Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-29
WORLD WIDE MOVEMENT
FOR CHARACTERIZATION

lUn LvhlVuLLILhIIUlV
NEW YORK, Jan. 2,-The general
committee of the Laymen's Mission.
airy Movement Of the Evangelical
churches Of the United States and
Canada has issued an appeal to the
Christian men of North America. The
appeal follows:
After five years of experimental and
constructive work among the Protest.
ant churches of the United States and
Canada, during which it has
had the hearty support and co-opera,
ton Of the leaders 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 out
side the membership of all Christian
churches. Two out of three people in
the world live In non.christion nations.
Two out Of three people in these non-
Christian nations are beyond the
reach of the present combined mis-
sionary agencies of Christendom.
And in spite Of these appalling needs
about two out Of three Of the church
members Of North America are con-
tributing nothing towards the aggres-
sive missionary work of the church at
home and abroad.
Manifestly our first business is the
en( ;stment Of the other twoithirds
Of the members of the church as in
telligent, systematic missionary sup
porters and workers. And this can be
done. Experience in all denomina-
tions, and in every section of the Unit
ed States and Canada, makes us con-
fident that in most cases thorough
going methods Of missionary educa.
ton and finance, backed by prayer
full and persistent work, would result
in a doubling Of the number Of sys-
tematic missionary supporters during
the first year, and in the enlistment
OF practically the whole membership
within a few years. These results
have been so uniformly secured and
indicated wherever proper methods
have been used that we believe the
time has come to call upon the Chris
tian men Of North America to adopt
and work these methods in all their
churches. In briefest summary, the
essential points are these:
1. 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 in
formation throughout the year.
3. The adoption Of the weekly basis
for missionary offerings-instead of
an annual or occasional collection,
with a simple and erective collecting
device such as the Duplex envelope.
4. An organized and complete per-
sonal canvass Of every member OF the
church and congregation once each
year by groups Of two men eacn. after
proper preparation for their work.
We appeal to the Christian men ev-
erywhere to put these plans into oper.
ton in their own churches. Enlarged
interest and contributions
will not decrease, but will materially
increase the offerings to the support
of the 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
missionary spirit.
For the sake of cooperative action
between the churches Of any city or
county we recommend the appoint
ment of city or county committee
of the Laymen's Missionary Movement
where such committees are not al
ready in existence. to promote the
adoption of these principles and meth
DDS among the churches within their
reach. The majority Of the members
of these committees should be laymen
but some their members should be
successful missionary pastors. The
whole machinery of the Laymen's Mis-
sionary Movement, with twenty Sec
retaries now giving their entire time
to the work is at the disposal Of such
committees in the prosecution Of their
efforts. The full available resources
Of the various mission boards and 9TH
er 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
200, 900 Protestant churches, can only
be adequately reached by an army
Of volunteer workers. Detailed sug-
gestions for city or county committees
have been prepared, and are gladly
free to anyone desiring to
share in the work.
To all these committees these two
features of work are cordially COM
mended:
1. The holding of an interdenom.
national meeting of men at stated
times for brief. strong, timely mis-
sionary address, followed by period
- {r%arooscjon .