The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-03
Men and Religion Forward.
Movements Great Results

Some idea Of the immense import
ance Of the Men and Religion For
ward Movement in which Grand Forks
is n of the n~inety-seven centres OF
the United States and Canada. the
convention and elimination Of which
VIII be reached in the convention In
cred from the following story Of the
work at South. Bend. Indiana.
The most serious question asked
everywhere throughout the continent
at the beginning OF the Men and Re-
ltgion Forward Movement, last Sep
tember, was whether this extra ordin.
airy effort would be simply another
flash in the pan," like so many religi-
Gus REVEALS Of the familiar type, or
whether it would have lasting results.
n question has been satisfactorily
where the second Of the eight.day
campaigns was held three months ago.
instead of dying out in n way. the
inspiration and enthusiasm among the
people OF the churches, and the people
OF the community as a whole is stead
lily Increasing. In order to make a
test OF the matter, a thorough inquiry
was made by E. Everett Carr. a
Journalist Of this city, and
SSN2sS SAolSAIlSIIl dS " Mlldl 1lS
round Of present conditions is ublished
IN the South Bend Tribune, the lead
ing newspaper Of northern Indiana.
Mr.. Carr finds that three months aft
er the close Of the South Bend.Mis.
ha"aka campaign of the Men and Re.
llgion Forward Movement the pro-
gram OF practical religious work, out
lined by Fred B. Smith and his corps
OF thirty workers who conducted the
INA Ia In $Y11 no4~oo, mil,
city was the second to be visited by
the religious experts, and, in conse.
quence. the results of the revival here
nave been watched with more than or.
binary interest.
The movement has fulfilled the ex-
pectattons Of the most sanguine, &C
cordtng to prominent South Bend min
listers, who point to the organization Of
the federated churches association.
the field Of work Of brotherhoods and
mems Bible classes, and the increased
church membership and attendance Of
men and boys as the tangible results.
In the Federated Churches ~associa-
ton South Bend churchmen declared
the various religious bodies are united
for concerted. Christian effort. The
membership in this organization is
made up OF communicates Of thirty
Protestant churches Of South Bend
and Mishawaka, who are AFFILIATED
With the body for the carrying out Of
the hve-fold mission of the movement
religious effort along the lines of So
cial service, bible study, missions.
boys work ond personal evangelism.
This association is the result Of one
of the recommendations made by Fred
3. Smith. At the conclusion Of the
South Bend campaign, in a conference
with ministers and laymen Of the va
rious denominations. he suggested it's
organization in order that the Chris
tan men OF the two cities might be
united on the subject of broader re-
liglous work. Not only did the mem
bers Of The various bodies form an
amalgamated society. but the pastors
Of the two cities voted unanimously to
combine the two ministerial ~associa-
tions.
One of the aims OF this body is to
bring speakers Of national reputation
to South Bend for the purpose of adj
dressing the churchmen of the city on
various features Of religious work.
Already two have appeared. DR..
James NJ. Gray, head Of the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago, was the
first to come under the auspices Of the
federation. c. w. Willis Of Milwau-
kee. Wis. a national Y. NJ. c. A. fig.
ure. followed.
However, the real work of the fed
Grafton has not begun, according to it's
promoters. The officers are now en-
gagged in building UP the membership
and later a plan of concerted action
with the view to lettering religious
and municipal conditions in the two
cities will be launched. In this man
ner it is hoped not only to interest
several thousand men in active work
who might otherwise be apathetic, but
to band the influential men of the two
cities into an institution which shall
be recognized as a power for good in
the community.
L. p. Hardy, who acted as chairman
of the committee Of 100, which was in
charge Of the South Bend campaign.
Is the head Of the federation. A COM
mittee of twenty-five prominent
church men Of the two cities forms
the governing body.
In order that the work Of the body
may be advanced with greater ehicien-
cy. five commissions, each in charge
Of n Of the lines Of endeavor suE.
gested by Mr.. Smith. have been or
ganized. In this manner the entire
held Of labor may be covered.
The various b~rotherhoods and Sun
day school classes Of the city have or
gained on a similar basis. There
We're br~otherhoods in nearly all the
Protestant churches Of South Bend
and Mishawaka prior to the coming Of
Mr.. Smith and his co-workers. but an
entire reorganization was necessitated
by the new program. There,too, the
commission plan has been placed into
operation. The parish work Of social
study. boys work and missions, is in
charge of commissions who report
regularly to the parent body on the
work accomplished in the congrega.
ton.
That the brotherhoods have taken
an unusual interest in this plan is
demonstrated in the rapidly with
which they re~organized the local bod
les. Within a week after the close of
the eight-day session, over two-thirds
OF the brotherhoods and Bible classes
had accepted the commission plan
and, moreover, placed it in actual op.
Grafton.
Not the least important feature Of
the work contaminated by the associa.
ton has been the conduct Of men and
religion campaigns in Laporte, Michi-
gan City; Goshen and Rochester. In
these cities revival efforts, very sim
liar to tina n held. here last Octo.
Der. but on a smaller scale. have been
conducted. In these cities church
meetings have been held. also religious
work institutes. religious parades, and
lastly. the reorganization Of mems
bodies for the carrying into operation
Of the men and religion program,
identically as in the local campaign.
The meetings at Rochester. were
probably Of more interest, locally.
than any Of the others. During the
four-day effort in that city, all the
speakers, with n exception, were
South Bend men. A Chicago speaker
was obtained for n mass meeting,