger cities of the coun.
try.
The program is a varied one, as re
CARDS thu phases of church work II
which it now is generally believed tIt
laTmen of the churches should assume
active parts. The social service of tho
church. the educational features of the
individual and the collective life, and
the larger missionary ideal. all arc
given liberal consideration.
The most important matter of buSi
ness was tn" report of Robert H. Gard
iner of Gardiner for the committee APP
pointed at the last convention relative
to an American Congress to meet, ac-
rordng to the recommendation of the
| committee. in 1917. upon approval OF
the bishops. The report was accepted
and the recommendation adopted pro
vious to which th"re was considerable
discussion. :he expression of opinion
hejng favorable to such o Congress.
| President James NJ. Lamherton of
Harrisburg, Pa. said in his annual ad
dress:
Gentlemen of the National Confer
cncn Of Church cubs of the United
States:
Although the first conference OF
church clubs was held in New York
in 1893, it was not until the ninth an
nual conference, held at Philadelphia
in 1901, that an organization WAS Of
fected and a constitution adopted
While there is no written provision
on the subject. yet by u usage. which
| think Wo may say has become time
honored. the president of the Nation
al conference is expected to make an
conforming to that usage ! shall on
deavor not to trcSpaSS too long upon
your time and patience.
The second annual conference was
held in Boston in 1894. the fifth IN
Providence in 1897, the tenth in Now
Haven in 1902, and now, again. New
England welcomes us. and for this. the
18th annual conference. we are met in
the City Of which LongfelloW has writ
ten:
"often | think of that beautiful town
That is seated by the sea,
Often in thought 60 up and down
Tie pleasant streets of that dear OLD
town.
Ard my youth comes back to me.
Beautiful Portland. full of historic in
terest. redolent of memories of one OF
the greatest poets of our Country. and
rejoicing in her lovely Case" Bay
At the New York conference last
year. your officers were instructed Ia
press the observance of the inter
brotherhood week of prayer tEe week
beginning November rs, the first Sun
dav in Advent. upon the attention OF
the constituent clubs. and. in the hope,
that by bringing the matter to the
personal attention. not merely of the
clubs through their president and sec
retarv. but through all who bore office
in the clubs. a greater interest III tn"
week might be aroused, personal
letter was sent by your president to
all officers, members of the councils
and executive committees ana delegates
of all the clubs in the United stat hs
whose names and addresses 'ould b'
obtained. in the hope that the per
sopal reminder of duty might not be
without use Just what results were
obtained. it is not possible to state
but it is believed some good was ac-
comrlished
In the same letter your president
took occasion to urge churchmeh ais'
to assist in the lavmen'S MISSIONARY
movement. saying! In both OF tilts'
matters. we shall be working slde pH
side with our brethren in CHRIST ~
| other names and it seems to me iha
| the old saying, 'Noblessc obbse. ap-
| plies with full force. We. churchmeh
with our higher privileges ana MOI
! frequent means of grace. should Ger
tainly be in the forefront "' ever
| proper movement of the eXtehsioi VI
Christ's kingdom on earth.
| 1t is tritc saying that man IS
social animal. and vet it is wen Una
| it's truth should now and again pt
brought to our minds. We see It's ei
| feet in the Asapae. or love 1eaSts
of early days which took their rist
from the community of goods men
| toned in the Book of Acts. and Whfcii
as the sharing of all things IN com
mon, could not be continued when tf'
| society became too numerous. serNe'
as a substitute to the poorer members
which would express well the fellow
ship and love between Christians
1 all ranks The real use of the teas
49, 60