The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-14
DISCUSS PLANS
JOHNSTON WORK
Speakers Make Helpful Sugges-
tons at Montreal Con-
ference.
OBJECT OF CAT Err :: NG 9
Missionary From China Points
Out Needs Of That
Country.
[specia1 Is The irpes-Dlspatch.1-

Especial to TheTirQes-D
Montreal, N. c.. August 13.-Among
the features which the I.aymen's Mis-.
sionary Movement always has empha.
sized especially are prayer, Bible
study. fellowship and open conference
large place In the conference OF the
Elaymen OF the Southern Presbyterian
Church now In session here a spirit
OF informally and perfect freedom
&pervades the sessions. and in the dis
8cussion OF the missionary committee
in the church. many helpful sugges-
lions were broughtsout and such plans
o fwork suggested as probably will
prove OF large service to many local
committees.
Object OF Conference. /.
Rev. D. Clay Lilly. D. D., presided.
and after q devotional service he stat
ed that the object OF the chairman OF
the Laymen's Movement OF this church,
Charles A. Rowland, In calling this
conference was not so much the de-.
sire to bring together a larger COM
pany Of men. as 1t was to secure the
attendance of a smaller number who
are really interested In the work.
Dr.. Lilly then said that the discus
the missionary committee and Its
work. The first question considered
in this connection was whether tho
missionary committee Is in perfect
harmony with Presbyterian Church
law, and It was decided that 1t Is and
that to a missionary committee should
be delegated the work of securing tho
subscriptions for missions and st coll
lecting the same. instead OF leaving
this work to the deacons Of the
church. It was suggested also that II
is the best plan for the same men who
secure the subscriptions to collect
them. ne,
Work Of Committee.
The next question considered with
reference to the missionary committee
was this: What ought the committee
to do more than to solicit and collect
money for missions % The responses
to this question showed that this COM
mittee can lay the foundation OF In
creased missionary interest In the
church. by distributing missionary lit
erature. by missionary investigation,
and stirring up missionary enthusiasm
IN the congregation.
1t was decided that the best plans to
be followed with which to secure
money to purchase missionary litera-
ture are to set aside a certain part OF
the incidental fund Of the church, to
secure special contributions from the
members Of the missionary committee
and to establish special fund for this
| purpose.
1t was decided that the best plan
to follow in order to get men aAsl wo-
men interested in reading missionary
Literature IS to give to each Individual
only one book at a time. with the re-
| quest that 1t be read. the signature
of the reader be written in the back
OF the book and that 1t be passed on
! to another reader.
Educational Work.
The educational work OF the mis-
sionary committee was discussed next,
and In this connection 1t was stated
THAT fist Of all the members OF the
committee should become acquainted
with missionary fields. and after secur-
ling the information necessary to gain
this acquaintance they should give II
should conduct the prayer meeting Of
the church occasionally; that 1t should
establish missionary library, and
should start and sustain mission study
classes. AS to who should constitute
the missionary committee. the con-
| ference was unanimous in the opinion
that the best men in the church should
be placed on this committees; that at
first 1t should be composed OF not
more than three men, and that the
number should be increased as the
men OF the congregation became inter-
ested in missions, and that the size OF
| the committee be regulated according
to the size OF. the church membership.
DR.. Lilly urged that the missionary