The Washington herald., 1911-12-02
Men and RELIGION to Date.

Sixteen Men and Religion campaign con-
ventions have been held in as many
cities that were regularly planned by the
general committee, and seventy-four con-
ventions have been held under the ex-
tension plan of having Populations from
tributary towns attend main conventions
and return home to duplicate the meet
ings. In the cities Of medium size 1t
is found in practice that practically all
Protestant churches take part. In the
cities of largest size, 70 per cent of the
churches do so. Others have not ex-
pressed dissent, but have simply not
united
The average registration of men in the
sixteen cities has been 600. These do
not include men who merely attend ban
quets, but only those who take the full
week instructions, and express intention
to maintain personal work. Many Of
them are representatives of smaller
cities, and are therefore leaders. At one
central convention, that of Cedar Rapids,
10 other Iowa towns were represented
under the extension plan.
The most tangible result of the cam
paign thus far is a largely increased at
tendance upon Bible classes. In some
churches where no classes for men eX-
listed they have been formed Repre-
sentatives of the general committee are
following up the work in every city
where conventions have been held, not
TO garner results, but to check up the
local men and to see that they gather
in harvests. These general representa-
tives are also studying effects and re-
porting for the advantage Of conven-
lions yet to be held. Together general
and local men are now cooperating on
the task Of bringing men into the
churches and training them for service.
The experience of Washington has been
similar to that of other cities in respect
to increased interest in Bible study
classes. No less than five new classes
have been formed within the last month
as direct result of the work Of the
Men and Religion Forward Movement.
The executive committee for this city
has on hand a list of about fifteen places
where Bible classes might profitably be
organized among men who are so sit
uatvd as regards hours of labor that they
have at present no means of obtaining
religious instruction. and it is hoped that
within a short time classes may be es-
tublished in many. if not all, of these
localities.
Readiness of church members to volun-
tecr their services in teaching Bible
classes and the general interest taken in
the work of the Bible study committee
have been notable features of the cam
paign. A course of training for
teachers is to be inaugurated this
evening at the Young Mems Christian
Association Building. and a great many
men have signiied their willingness to
inter it.
William Knowles Cooper, general sec
Tetary of the Young Mems Christian As
socation. will deliver the first lecture
IN the course. The course will comprise
series of weekly lectures, to be given
"a turday evenings in the associations |
assembly hall. The different divisions of |
Bible study work will be handled by spe-
CialistS and it is believed that the class !
Will be most effective in raising the
gGIde Of Bible teaching in the District :
Among the other activities of the Men
and Religion Forward Movement in ,
Washington are the Older Boys Crusade |
and the personal work classes now in !
process of organization. The crusade |
has taken tight hold on the interest of |
Washington boys now in the Sunday .
schools and bids fair to be one OF the .
most successful manifestations of the /
work of the movement. 1t aims to in |
duCe every boy now connected with the |
Bible classes of the various churches to |
get two other boys to join them. Ac- !
COTding to the best information obtain !
able, there are now about $500 boys, !
sixteen to twenty years of age, in the |
Sunday schools, and 5000 outside them. |
The boys have been asked to bring the |
0,UtD INTO Ine ChuTCQess II Will Jnen De- |
come the province of the men making |
up the local boys committees to hold !
them there.
The personal work classes are to be !
inaugurated by the city committee on |
evangelism as a practical means of in
teresting churchmen TO bring nonchurch |
members into closer contact with the
life Of the city. It is planned |
to hold four courses Of eight lectures
each in the central, southwest, east, and |
northwest sections Of the city. In these
lectures the Importance Of individual
evangelistic work will be emphasized.
and the best methods of approaching
men and Of arousing In them an interest
in the church and its principles will be
explained.
Within the next two weeks the cam
raiEn Of the Men and Religion Forward
Movement in the cities near Washington
will be well under wayA Plans are now
being made for a campaign in Richmond
The men comprising the committee on
auxiliary cities will meet at the Young
Mems Christian Association Building
Friday evening, December s.