The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-20

The International Sunday School Lee -
son for April 81 is, "AppolntiilteI LI5o ~
tba Twelve.'' Mark III:7-19. Goloeh
Text, John XV:16-
BY WILLIAM T ELLIS;
Anybody who closely 1olioMs ~
ugious trend of our time see t,.1d
fashion runs toward expensive 20 - -
tnes Individuals, local congregations
tS r.+ionaI organizations are putting
their money into steel and stone III
Nv work. CITY alone there is aIoot d
canvass for four million doliars IoI tle| s
buildings for the Young men an
Young Wonen's Christian ASSOCIATIONS
AIra.5,z ,o11tterines are heard which IN
dicate q widespread revolt against Inns
Faehior We are over emphasizing the
tool rather than the worker; for a1ter
all. a building is but an appliance ~
be used by consecrated men
II takes no gift of prophecy TO per
-e11e that the deeper tendency among
christian leaders is back toward lnS
christ wav of making disciples, ana
Du+tins into everyday men ana women
new ideas and new purposes anu 49, 49,
4'.I,or chem +o find ways of making
o1,er +he world. A man is bigger than
a church steepIe; and his Kingdom
caDacitv is greater than an apartment
house and gymnasium and school Coli--
bfued Back to man, Will pe Iho A0"
cry The elemental human resources
tba+ cod has used from the beginning
still remain the chief dependence OF the
kingdom of Heaven. Thls lesson upon
+be call of the twelve apostles IS timely
and capable of Significant oeVeloplil7H'
in the right hands.
while this lesson is being studied,
there is in session in New YORK City the
Cbristian Conservation Congress of
Men and Religion Movement GREAT
meetings are being held. great speeches.
Gre being made, and monumental re-
11or+s are being delivered by the various
commissions.
But perhaps the biggest fact of all is
that the organization behind the Move
ment perishes with this congress- IN
splendid self-abnegation, the COM
I1ittee of Ninety-Seven pass away at
the hour of their greatest achievement |
They have done a noble work in the
history of American churches, and now
they have the grace and courage to |
eface themselves.
What means this unexampled pro-
cedure? Nothing else, fundament- |
ally, than that these men have been
in the school of Christ. They have |
learned that 1t is not a new organi- |
cation, but new men that the world |
and church need. So the Men and |
Religion representatives have gone
up and down the land, lodging new
ideas in mems minds and new pur-
poses in their hearts. They have
made deciples wherever they have
gone. Tens of thousands of laymen
date the beginning of their Christian |
activity from the visit of the Men and
Religion speakers
Now by these disciples the Move
ment stands or falls. If they are true
suit will be a terminated Christian
ity in North America, and the Men
and Religion Movement will have
succeeded.
There is no blinking the fact that
these claimant times demand some
thing radical of the Church. The
realization of new opportunities has
brought a new urgency, and a new |
sense of the immediateness of the |
duty of the church to rise to this |
fresh occasion. There never has been
such call upon the forces of religion
by social, political and economic
conditions as today.
Sensing the Need for Something
Different.
Realizing this certain jealous per-
sons would turn the church into de-
batting club or a charitable relief So
ciety. Others would shatter all &C.
clesiastical organization, and quickly
merge the various bodies into color
less entity.
A better way has been shown by
the United Presbyterian denomina-
ton. There the men have taken hold
of the old organization with a nov
vision and have vitalized it. They
have permeated the entire denomina-
ton with their modern purposes. The
wonders of achievement which they
have wrought are causing all Christen-
dom to marvel. The single accomplish
ment of raising one million dollars
within the month of March, 1912 by an
every member canvass is without pre-
cedent.
After all has been said about these
modern methods, however, it is plain
that the United Presbyterians have
simply followed the oldest and best
authenticated of fashions-they have
called men into a new allegiance.
These men have accomplished results