The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-31

DaYton. where Is the headquarters of l United Brethren. and In the case of
 Methodtsts in Indianapolis at an earlier
 date. all official leaders wore present,
 Representing every phase of Christian
 effort Enthusiasm ran high. and the
 claim Is made that brethren are bene-
 fited to an extent sufficient to war
 rant the time and money. The con-
 gress put itself on record on some l very important matters.
 One resolution favors ans educational policy that shall make every person in the denomination known what breth- ren stand for and what they seek to accomplish. Another proposition that was adopted was that every individual church be held to the task of increas- ing It's membership at least 10 per cent a year. In general matters United Brethren indorsed the world peace plan, the national temperance plan, and favored national constitu- tional amendment granting suffrage to women.
 At several summer conferences next month there will be presented and dis cussed a new plan of evangelism for American cities. The plan comes from London, where it was tried out by a committee of business men, with the Rev ". R. Lane as leader. The plan reverses completely the city-wide con ! Missionary and Men and Religion movements. The large plans of these movements are declared to have been expensive and uneconomic in method
 The new plan is to select small DOT tions of given cities, and hold not hlppodrome metings as was the rule with the movements named, but many small meetings in given districts. h. stead of halls in central locations be- ing hired, churches and parish houses are used, and rentals saved. Instead of one cause being pushed, all causes are given hearing. The results are far greater numbers reached for less money expended
 The Rev. W. R. Lape, who has spoken in many cities In this country since February last, has just sailed for home to take up such campaign in London. The first one held there, cov- ering in effect the Paddington district, brought for the first time in the history of modern England established and free church ministers into cooperation. Mr. Lane declares that a new era dawned. Summer conferences here this July and August will consider the application of the plan In upwards of 20 American cities.
 In the same hall that the Episcopal general convention met in last October, located on the grounds of the Cathe- dral of St. John the Divine, New York, a convention of Christian laymen, coming from the Episcopal church of one city, have already pledged to at tend. The laymen come from parish mems clubs, organized in central com mittees of Brooklyn, Bronx and Man. haitian, and with the co-opera ton of the Seabury society of New York, the last named organized in part on the plan of the English guilds of some cen turies ago. and named after the first American bishop.
 The purpose of these 1000 laymen Is to mi public better business methods in Christian work. For 10 years and throughout nearly the whole country, conditions have been studied and ex- made Leaders in these studies de- clare that the product or output of the churches of America can be doubled without increasing the cost dollar if only better methods be employed. American people give s400 100000 a year to maintain Christian churches It Is claimed that with scientific management all that Is now attained can be accomplished on s200,000, 900. leaving the other $200,OoO,000 for ad- vance work.
 New York Episcopal laymen report that s12,000,000 a year is required to n-aintain Christian work in their city, all religious bodies. or about S3000.- 900 year for Episcopal churches alone. They aim to show how, in their church alone, twice as much work can be performed without increasing tho outlay Committees are already at work on convention plans.