The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-13

NTIONA
CON
ing the church for the second time in
ten wears, the auditorium of the pres.
cnt building having a capacity Of seat
ing 5000.
Another Instance.
"Second-At Avondale. Colo, there
Is a little country church. a few years
ago a Mrs. Murtha became a resident
OF this community and found that 1t
was a custom of the cowboys to break
up the Sunday night service by riding
around the church and shooting off
their revolvers. She knew Of the or
ganized bible class work and believed
that 1t would win these men if prop
erly presented. The results of her la
oors have been rewarded, for there is
today a splendid cowboy bible class
known as h Stand-bys. numbering in
membership about sixty-seven. In
June. 1910. this class rode on horse
back fifty miles and led the Mems
! Class parade at the Colorado
state Sunday School convention at
Pueblo.
"Ihird-The bible class is also prov
ing to be effective in winning recruits
for II ministry and other kinds Of
christian work. Nothing appeals
more strongly to men than taking "a
leadership OF a movement which has
enlisted a large number Of men. When
ynlln0 man GOO t1aat <A> 1L,,.>t, - 49,
listing men by the ten of thousands,
and hundreds Of thousands, as the
bible classes Of the continent are do
Ing. they are much more inclined to
feel that leadership in the church is
not only a manly but useful position
to occupy in life. a class in a small
church in Kansas sent from its mem
bersaip last yea four young men who
nave gone to the seminary to prepare
dences could be given, witnessing TO
this fact.
"Fourth-The bible classes are also
ushering in a day of larger and fuller
and more practical christian brother
hood. These classes are finding en-
ploNment for the unemployed, system
atically visiting the sick, giving help
to the needy in every community and
contributing toward every phase of
benevolent and philanthropic en-
deavor We recently sent a question.
aire to 100 classes representing as
many different parts of the field. The
questions revealed that these classes
distributed annually an average OF
5000 each for benevolent work.
"Fifth--These classes are also be.
coming leaders in all missionary en-
terprises. The 100 classes TO which
We sent the questionable gave infor-
nation showing that they contributed
annually 1925 each for missions. If
all OF the present adult classes con-
trtbuted an equal amount 1t would be
equivalent to S3,157,S75 One class in
Canada with IL membership Of only
about twenty men is supporting its
own teacher ss a missionary in Africa.
Many other instances might be given
evidencing the fact that these classes
are the backbone of the missionary
Of our continent.
"sixth-The classes are also taking
q strong and active part In cam
paigns against the liquor traffic and
for civic Righteousness. In a temper
ance campaign in an Ontario town, A
saloonkeeper wrote saying that the
whiskey forces could handle every
class of men but the bible classes. At
Sss Nv d COcIdvIOH
has succeeded in driving saloons both
from their city and their county. In
Flora, ILL.,, the bible classes not only
succeeded in carrying local option. but
afterwards when a mayor refused to
enforce the law. they brought such
pressure to bear upon him hat he re-
signed his Office and then they pro-
ceeded to elect a mayor who was in
sympathy with the law and had back
hama ArA,,nh On nhA1. L(~ @otl, 80
fee.
"Seventh-The best evidence Of the
effectiveness Of bible study. however,
IL manifested In the large work they
are doing in winning men to a definite
acceptance Of Christ as q personal
Saviour. AZ xenia. Ohio, where we
spent q Sunday recently there Is q
class composed Of both men and vom-
IN. from whose membership more
than . hundred have been led to
Christ and into church membership
lanta. Ga, reported sixty.hve CONVEX
slons in one year. Instances like these
might b6 multiplied over and over
again. all Of them witnessing to the
fact that when men and women begin
to study the work OF God their con-
sciences r quickened and their
hearts are won Il the Saviour Of
men,"
Opening Meeting.
The convention was formally OPEN
ed Tuesday evening with a supper in
the basement auditorium of the Pres
byterian church.
In spite Of the fact that last even.
ing saw only the opening Of the gath
ering. there was a splendid represent
alton from all over the state and quite
a number OF visitors r expected in
the city today, Every minute Of the
program promises to be vital wit In
forest. Every member OF the team
knows what he intends to say. and
there r no long addresses. The
purpose 10 to present to the men the
working plan for the carrying on Of
more effective work in the church.
Following the banquet in the base
ment auditorium Of tho church ad-
HNAAklAAaA1 nA