The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-28
LAYMEN MEET To
BOOST MISSIONS
Important Conferences Are
Held in Interest of the
Movement
BUSINESS METHODS
URGED BY SPEAKER
Richmond Churches Make Excel
lent Showing in Contributions
Toward Spreading of the
Gospel.

Stirring and practical talks In Che
interest Of missions were made Thurs
DAY evening at the Laymen's Mission
airy Conference held In the Y. NJ. c.
A. Following supper In the dining
room of the association budding, at
which upward of 100 laymen were
present Mr., Q. J. Sands. chairman OF
the meeting. introduced the various
speakers of the evening. Among these
were Mr., j. Campbell White. of New
York, general secretary of the lay
mems movement: Mr.. Charles A. Row
land, of Athens Ga; Professor j. t.
Henderson of Bristol. Va, DR.. {. +.
Reed. OF Nashville. Tenn.
The meeting then adjourned to the
auditorium where from 7.45 to le
o'clock there was "A most interesting
discussion Mr.. White presided and
made most effective chairman. owing
TO his varied and extended experience
that enabled him To grasp the sifna-
ton and to make helpful suggestions.
How to Win Success.
In opening Mr. White said that the
underlying thought In all these CON
ferenees is that If their work Is To go
on with ever-increasing power there
must be an increase of knowledge and
some plan Of Keeping ourselves In
formed, and that We must discover
the best plan OF obtaining success.
Around the walls Of the auditorium
there were charts OF various descrip-
tions, and on the platform there were
specially suggestive charts for the eve
ming discussion. One of them set forth
the characteristic features OF the
standard missionary church. as fol-
lows. Missionary pastor. missionary
COMMITTEES; missionary Sunday school.
program OF prayer for missions. s5's-
tematic missionary education. thor
ough canvass for missions. week.! OF
ferigg fer missions.
The general toptc was: Nm ads-
auate policy for the local church with
refernc> to missionary finance The
first topic under this general head
Was The Missionary Committee.
which was discussed by Mr.. Charles
A. Rowland
some Points Emphasized.
Following are some OF the points
which were emphasized;
Because men are net conscious of a
world obligation. foreign mission is
really home. problem.
What will the church do at home
with its world obligation" The COM
mittee must arouse the church TO its
obligation.
Because the church does not make
adequate gifts toward the meeting of
its obligation. business men In the
churches should make it their duty TO
talk TO business men and get the con-
tribations they should give
Because unbusiness- like methods are
used in the management OF church
business. business men must do the
work Of the church In business way
Because OF misconception OF facts
concerning missions, men talk OF ex-
cesstve cost Of administrations, mission
aries living In luxury. and so forth
II is within the power OF the COM
mtttes to remove these misconceptions.
Because the pastor should not be
financial agent. the laymen should take
the work OF the shoulders OF the pas
tor and develop among iaymen Gener-
ally the ability to do this work.
Such committee has proved sue
cess wherever the proposition has been
fully tried. and in some of these cases
SIS per. cent OF the membership con-
tribute.
Mr.. Campbell White urged that the
missionary committee OF each church
should meet al least once Il month and
all the committees of all the churches
should meet together once every three
made remarks or asked questions
along this line.
Enlist Membership.
..The ony way to enlist the whole
membership individually as systematic
anbscribers to missions" was the topic
discussed by Professor j. Il. Henderson
secretary OF the Southern Baptist Lay
mems Movement The speaker said
that to accomplish the object set forth
the organization must do three things;
first Of ALL procure more adequate
funds enlist the aid Of the people who
1ake no interest in mission work. and
overcome a great ignorance which con-
Germs the true objects OF the move
ment. He described how these obsta-
cles might be surmousted. His talk
was along practical lines and dweit
particularly upon the best methods to
be pursued in the every-member can
vass.
That in some cities the church II
resting while in others II is In actual
pout. was the note Of warning sounded
~ DR.. c. r. Reid. of Nashville. Tenn.
secretary Of the Methodists' Laymen's
Movement, In his address. which fol-
lowed that of Professor Henderson. As
4 specific instance OF the latter situa
q ton, he pointed to San Francisco. In
which city he said that church member
ship naQ oeCreaseQ, WHiie tue popula :
tion has doubled. His topic was why
should a persistent effort be made to
enlist the entire membership" His
reference to San Francisco and other
cities where Christianity II In decline
was one Of his most impressive an
swers to the questions set forth.
Mako Good Showing.
Forty churches in Richmond repre-
senting six denominations have contri-
huted thus far to missions this year
the sum Of 33l.sb4 ~ against $24.oS3
contributed toward the same cause for
the whole OF last year.
This was one Of the interesting
statements made at the meeting. Spe-
ciai ratification was expressed At the
1 mSuner IN which Richmond was re-
{ nnondfng. Incidentally. Lieutenant-
Guyefnor j. Taylor EllyDon told the
& .,aooline ck tlse WORK II this oonnec-
IL - 1liSk ~ Ae1alS E4led a.. M she