The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-09
LAYMEN TO MEET
Monster Church Convention
Scheduled for Topeka.
To Be Held at Auditorium OctO
Der 81 to November 8.
TWOTHOUSAND EXPECTED HERE
Local Churches Organize Teams
for Coming Event.
Many National Figures on Pro-
gram for Addresses.

Unusual preparations are being
made in Topeka by the missionary So
cieties, pastors, laymen and other or
CARNATIONS of the various denomina-
tions for the great laymen's conven-
ton, which is to be held at the audi
forum in Topeka October g to No
vember 8.
Conferences and prayer meetings
have been going on for the past two
weeks and the individual church
membership of each church is being
aroused by special church efficiency
workers, sent here from as far away
as New York by their verious denom-
nations for this especial purpose.
Many Distinguished Leaders.
Some of these men are distin-
guished leaders in their denomina-
lions and occupy high positions.
Among those who have already been
here are Rev. F. A. Agar, field secre-
tary of the united missionary cam
paign of the northern Baptist conven-
ton, who came to arouse the laymen
of the Baptist churches of the city;
Rev. Reuben L. Breed, secretary of
the Congregational Home Mission. So
ciety and chairman of the committee
on cooperation in the national mis-
sionary campaign, who organized the
Congregationalists; Rev. A. F. Nc
Garrah, church efficiency expert of
Chicago, was here Wednesday and
Thursday and organized the Presbyte-
rians; Rev. E. r. Faulkerson of
Omaha, formerly foreign missionary
and professor in a Methodist college
in Japan, who is now doing field work
in the west for his church, was here
last Sunday and organized the Metho
dists; Rev. Edward Henry Eckel, ST.,
provincial superintendent of all the
southwestern territory of the Episco-
pal church, was here Wednesday and
organized the Episcopalians. Other
experts will be here III the next few
days.
To Organize Teams Here.
In addition to this work, each de-
nomination in the city will organize
teams of workers to visit surround
ing towns in eastern Kansas for the |
purpose of stirring up interest among
the laymen of their particular de-
nominations and inducing them to
come as delegates to the convention. |
The total attendance is expected to
be over 1000, of whom a ma iority, Of |
course, will be delegates from Topeka
churches. Several hundred from |
towns and cities, how |
ever, are expected and the local lead |
ers of the movement are counting on |
Topeka being set on fire with mission |
enthusiasm during the convention.
Six years ago, when the first lay
mems convention was held here, the |
total number of delegates registered |
was 1880. In that campaign. which
United States, seventy-five seperate
wero held throughout the
country, at which the average attend
ance was 1000. These conventions
in a great national conven-
ton in Chicago.
A General Campaign.
The second national campaign will
be much larger. 1t begins in Chicago
October IA, and the Topeka conven-
ton follows almost Immediately after
ward. In all nearly 100 conventions
will be held in the nation, and the cli-
max will come next April 1928, when
a great national convention will be
held in Washington, d. c.
The preliminary work in Topeka
has been going on for two weeks al.
ready Probably Topeka has never
seen such a complete organization of
religious forces as those behind the
conventions.
Benjamin Starr of New York City
opened headquarters in the Kansas
Children's Home Society building a
few days ago and started the machin-
cry turning. Already he has attended
4 number of state conventions of diff
ferent denominations at various parts
Of the state, in behalf of the laymen's
while hardly a day or
night has passed that he was not or
yanizing a committee or attending a
of Jaymen. Net only have
LII the important denominations been
organized, pQI LAGTe VIII De divisional
and teams of workers
rom each individual church. A lay
mems prayer meeting has been organ
zed and is held at the Iaymen's con-
Yention hea dquarters from 5 to
o'clock every Tuesday afternoon.
Sunday afternoon the convention
committee will meet a selected group
# laymen of the city at the Central
Z. NJ. C. A. at o'clock. Laymen
rom every church in the city will be ,
PRESENT At this meeting definite
work for promoting interest in the