The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-10
CHRISTIAN DUTY TO
SET AN EXAMPLE
BRYAN ADDRESSES FEDERAL.
COT NCu on GREAT QUESTION
or TEMPERANCE
COUNCIL IN e S $40 n
REPORTS READ AID
PROGRAM ARRANGED For WORK
or CONFERENCE For nE-
MAINDER OF wEEk
COUNCIL IN SEES SION

Walking i'm unsnnounced and an
expected. while the reception COM
mittee wss looking for him, Secretary
of state William Jennings Bryan. sat
through the opening session yesterday
n afternoon Of the executive committee
of the Federal Cnancii of The Churches
of Christ In America, an interested
listener.
4 few words OF greeting by Mr..
BRYAN interrupted the course OF bust
.ess which was then continued, tho
regular order being laid aside again
at 1870 o'clock TO hear twenty min
ute talk from the Secretary OF State,
chiefly on temperance.
The business OF the meeting vas
chiefly the hearing OF reports and
the arrangement Of the program for
IA. rest OF the week. The administrs-
tive and evangelism commissions re-
ports we're heard and received, as
were those OF the secretary of the
Federal Council and OF the associa-
tion secretary.
Report of Secretary.
TIE report OF the secretary was
concerned mainly with affairs OF adj
ministration. reviewing only the more
important activities Of the year, The
associate secretary reported that the
act to incorporate the Federal Council
will be pressed at the present session
OF Congress, the bill having been
introduced last July by Senator White,
Of bahama, and Congressman K. W.
Roberts OF Massachusetts,, He also
reported the passage Of the hin in
cveasing the number Of chapiains IN
the navy.
Secretary McF>arland made tae fol-
lowing reference to the war in Europe
and Americas opportunity:
The conflict In Europe has Sc pa
rated all other bodies of Christians.
and just as the nations are looking
Ia our nation as the last resource for
them all. so many the Christian
churches Of the world look for light
and leading to n body which unites
he forces Of American Professionalism.
am convinced that new calls will
come to us and new opportunities win
open to US very soon after the meet
ing of this committee. May we here
at Richmond. In prayer and confer
ence. and in = serious spirit OF faith.
make such plans as snail prepare us
for whatever God may have Cor the
Churches Of Christ in America us
united in this Federal Council"
Mr.. Bryan's Talk.
Mr.. Bryan remained through the
entire session. paying interested at
tention to the reading Of the various
reports and to q short address by Or.
William III. Roberts. Of Philadelphia.
The session concluded with an ad-
dress by Mr.. Bryan, largely gwen Ia
the subject OF the suppression Of the
liquor traff1c.
An interesting remark made ~ Mr..
Bryan dealt with the discussion that
tas occupied the attention Of The dale
gates Of standardizng svnn9oll0tto
work and protecting against 1mpo0<ers
By recognizing only accredited
ayangelists. Il do not Criticize" said
Mr.. Bryan. .'who tries to win souls FOR
hire and produces saved men as proof
0 fhis divine ordination"
In reference to temperance and the
drink evil, Mr. Bryan declared after
making several suggestion AZ to other
things the churches might do, that
rae thing nearest his heart Is the sup
preston ot the liquor traffic and the
advancement Of total aDstinence. II
cannot remember when I signed the
psedgc., he said II have always
signed the pledge whenever had the
chance and am ready to sign 1t until
] die. if by 30 doing can influence
any one else 10 do the same
He then told az an instance in
which he had Influenced a man d:-
rectly and described at some length
n plan he had or inducing boys to
sign,
Unnecessary To Drink.
~ have been in public life twenty
ftur years cir being without an Office
curing Saat time can he called In pub
lic Afsl- and that fact that. it was
known that ! did not drink has always
been Il safeguard to me- Men would
see me come In md would say. "Oh,
no, Mr.. Bryan does not drink and
would not asst rae to drink Then
Continued on second pags.,