The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-01
MEN ARE AROUSED
 IN GRAND RAPIDS Churches and Laymen Fired With Religious Spirit RESULTS ARE SHOWN Men and Religion Forward Move ment Seizes Industrial Town
 Where Conditions Similar
 to Those in This City
RESULTS ARE SHOWN

Grand Rapids, Mich, November so.- l Special "A month after the eight day campaign of the Men and Religion For ward Movement, in Grand Rapids, the committee of 99, as well as the people in general, are of the opinion that it has been of definite and real benefit to the city and the churches. One of the most important results of the campaign was laying bare the fact that there Is an inn mense amount of work for public welfare that ought to have been done but had been left undone by the men of the city.
 Even more valuable than any visible concrete results is the deep realization of the neglect hitherto of active personal work which has characterized a large ma jority of the men in the churches. This fact has been driven home. On the part of hundreds of men there is deep deter imitation that heHafter they will meet as never before the obligations they owe to God and their fellow men. It Is a re- markable thing to find here in an in- dustrial city in this material age hun dreds of active business men who are conscience stricken with sense of their
 
 Another fact to be placed before con- crete, visible results Is the abiding effeNt the campaign has had on the pastors of the city. They were stirred to the depths of their being and many a one of them his become a changed man, not merely as to personal responsibility to his church but as to his responsibility as a citizen, as to his place in public affairs. It is the general opinion here that the Ministers will be more fearless in the proclamation of the fundamental truths of their religion and of the application of its principles to the conditions and needs of today. The effect of the Men and Religion Forward Movement upon the congregations through this awakening of the pastors can hardly fail of being important Ger tain is it that in Grand Rapids the cam paign marks a really forward movement on the part of the churches
 Religious Atmosphere
 "A religion atmosphere" has been created in this city to an extent that never evisted here before The dany | papers, which have always given gooG | space to religious news, are ready and | willing to increase that space to | large amount. In fact, they take any thing that is really worth printing | with pleasure and give column after column to items from the religious | world. Not only In this way has a | change been seen but men are talking about the matter of religion and mans obligation to God, as not before.
  tories of the city each week. Pas tors of the city, by request of the shop committeeman themselves, are the speakers at these meetings, which are held at the noon hour from 12.15 to 12,45 A layman acts as the lead- CT, having charge of the singing and other arrangements of these meetings The record of attendances is being kept and is estimated that 1900 men are reached with the message of the gos- pei each week large number of these men are reached in no other way. It is becoming manifest that the spirit of the men toward the churches is De- coming better and far more friendly The pastors are receiving the most courteous attention and co-operation. There can hardly be question that the general tone. the spirit of many of the men in the factories, who are not members of churches, being changed and that they are benefited by this work. Pastors have been assigned to factories for three month period as an experiment. Il is deemed best to Keep man at one place for a cer- tain length of time in order to give him an opportunity to learn to know the men personally, as we'll as their particular local conditions and needs A number of the pastors have gotten out series of addresses and they have had the topic printed on cards to be distributed among the men of the fac tory.
 Plan Boys Work
 The boys work committee under the instructions of the committee of 99. is proceeding to make arrangements to call