Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-02
THE MEN AND RELIGION
 FORWARD MOVEMENT.
How It originated--What orsaniza- tions Are PartlciPatins-Purpose and Spirit-PIans and Aims.

To those who are inquiring as to the origin, spirit and aims of the Men and Religion Forward Movement, the following brief summary, neither au- thoritative nor complete, may be found convenient for reference:
 The general idea and scope of the undertaking originated with certain active and widely known Christian workshs, laboring under the conviction that the time was ripe for a great ad- vance in Christian devotion and ser vice, as well as in methods of work. They believed the Christian forces should be united and marshalled as never before.
 Their general plan was approved and adopted at a meeting in New York city In May, 1910, of representatives of the following participating organiZa- tions, who thus became sponsors for the movement, viz. The Brotherhood of Andrew and Philip; the Baptist Brotherhood; the Congregational Brotherhood of America; the Broth erhood of Disciples of Christ; the Gid cons Commercial travelers); the Lutheran Brotherhood; the Methodist Brotherhood; the Otterbein Brother hood United Brethren church); the Presbyterian Brotherhood of America the Brotherhood of St. Andrew; the Internaticna Sunday School associa- tion; the International committee of Young Mems Christian associations; the United Presbyterian Brotherhood.
 The committee of eleven then ap- pointed, after full and prayerful con- sideration, called a conference at Buff falo in October following, which was attended by 98g delegates from T2 cit in- nd eto a+ which plans were further outlined and the spirit and purpose of the move ment more fully stated.
 This conference recorded its solemn conviction that our Divine Lord is call ing the manhood of our days to a new and unusual consecrat1on for service"
 It declared that the organizations meeting in this movement are only agencies of the church, through which it may carry on it's ministries of ser vice"
 The great object was stated to be ''an effort to secure the personal ac- ceptance of Jesus Christ by the indi- vidual manhood and boyhood of our times and their permanent enlistment in the programme of Jesus Christ aA the world programme of daily af- fairs"
 The conference recommended that, using all wise human agencies, prayer be exalted as the most effective means for the accomplishment of the ends in view.
 The assembly is referred to in the resolutions as representing every sec ton of this continent and practically every aspect of evangelical faith.
 It selected a committee of 97 lead ing Christian men from all parts of the country, of whom James G. Cannon of New York is the chairman ana Frederick B. Smith the campaign lead CT, to whom was committed the work ing out. of the plans and the conduct and administration of the movement It is thus undenominational, under taken to advance the cause of Christ along lines in which all are agreed.
 It was made 8 mems movement be- cause women are far in advance of the men in church membership and i'll all lines of Christian organization and activity, and because the work to be undertaken challenges the attention and service of all men.
 It is not the purpose to create new permanent organizations, but to en- courage and reinforce those already existing. Some one has said of the movement that it was designed to make better Christians and more of them. But it appeals to all men in- spired by a sense of duty who believe in any of the lines of work undertak- en and are ready to cooperate in car- rying them out.
 As finally arranged, ninety widely distant cities were selected as centers of the movement, each to have com mittee of one hundred men to manage the local campaign and cooperate with the committee of ninety seven. These ninety cities were in turn to be- come the centers for auxiliary cam paigns in other cities. The latter were again to carry the movement to vil- lages and country churches.
 The plan contemplates the following as the principal divisions or lines of Christian work and service, now and hereafter, viz; Bibly study; boys work; evangelism; social service; mis- sions, and community extension or shop and factory work. The cities talk ing part in the movement are to have committees for each one of these lines and the same classification and ar rangement is recommended for each participating church or organization.
 The committee of ninety-seven, with headquarters in New York, furnishes to each of the ninety cities 8 team of five experts along these lines of ser vice, who carry on an eight days cam paign, without charge to the several cities except for travel and hotel ex- penses. Hartford, the central cam paigning city of Connecticut, has ar ranged teams of its own workers, who will carry on d three days campaign along the same lines in it's auxiliary cities. The team for Norwich will be here the first three days of March.
 At a meeting of representatives o1 many of the churches of Norwich il was unanimously voted to participate in this wide movement, and a modified plan of campaign was adopted.
 Pursuant to that plan, committees have been appointed to carry on tho various lines of work and the chairme1 of these committees, together with tht general chairman, vice chairman, sec retary and treasurer constitute th' executive committee. Some of the act | iv1ties in progress may be learned | from the newspapers, day by day, ant l a calendar for the month to come Wa! 1. published in The Bulletin and RecorC | of January 24th.
 The division of work under the di i rection of various committees, a spe 1 cial feature of the movement, wa! 1 adopted as more appealing to laymen | since some may be better fitted for on kind of service than another, and be cause it would facilitate conference 1 and cooperation between committee of different churches and brother l hoods It is the recommendation of the lead l CTS of the movement that there be l mens organization connected witt
 each church. either a brotherhood 1 league or Bible class, 80 constitutet | that 1t can be made all embracing a | to men and boys of that church, an, ! that such organization arrange its act l ivities and appoint committees on tn 1 several lines of work above indicated | These committees will not only aid il ] +he can1paign. but continue to carry ol