Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-10
LAYMEN END
BIC MEETING
MISSIONARY CONGRESS CLOSES
IN CHICAGO; BIG CAMPAIGN
Is BEGUN.

! cago seldom has witnessed, the firs'
national missionary congress, the out.
growth of the laymen's missionary
movement came to close IN the AUD
itorium theatre last night. 1t was !,
meeting which packed the great nan
from main floor to gallery and brougn'
together, like an army on eve OF bat,
the propaganda of the congress
throughout the United States and
Canada.
It was meeting which in It's final
session adopted a policv unparalleled III
the history Of Christianity and set It's
elf to the accomplishment OF a TASK
greater than that of the crusades, the
evsngelization of the world IN me
present generation. It was meeting
Of deep almost solemn enthusiasm as
expressed in q spontaneous chanting
Of the Doxology.
The greatness Of the work which the
Protestant churches Of America nave
set before them Is evidenced in the
policy which was adopted unanimous
ly.
Great Task is Undertaken.
It is in part as follows:
This first national missionary con-
gress in the United States, represent
ing more than twenty millions OF
church members, recognizes the I'M
mediate world wide presentation OF
the gospel messages to be the central
and commanding OBLIGATION resting
upon all Christian churches, and de-
clares it's conviction that the church
of our generation can and shouid
preach the gospel to every creature.
"As indicating the measure Of effort
required among the non-Christian
people Of the earth, we accept as a
working policy the standard that, IN
addition to native agencies. there
should be provided from the churches
of Christian lands an average OF at
least one missionary to every 26.ooo
would require the quadrupling of our
present force Of workers, and cor
responding increase in contributions
from approximately $11000,000 last
year to about s45,oOo,oo0 annually.
Responsibility Rests on Laymen.
Eve declare our conviction that &C
cording to their ability and oppor-
tunitv the laymen Of the church are
equally responsible with the ministers
to pray and plan, to give and to work
for the coming Of the kingdom Of God
upon earth. We appeal to men every
where to invest their intelligence, their
influence, their energy and their pos
sessions in the united effort Of he
church of Christ to evangelize the
world.
1--WE urge the adoption by every
church Of regular and thorough meth
DDS of missionary education and fin
ance, eliminating once year in an
organized canvass OF each congrega-
ton, with the earnest purpos, of Sc
curing systematic and proportionaf2
contributions of every member to-
wards the world wide propagation OF
the Christian evaneel.
1--WE recommend that there be form
ed in each individual church strong
missionary committee, charged with
the responsibility of promoting mis-
sionary intelligence, intercessions, and
contributions. and that in each city
or county where work is undertaken, Il
cooperating committee of the Lay
mems Missionary movement be form
ed, composed of laymen selected SO
far as possible by the various churches
to represent their constituency in the
territory covered.
"We call upon the whole member
ship of the churches here represented
to unite with us in discharging our
personal and national missionary OBJ
legations. We desire to unite with
the churches of Canada and Of our
sister nations throughout Christen-
dom, as loyal servants Of the king Of
kings. in comprehensive and ade-
uuate campaign for the conquest OF
the world by Jesus Christ who Is the
way, the truth. and the life. the de-
sire OF, the nations, and the light Of the
world"