The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-15
GREAT PROGRESS OF
MEN AND RELIGION
FORWARD MOVEMENT

Jacksonville. Fla. Dec. Ia
Splendid progress has been made
during the past two or three weeks
III the work of the Men and Religion
Forward Movement Unusual in
terest has developed in the most un-
expected quarters of the State, par
ticularly in the smaller commune
ties. The campaign which has been
hoing jacksonville for some
weeks i. ~ being duplicated in
Pensacola Fernandina and Hastings.
:, score of other towns and cities OF
| he State are gathering information
preparatory to inaugurating the
work
In the state headquarters at Jack
scnvillc. much consideration is being
given to the plans for the eight-dal
campaign here February 1925. II
has been decided that one laymah
and ole minister, not yet selected,
will leave Jacksonville January Isl
TO visit at least twenty towns and
cities OF the state for the purpose OF
securing promises that at least two
men from each church in the places
Visited will come to Jacksonville for
tie cight-day campaign to observe
the methods pursued, with view
to duplicating them in their own
towns.
The ministers of the city have OBJ
l,gated themselves to furnish enter
tainment free of charge to those
y no come for the occasion. They
have the loyal support of all the
members of their respective churches
and there will be homes for all. II
is the idea of the directors of the
movement that the laymen and min.
lister sent out shall spend at least
two days in each place visited.
One point that is being stressed at
state headquarters at this time is the
importance of organizing the move
ment in The small towns of the state.
George f.. Moody. the executive Sec
rotary for Florida, has worked OUT
A plan under which churches in the
smallest hamlets may organize for
the work on an effective and perma-
ncnt basis.
1T would be very easy" said Mr..
Moody. for the small churches to
organize mems brOthcrhOOdS and
give them something definite to do
Take the male membership and split
ii into five divisions, about as fol-
lows:
Social Service.
bible Study.
Evangelism.
missions.
Boys Work
THE social service division should
arrange reading rooms for men and
boys; the boys work division would
arrange mass meetings for the lads
and other things to interest them
and keep their minds on clean and
right living; the Bible study divis-
ion could arrange Bible classes for
men in the Sunday-schOOls and So
cial gatherings for men; the mis-
sions division could see to the dis
tributiOn of missionary literature
and formulate and every-membrr
canvass in the interest of the cause;
the work of the evangelism division
would b to make the Sunday even
ing service in the churches purely
cvangelistic and an appeal to men
to live better lives. On these occas-
ions the laymen of the church should
be given prominent places in the SER
vice. Let one read the scripture les
son. another pray, etc. Under this
division would also come the person
al workers class.
1T would be the easiest matter IN
the world for all the small churches
of the state TO inaugurate the work
with vast benefit to themselves and
to the community at Il whole. The
value of a more direct understanding
OF personal responsibility will make
itself felt to the benefit of any COM
munity. The headquarters in Jack
soncille will always be glad to an
swer inquiries bearing upon this
feature of the work.
/