El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-22
METHODISTS PLAN FOR
GREATEsT OF CAMPAIGNS

Methodists Of America announce the
biggest program for the coming year
that any religious body ever ventured,
so far as can be recalled. South and
north among them are together. save
only the official notifications. Bishop
Henderson, Of Chattanooga, is leading
in these big aims, but MethOdists ev-
erywhere are falling into line. There
are three parts TO their program One
relates to membership during 1915
1916. another TO volunteer. workers, and
the third TO candidates for the minis
try and the mission fields.
MethOdists say they believe that bill
" Sunday has hit upon a popular
trend. While they commend Sunday,
most Of them at least. they declare that
much OF his success is due not TO him
self but to the popular mind Of the
moment That is. there is a religious
wave sweeping over the country This
wave is a challenge TO Methodist zeal,
and the big program is an effort TO
meet that challenge.
Ten or y years ago net Methodist
gain averaged a half Of one percent a
year. sometimes hree-uuarters- The
gain was $4,000 or such number. Last
year Methodist gains went NJ to 49,
600 and indications are that this year
viii show a figure above 100000 For
the year now opening May to Nay next
MethOdists propose 10 add an even
100000 net to their membership Dis
trict superintendents OF all Methodism,
$50 in number. are being instructed to
see that pastors do their part IN their
respective districts With the present
popular trend MethOdists declare the
quarter Of a million new members dur
ing the next u months TO be task
well within the possibilities.
Bishop Henderson is supported by
other Nethodists in declaring that men
and women, working all week. are
ready in numbers never before dreamed
Of to give Sundays TO personal work
in Sunday schools, for missions. for
community welfare, for boys. and that
without pay in any form. 1t is now
proposed that training schools be set
up, instruction TO be given in individual
churches on week nights, and that dur
ing the year efforts be made to enrol /
100000 men and women MethOdists as
Volunteer personal workers. The min
imum service is TO be two hours per {
week Such number viii be twice the
present Methodist volunteer force, but I
efforts are making to Quadruple the [
number Of men, and increase the num- !
Der Of women. Bishop Henderson. af- !
ter canvassing conditions in p confer !
ences south and north. says this half I
million goal is well within the limit I
that NAV be attained.
Already Methodists have by far the 4
largest number Of ministers Of any 4
Christian body in the world. but they !
purpose, during the next y months. to I
add to their number an even 1000 This I
IS a third more than the annual aver J
age. but their leaders declare it possible /
to attain this goal also Not all Of the /
1000 are needed for churches at home.
Some are to go to the foreign fields. Tt /
is felt certain that the 1000 can be /
reached If women are included as can
didates for deaconesses-
While these Methodist leaders say
they feel the challenge of the moment
to be strictly evangelistic. they pin
their faith to revivals Of the old fash
Toned sort as firmly as ever.