The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-24

IHURSDAY Y ENIN
vass of every member and adherent of
! the congregation. to the end that some
worthy systematic contribution to the
/ cause of world evangelization may be
made by every one.
| Less Than Car Fare.
''Forty-eight million dollars from
| twenty millions of church members
would be less than a street car fare
q week on the average, from each of
them. The total is less than twenty
per cent of the amount now spent an
nually for religious and benevolent
work by the Protestant churches of
the United States.
If we need to spend $500, 900, 900
year for religious purposes in the
United States and Canada among a
population of less than one hundred
millions, is it reasonable to suppose
, that we can conduct an adequate
Christian propaganda among six hun
dred millions abroad on less than
twelve millions a year? This is less
than two million dollars a year to
reach one hundred millions of people
abroad, against three hundred mil
| lions of dollars on constituency of
this size at home, or a proportion of
$50 to 1.
"By the adoption of a business-like
method of missionary finance in each
operation of the laymen, it is an en-
tirely practicable thing to lift the
churches of this country to four times
their present offerings toward world
evangelization. 1t has already been
done in so many hundreds of churches
that We speak with great confidence
when we declare that the financial
problem in missions can be solved if
the men of the church will put their
intelligent and persistent efforts into
the task.
Men are beginning to do this in
ever-increasing numbers. In one city
recently 50 laymen spoke in 50 pull
pits on the same Sunday. presenting
the methods and spirit of the laymen's
movement. This is but characteristic
of the way in which laymen can be
led to take hold of the active work of
missionary education, as advocates and
organizers.
Adopting New Standards.
"Many men are adopting the new
standards of stewardship, giving one
fourth, one-third, one-half, or three
fourths of all they earn to the extern
sion of the kingdom Of Christ in the
world. These men are entering into a
joy life beyond anything they had sup
posed possible in this world
E'That mans life is most worth living
whose work is most worth while. If
you will link ~'our life to the ongoing
purposes of Almighty God, you may
'DSCOIIl6 CONSCIOUS O1 WlCu
the joy and glory of helping to make
the whole world over into a world
brotherhood worthy of being described
as the kingdom of God.
''It is easier for an individual to do
his part hen his congregation is try
ing to do it's full duty. 1t is easiest
for a congregation to do its part when
the churches of a whole city are NOV
ing together. 1t is easiest for any city
to do its part when the cities of the
whole nation are lining up for serious
business.
within the next six months we hope
to see the 70 leading cities of America
adopt d worthy missionary policy and
rut it into immediate operation in their
churches. If this is done. it will shake
the nation. If this nation moves it
will move ChFistendom. And when
Christendom moves it will shake the
world
'"That we strongly urge the adoption
of the weekly system of missionary Of
ferings as the most scriptural, fair,
economical and productive method, be-
lieving that when properly introduced
and worked it secures the largest pos
sible educational, financial and spirit
ual results.
"That the churches Of this conven-
ton territory undertake to follow this
convention imm mediately by a thorough
ly organized canvass by the missionary
committee of each church, to the end,
that every church member be enlisted
as a systematic contributor to mis-
sions and that the total offerings of
the churches Of Topeka to work abroad
may be increased from 10,O77.35 re-
ported last year, to at least twenty
thousand for the coming twelve
months. and that a public meeting of
the men of the city of Topeka be held
on Sunday afternoon, March 20. 1910,
to hear the reports of the results ac-
complished bv the churches of this
city.
THAT similar efforts to advance
missionary giving in the same proper
tion be made in churches outside of
Topeka, included in this convention,
also similar method of campaign.
THAT in the canvass or campaign
proposed. the organizations outside of
Topeka be continued, and that wher-
ever possible the county be made the
unit, and at the county seat or other
natural center, an interdenominational
organization DE maintained for the
supervision and the completion of the
work. Respectfully submitted.
"ELON S. CLARK,
81. V. ABRAHAMS,
'W. J. RICKENBACHER,
Committee
One of the important addresses of
the convention was Americas World
sponsibility" by ]. Campbell White.
general secretary of the laymen's