The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-04-13

only One-thrd male and tWO-thlrdS female In Othef
churches the situation much the Prayer
meetings chiefly feminine; Sunday school work
almost wholly feminine; the attendance of
and boys looked upon Sunday
school membership something for "sisses only.
For nearly hundred years, women bore the bur-
den OF foreign mission work almost alone; nobody
measure the devotion with which American
women bore that burden. 1t heroic. In few
churches could pastors count active cooperation
from than very small proportion OF his men,
berS
Laymen in the church, but asleep At
of the laymen's meetings held in Chicago not
long ago. two brethren greeted each other loudly
and with vigorous handshaking, much to the sur
prise OF a mutual friend who exclaimed, ''Why, Sim
mons. do you know Wilkins?' DO IL" answered
Simmons Well didn't sleep together for thr
years in the same church down in old New
Hampshre?" Very aptly this plain spoken layman
described the condition of the average layman.
But the aymen's movement is waking them, first
interest in MISSIONS and then interest in other
practical church work While much remains to be
accomplished along this line, yet already aymen are
more active than ever before in the history OF the
church. More men attending church services.
More finding their way into Sunday schools as
pupils and teachers, and more boys following
them there. More men are at the call OF their pas
tors for actual service In Washington GladdenS
Congregational church in Columbus, Ohio the move
ment has stimulated the men to the organization of
band of workers which is positively pledged to
care for the Sunday schools, the prayer meetings,
the finances OF the church. and various other actvi-
ties without botherng the pastor with them at all,
and the result has been notable. In other churches
the same thing is happening, and the church broth
erhood movement has received an unusual impetus
The Movements By-Product
IT HE movement has received wonderful by-prod-
uct of stimulation of work among boys. The
church lost hold of it's boys almost entirely it is
gaining it's grasp. The church is doing more than TAX
ing of it's boys-t is reaching out for other
boys everywhere; that is being adopted as definite
policy OF the church brotherhoods.
1t has produced another by-product in greater
active interest of laymen in civic affairs In every
city of the country aymen organizing for united
effort for cleaner government and public righteous
ness.
A still greater by-product is the demonstration
work together for great purpose in close harmony
and unity. Federation, church union may yet be
far from realization but it is nearer because of the
laymen's movement.
Just why this movement should make such
traordinary appeal to men it is difficult to explain
upon any other basis than that suggested by J.
Campbell White, who declares that it presents to
the greatest possible spiritual challenge-one
that they cannot ignore DR.. Samuel I5. Capen gave
further expression to the idea when he said it takes
a moral equivalent for to stir to great spir
itual activity, and that foreign missions furnish
ing that equivalent The CHARACTERIZATION of the world
in this generation is the biggest possible thing men
could undertake, calling for the greatest possible
sacrifice and effort Even in this day OF great
things, it towers above all OF them Its bigness has
impressed men that it demands the biggest and best
in them and that sort of appeal takes hold OF
most any man when it comes to him.
The men who are in the movement believe it pos
sibe. John H. Converse president of the Baldwin
Locomotive company a hard-headed business man.