The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-08


 Fully 800 out of town men were pres ent at the first days session of the auxiliary towns convention of the Men and Religion Forward Movement yes terday at the Fifth Avenue Presby- terian church. These visitors represent towns in every section of the state. Many of them were ministers who at tended the meeting to get the idea or the new movement and spread 1t throughout their own locality. The vis- itors arrived in Birmin gham all day yesterday and the convention today promises to be one of the best meet ings of the entire campaign.
 Yesterdays convention opened with devotional service at 930 o'clock. pr A. A. Stockdale of Boston presided at the prayer service, using the sub feet, "Prayer as an Agency of the Kingdom" pr. Stockdale spoke Tor half an hour on this matter aud brought an excellent message to the assembly, The next speaker to address the con yention was the Rev. w. F. Bieder- wolf. who used the subject, "The Need and the Opportunity" pr Biederwolf is one of the most forceful speakers ever heard in Birmingham He outlined the need of Christian work and work CTS. and told of the vast opportunity for such work. The last speaker or the morning was the Rev. F. s. Good man, who talked for 30 minutes on The Bible in Action" Mir. Goodman's talk had to do with definition of the Bible, the need of it and it's adaptability to modern methods.
 "The Bible is literature of the high est type," said Rev. Goodman. Tt is living and active and is never more out of place than in the library or lying unused on the table. The hope of America is return to the old book and to rediscover what our fathers found there."
 Bible Study
 In talking about Bible study the Rev. Goodman said: 'The principles on which Bible study should be based are;
 Leaders should believe that the Bible is a book that has more human power and vitality.
 Methods and plans must constantly be adapted to the needs of actual groups of men and boys.
 1.-The schemes put into use must take into consideration the thousands of men whose daily tasks prevent them from coming to the customary places of wor- ship at the regular hours.
 "Efficency must be demanded, classes should have a practical output as well as d big enrolment"
 At F o'clock the convention adjourned to the Majestic theatre. where the visitors heard the Rev. R. A. Waite address large crowd of men.
 Wilt thou be made whole" John 5-i, was the text that the Rev. A. A. Stock dale took for his address before the mass meeting of men at the Majestic theatre yesterday noon.
 The first days session of the auxiliary towns convention was convened in time for the. crowd to attend the noon meet ing, and the theatre was nearly filled. Many working men of the city were present and were very much interested in the remarks of the speaker.
 Question to Men
 Let me take for a text a passage from John, Wilt thou be made whoIe?" said Mr. Waite This question was asked by Jesus of the man by the side of the pool It is the question men need to answer to- day. There are hundreds of men that to yat ri6 of hp nap nf and the results of sin, but the trouble is that they do not want to get rid of sin When man drinks to drown his troubles he forsets that the blame things can swim.
 Religion is not a thing which you can take like d hypodermic injection. Religion is a thing that bears fruit where the