The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-13
ATTENDANCE IS
Representative
Stirring Addresses 1e h;Ss;cm-
bers of Team Mark the y
Opening Sessions

With an attendance Of over two hum
dred representative men the Men and
Religion Forward movement conven-
tion was formally opened In the Pres
byterian church this morning. The
morning trains brought in many dele
gates and many are expected In this
evening. Already the delegates and
local mon In attendance on the ses-
movement through the virile and
practical addresses OF the members of
the team OF experts.
Five splendid addresses, brief and
70 the point, were the distinctive fea-
ture Of the sessions this morning and
afternoon. This evening at 6:46
o'clock that most important branch
Of the convention work. the institute
will begin and last for an hour. At
the Presbyterian church ]: A. Whit.
more. the dean Of the team. will
"How Can the Church Reach the
Boy" and the subject Of Charles r.
Drum. who will give the other ad-
dress Of the evening will be, ''The
Church and the Community" The
only women's meeting Of the week
will be mass meeting in the Baptist
church with DIR. I. ]. Lansing as lead
er.
Charles r. Dunn presided at the
devotional exercises spoke on the sub
ject. Prayer He was followed by
Dr. Lansing. who gave thrilling ar
raignment of the needs of American
society whic hcalls for the message
Of the Men and Religion Forward
Movement. An interesting feature of
the morning session was the open COM
ference. led by Mr.. Drum of the points
Of weakness and strength in mems
session was brought to a close with
an intensely interesting address by W.
G. Pearce on 'The Bible in Action"
During the noon hour Charles r.
Drum addressed public meeting in
the club rooms Of the Red River Pow
er company employees and Yutaki Min
akuchi spoke to the university stu
building.
This afternoon ]. A. Whitmore gave
his splendid address on 1.-THE Boy"
and the afternoon. session was brought
to q close by a most interesting talk
on The World Call Of the Gospel"
by Yutaaki Minakuchi, the Japanese
member Of the team. Mr.. Minak-
uchi's address was an appeal to the
men Of America to take real inter-
Value of Prayer.
A fitting opening to the great con-
vention was the address Of Charles
Prayer was characterized by Mr..
Drum .-s Gods mightiest power In
the accomplishment Of world better
ment. God only reveals His will to
No. who pray. Prayer is the great
est source of religious power. It Is
this great agency that has played SO
important a part In the marvellous
nary enterprise. The work Of for
eign missions was begun and Is being
proDagated by prayer.
Men have become so engrossed with
the commonplace affairs Of life. said
the speaker. they have become so
earnest in their pursuit Of the al
mighty dollar that men who profess
to , Christians forget to take time
to commune with God through the
vance that has been made by the
kingdom of God on the earth has been
made through the medium Of prayer.
God whispers His wishes to every
child Of His that will listen. God
whispers His song of love to every
heart that is glad to receive. To be
a success, to accomplish the good
ing it is necessary that the divine
agency of prever be involved.
Need of This Movement.
he need OF the message which the
Men and Religion Forward movement
is bringing was emphasized in a most
graphic manner by DR.. !. ]. Lansing,
the next speaker. DIR. LansinRs ar
raignment Of conditions. social. FAM
lily and national. was one that cause
every member Of the audience to
listen. It was no criticism Of ranting
scorn. but a criticism backed by ex-
perierce and facts. To help better
this condition. declared Or. Lansing
ia the province Of the Men and Re-
ligion movement.
In his striking way DR.. Lansing
took up in succession the evils that
cial life Of the mon and boys Of Amer
lea. He spoke Of the use Of intoxi-
eating liquors az one Of the greatest
OF all menaces. The growing use Of
tobacco and especially the cigarette
habit among young boys. was con-
demned In no uncertain terms. Three
times the cost Of the churches, three
times the cost OF the schools of the
country is spent every year. declared
the speaker in. the tobacco habit
which fs doing nobody any good.
Higher Standards Wanted.
The physical life of the men and
boys Of America IL deterioratinR &C.
cording to DR.. Lansing. This is due
partially to the poisons that are taken
into the system and also to the wave
Of vice that seems to have the coun.
try in its grip. To stem the course of
thistide. to occupy the attention and
thought Of men In higher and better
thtngs-this 10 the purpose Of the Men
and Religion movement. Ask mon to
be clean men and boys to be clean
boys. II the movement has no fur.
ther result than to awaken the men
of America to the need for HIGHER
standards Of right living. 1t will have
accomplished much.
Passing from the individual life to
the intellectual life. DR.. Lansing urged
that men are not using their God-giv.
en- power Of reason az It should be
used. He said that he has heard of
men being differentiated from the ami
NAL life az 9 being empowered with
ideas Of the men of today. said DR..
inality 10 Q pearl of high price rarely |
found, men simply allow themselves
to drift along with the mass.
Another feature that II playing an
important part In lowering
standards OF thought 10 the utilitarian |
Idea which Of late years has made
such progress in the colleages and |
universities Of the country. People |
are going from one extreme to the |
other. The cultural is being entirely