Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-19

he continued. There is scarcely a Sec
ton Of the church of whatever name or
form of worship or theological belief that
is not moving to secure not only the par
ticipation. but the positive aggressive
work Of men,
There is the laymen's missionary move
ment reaching out TO every country OF
the world, and bringing American men
into touch with the men of Asia, Africa,
and South America. There are also nu-
merous denominational brotherh Gods, a nd
1t was for one Of these in particular that
MIR. Dyer was speaking.
1.-THE Congregational Brotherhood start
ed In Chicago some five years ago. he
said. when group of young men or
ganized themselves for united effort in
the cause of good government and ag-
gressive Christianity"
Through Mr. Dyer they presented to
the National Council OF Congregational
Churches, at its session in Cleveland in
1907, request for official recognition
a congregational brotherhood The re-
quest was granted, a committee ap
pointed, and six months later, in April.
1908, national convention was held at
Detroit -he general interest In and APP
prevail OF the scheme was manifest in
the fact that with such short notice 80
delegates assembled representing every
section of the United States. from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. Eighteen months
later another convention at Minneapolis
was attended by 700 delegates from
twenty-three states, among them many
or the strongest and most virile men in
Instead of one secre-
tary, there were two. and while one cared
for the detail OF organization, the other.
MT. Dyer, was free to visit the Congrega-
tional communities. AS result, at the
meeting OF the National Council in Bos-
ton in October, 1910, coincident with the
centenary of the American board of
fnr4 sexv1
ings Of the various benevolent societies
OF the denomination. it appeared that
there had been organized more than iOO
local brother hoods and sixteen state BROTH
erhoods, good record for two and a half
years.
One Of the enterprises committed to the
new organization was the movement to
secure by the apportionment plan S2.V0O,00O
for the seven missionary societies 4
campaign has gone forward with
great energy on systematic and compre-
hensive lines.
But the most important development
probably. it is declared, has been the
carrying out Of the idea that the church
finding OF means to give him that work
and to see that he does IL. II does not
aim to. establish new agencies. but to see
that men take their part in those already
existing. II stands ready not merely TO
serve men, but to help men everywhere to
serve. 1t emphasizes the note of univer-
salty. the warm, living. central heart OF
Christianity. the essential brotherhood of
men. Composed chiefly of Iaymen. II nat
lrally has a freer initiative I'm carrying
such a program than would be
possible for the ministry; yet none well
come its aid more cordially than do the
ministers. who have long sought to find
/ way to utilize for the church the same
,ower that organizes and conducts the
great enterprises for material prosperity
There il already on foot a plan to have
he next national convention of the.
held In this city. IF IL comes :,
I will be sure of q hearty welcome, not L
merely from the Congregational churches
e the city, but from other denominations.