Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-19
.LAYMEN ISSUE APPEAL
TO AMERICAN CHRISTIANS
More Workers Wanted by
Laymen'S Missionary Move
ment of U. S. and Canada


(By Associated Press)
NEW YORK, jan 1.-THE general
committee of the Laymen's Missionary
Movement of the Evangelical Churches
of the United States and Canada today
issued an appeal to the Christian men
of North America. The appeal fol-
lows:
After FIVE years of experimental and
constructive work among the Protestant
churches of the United States and Cam
ada, during which it has had the hearty
support and cooperation of the lead
ers of all those churches, the general
committee of the Laymen's Missionary
Movement, assembled in annual session,
sends out this appeal to the Christian
men Of North America:
About two out of three people In the
United States and Canada are outside the
membership Of all Christian churches.
Two out of three people in the world
live in non-Christian nations. Two out
of three people In these non-Christian
nations are beyond the reach OF the
present combined missionary agencies of
Christendom. and, in spite of these
appalling needs, about two out of three
of the church members of North Amer
ica are contributing nothing toward the
aggressive missionary work Of the
church at home and abroad.
Manifestly our first business is the en-
listment of the other two-thirds of the
members of the church as intelligent,
systematic missionary supporters and
workers. And this can be done. Expert
ence in all denominations, and in ev-
cry section of the United States and
Canada, makes us confident that in
most cases dhorough-going methods of
missionary education and finance. back
ed by prayerful and persistent work,
would result m doubling of the num-
Der of systematic missionary supporters
during the first year, and in the enlist
ment of practically the whole member
ship within few years. These results
have been so uniformly secured and in
Dictated wherever proper methods have
been used, that we believe the time
has come to call upon the Christian men
of North America to adopt and work
these methods in all their churches.
THE ESSENTIAL POINTS.
In briefest summary. the essential
points are these:
/. A missionary committee in every
church to work with the pastor in en-
listing the entire membership.
2. A period of intensive missionary
information and education in each
church once each year, continuing
through at least two or three weeks
preparatory to an every-member can
vass for missions. This should be in
addition to general missionary education
throughout the year.
3. The adoption of the weekly basis
for missionary offerings-instead Of an
annual or occasional collection,-with a
simple and effective collecting device
such as the Duplex envelope
4. An organized and complete person
al canvass of every member Of the
church and congregation once each
year by groups of two men each, after
proper preparation for their work.
we appeal to Christian men every
where to put these plans into operation
In their own churches. Enlarged mis-
sionary interest and contributions will
not decrease, but viii materially in
crease the offerings to the support Of
the local church, This has been proved
to the point Of absolute demonstration.
The surest and speediest way to solve
any local financial problem Of the church
is the generation of a healthy mission
airy spirit
APPOINT CITY COMMITTEE
For the sake OF cooperative action
between the churches Of any city or
county we recommend the appointment
of a city or county committee of the
Laymen's Missionary movement, where
such committees are not already in ex-
itsence, to promote the adoption of these
principles and methods among all the
churches within their reach. The ma
iority of the members of these COM
mittees should be laymen, but some OF
their members should be successful mis-
sionary pastors. The whole machinery
Of the Laymen's Missionary movement,
with 20 secretaries now giving their en-
tire time to the work. is at the dispos-
al of such committees in the prosecution
of their efforts. The full available re-
sources of the various mission boads
and other missionary agencies OF the
church would also, without question, be
at their command in carrying out the
program But the whole Of the United
States and Canada, with more than 2O0,-
600 Protestant churches, can only be
adequately reached by an army of vol
unteer workers. Detailed suggestions
for city or county committees have been
prepared, and are gladly furnished free
to anyone desiring to share in the work.
TO all these committees these two fea-
lures Of work are cordially commended:
/. The holding of an interdenomina-
tional meeting Of men at stated times
for a brief. strong, timely missionary
address, followed by period OF inter-
cession.
2. The holding Of a large annual mems
missionary supper, with one or two of
the strongest missionary speakers OBJ
tainable, when reports of progress can
be made and plans for future work
may be approved, and a committee ap-
pointed for the coming year.
WORLDWIDE EFFORT.
This effort is for worldwide missions.
1.-THE field is the world" The Laymen's
Missionary movement stands for an ag-