The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-08

INSTITUTES anu conventions tney Will
hold later in surrounding towns
One of the features of the con-
vention yesterday was the supper at
the Y. M. C. A., attended by about
125 of the older boys of the city.
Mr.. Fagenstrom is certainly a win.
ner with boys, and his address on
"The Challenge to the Older Boy"
was received with the greatest en-
thusiasm.
DR.. Dick and Mr.. Fagenstrom were
obliged to leave on the early train
| this morning. DR.. Dick is to take
part in some of the big Men and
Religion campaigns in the New Eng
land states and must leave Mime
apOlis tonight He is undoubtedly
one of the best social service men
| in the country. His address last
evening was a masterful presenta-
ton of the subject.
| Harry Jones, who was to have
come as the expert on missions.
was detained by law case, and
his place is being taken by Rev w.
/ III. Medlar, pastor of the Linden
Hills Congregational church in Min
neapolis, who has just returned
| from a world-tour of Christian mis-
! sions.
! Meetings Held Yesterday.
/ The proceedings yesterday after
noon were opened by song service
/ led by Secretary Deerhake The ses-
| sion was held in the lecture room
of the Presbyterian church, and a
number of out of town people who
are interested in the movement were
i present. Miss Mamie Skuse presided
at the piano during the musical
numbers with her accustomed ease
and grace. Rev. r. f. Chambers of
Jackson offered prayer.
| Rev. S. M. Dick of Minneapolis pre-
sided and said that the men and
Religion Forward Movement is one of
the greatest and most far-reaching
that have ever swept over the world.
/ The word of God is the fundamental
principle of the movement, and the
evangelism, the mission work, the
social service and the boys work
are the important features Really,
1 the whole message is evangelical,
and if we miss this note that runs all
through it, we miss the message
itself.
Rev. Mr.. Dick took up Social
said that it was intended to awaken
a mans consciousness, SO as to get
right down into his business. 1t
affected the whole business and COM
mercial fabric as it relates to the
message. 1t is transferring from the
pulpit to the pew the Christian work
1t is exalting Christian life as well
as theories. 1t means that men will
take prayer and Christian principles
into business and politics. 1t affects
the relations of capital and labor,
requiring each to ne right with the
! other.
THE young people are taking to
the trifiing things of life. A vaudeville
show would draw six people to one.
that Van Dyke or other high class
lecturers would draw. 1t is not the
mothers but the fathers, who are
the ones who can overcome this. It
is the fathers and big brothers. 1t
has been said that the way to hold
the boys in Sunday school is to
hedge them about with wall of
men, and this is the thing to be
DONE"
A conference on the subject of
Social Service" was conducted by
| Rev. Mr.. Dick, who answered ques-
tons put to him. THE court of popu-
] lar opinion, which involves publicity,
| was a last resort to bring about the
! factory owner. and his young en-
ployes. 1t was work for the Iaymen
and not for the preachers. 1t would
have to be carefully handled and
studied
"How to have church influence
felt in a community was considered
There should be five key men in
each church, each having one Of
the five subjects, and let each key
man select others to help him. The
men of the church should. be or
ganized, and the key men Of the
church should report. Do not get out
! side speakers. There should be some
objective. In Mankato such an objec.
tive might be law enforcement. If
you have mayor who is seeking
this, stand by him. If he is not,
snow him under. 81 do not know any
thing of your local situation" added
the speaker.
"The theatre should be cleaned out
or made to put cleaner and purer
amusements on for the young people
to see. 1 was recently told of a
Judge who had tried LOO divorce
cases, and said that most of them had
their start in the theatre. The move
ment in this city should see to law
enforcement and clean theatres.
Force of Public Opinion.
"The force of public opinion, worked
up, will prove potent in moving men
to action who are influential but who
s,,x-
The men of an organized Bible class
can do a great deal, and no other
organization should be formed in