Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20

NOT since Abraham Lincoln issued
his call for troops to save the
republic has battle cry so
-. reused and rallied men OF Amer
fS2fff lea as that sounded by the
N4 Laymen's Missionary movement.
No commercial enterprise, political propa-
gauda or religious crusade has united as
many men under one banner, fired them
with as great zeal or driven them with such
determination toward one common goal. In
tho work Of the church there IS no counter
part for this movement in the United states
since or before the civil war. and IL Is
doubtful if the stormy vicssItudes OF the
church's history In Europe furnish a
parallel since Martin Luther nailed his
theses 10 the door OF the castle church In
Wittouberz and went up and down the land
prOCldiming his Deus VuIt" Deus Vult"
This is a militant movement 1t is sys-
tomaucally, wonderfully organized. Each
COMPANY, corps, regiment and division
works With a will ard precision that solidi-
fes che whole. Greater in numerical
strength richer in resources it claims a
grander mission even than that army that
invaded the southland to cxtinguish slavery
aad restore the union. That army fought
under the banner Of freedom for a race
claims the salvation Of the world in this
generation. The civil liberty Of no race.
The political destiny Of no nation fuIfills
its mission nor IS any land vast enough for
its field Of conquest.
where the Lutheran movement of the
sixteenth century and the Laymen's move
mont OF the twentieth differ is in the trend
of their origin. The Reformation came
through the crucibe Of revolt: the Lay
mems Missionary move ncnt is the sum and
substance of church unity and interdenom-
Uationalism
Up to the last few years one Of the most
common criticisms OF the church was that
IL could not forget denominattonaI lines and
work harmoniousiy. one creed with an
other. This criticism cannot honestly be
made today IL has been absolutely
slenced by this movement. The evangelical
churches of America are working together
today as never before since the Pilgrim
fathers set foot on the Massachusetts,
shore. They are all united In this move
ment They are all striving to advance IT,
They are all giving the best men they have
TO swell the ranks and promote the cause.
You who attended any of the meetings Of
this great convention, could you distinguish
the Baptist minister from the Congrega-
uonaIlst, the Episcopal rector from the
Lutheran. or the Presbyterian elder from
the Methodist deacon? Lost, swallowed up
in this great sea of Christian fellowship is
every little drifting craft Of creedal diff
ference
Men who have given their best time and
thought to the real mission of the church
believe they find In this movement the thing
they have sought for these years. They be-
leve II comes nearer than any other com
mon enterprise to furnishing a means Of
turning the great deed-doing power OF the
church in the right direction and concen-
trdtlng and conserving its energies. 1t sup
plies a want every church has felt; a
means Of engendering live interest and
activity among the laymen, affording a
field for their labors, a place where they
all can labor. The difficulty has been that
the preacher was doing all the church $
work. The laity thought 1t sufficient to at
tend service once or twice week. but the
awakening has come and come through this
Laymen's Missionary Movement. Laymen
have been aroused from their lethargy and
are thrilled with enthusiasm. working
shoulder to shoulder with the preacher.
No single denomination could have es-
tablished this movement. II was too big a
task. 1t was a mans job. 1t required the