The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-17
BY Fred e, Smith.

or the most thoughtful men in the
church. both Of the ministry and lai-
~, should hold their breath and look
askance when there comes the an
nouhcement OF new and unusual ef-
lori winch proposes to invest time,
thought. physical energy and money
In attempting to yet more fully solve
the problem of the church and its
men. The years have been no filled
with such announcements that an
other one here or there does NOT
make much of an impression.
notwithstanding this handicap al
the beginning. the fact 10 that the
men and religion forward movement"
Is rapidly gaining the commentator.
hearty approval and personal coop
Grafton of the greatest men of the
church, East. West, North and South
Men who three or four months ago
said they did not feel as though they
were called upon to take hold OF thus
new enterprise are to-day found
among its strongest advocates The
How can such a change be brought
about in so short a time - Two or
three answers can be given:
First. The ideal of THE Men and
Religion Forward Movement" is 80
vast that countless thousands OF men
are seeing In 1t hope OF enlarged Wis
ion for the men and boys of these
two nations. North America is to-
day flushed with prosperity. Life is
full Of things that make 1t charming
and fascinating No great shadow
overhangs tho future. 1t takes only
a casual glance at history to re-
member that such periods have not
been times Of greatest permanent
progress for either nations or indf-
Viduals. North American life needs
an ideal that Is vast enough and com
pelling enough to demand the best
blood among its men. Serious men
among us believe THE Men and Re-
ligion Forward Movement" furnishes
such a program
Second. The Men and Religion
Forward Movement" is one step NOR
In the trend OF the modern spirit of
unity Nowhere does the literature
make any reference to an attempt to
consolidate, from an organic stand
point the Christian forces Indeed.
TINS Is neither directly or indirectly
thougnt TO be an essential part OF the
campaign. organic unification may
or may not be essential to the future
or Christianity. but the spirit of unity
is indtspensa Bile and is being demand
ed from every angle of the civilized
word. There are not a few men who
/ f''NS7" W pttlNNS III he Men ana
Religion Forward Movement sim
ply because it demands one more step
IN bringing Christian forces to a unit
| In their attack upon the problems ar
world CHARACTERIZATION
Third. The Men and Religion For
ward Movement has tremendous an
peaiing power in its whole plan BY
reason OF the unusual preparations
running throughout the whole schemr
To
~ link them to the life of the local
church. AT the very inception OF tho
movement strong committee has
been appointed charged with the def
mite responsibility OF outlining meth
DDS that will make the movement or
lasting permanent value. The Con
serFatton Day" is announced for Aprii
zS, 1912, at which time the men of
every church in North America are
to be called upon to meet in their
own churches to make permanent
plans for specialized work among
men and boys. At a recent meeting
OF the committee held In New York
the most conspicuous report was the
report of this committee. which il
now in active service six months be
tore the campaign begins.
Fourth. The Men and Religion
Forward Movement" Is unique in It's
EFFORT to bring into action all of the
greater elements that ought TO he In
the working scurrsotiiarn Of every
church. There have been eyangelis-
tic ampaIgns. Bible rallies and mis-
slonary emphases for the propagation
OF each In turn. These will and ought
to occur again. but never before mas
any one movement proposed to dis
play them all upon one platform. This
ideal is so vast that It's daring has
invoked sympathy and corporation
from many otherwise Indifferent men.
Fifth, The Men and Religion For
ward Movement Is back to tho
church" appeal. Notwithstanding the
elements mentioned and many others
that might be named, without DOUBT
the one outstanding reason for this
unusual interest and cooperation may
he discovered in the fact that this
movement Is laying its first and fore
most emphasis upon vitalizing the
men and boys in their relation to the
individual church.
The campaign is conferred largely
around the problem of what the men
and boys of each local church can
do permanently upon this phase of
the work. The movement will rise or
fall. live or die, in exactly the pro-
portion that the forces Of each church
avail themselves OF this unusual en-
phasis. Just now it Is asked that
w. Ways VI importance
be observed.
One is the day already largely an
nounced In the literature on the
movement to be known as Rally
Day" September "a. Every church
on North American soil ought to
make much OF that day. Literature
Is available at the headquarters or
the movement. 124 East Twenty
eighth street New York city, outlIn-
ing fully the elements OF this day.
The second is Recognition Day"
June /. 1t is ample time for every
church to prepare for the wonderful
events anticipated later in the year.
Four elements will be of great
value in the proper observance of the
day ..... ..,.,..y
A service for prayer only ought TO
be held either Saturday night or Sun
day morning, the topic being The
Men and the Church
The pastor ought to preach upon
4 the movement at one Of the services
of the day.
The laymen of the church ought to
be in charge OF a special service
either in the afternoon or evening
There should be appointed n per-
+ s1aasaent IL committee to- represent the
church throughout the entire Men
and Religion Forward Movement
campaigns. ..,,-,, az s,,,.. ..,..s