South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-09-30
CHURCH LAYMEN
ARE IN SESSION
Plan to Extend Scope of ASSo-
citation Outlined by
PreS't Gardner.

Pres't J. W. Gardner Of Reynolds at
the session of the association held at
the First Baptist church Thursday. In
his address this morning Mr.. Gardner
outlined a plan that, ne said, should
be adopted to make the laymens as
ISOLATION a more powerful organiza-
ton in the work Of the church.
Following his suggestion that the
plan was worthy Of consideration and
adoption, the association voted that
he appoint a committee to consider
the proposition. Members OF that
committee are: Mr.. Gardner. chair
man. W. Q. Bellman of the South
Bend district; G.. B. King OF the La
fayette district; Z. Kirkpatrick OF the
Charlottesville district, and Joseph AL
len Of the Greencastle district.
TOday's work of the Laymen's as
ISOLATION was only the beginning Of
the business In the morning, reports
Of the secretary and treasurer were
heard and standing committees were
appointed by Prest Gardner. These
committees will report at the sessions
Friday when the electoral conference
will be held. At that time four dele
gates 30 the general conference at
Saratoga Springs, i. y, next May
will be elected.
TO EXTEND ASSOCIATION.
Prest Gardner. in his address. plan
ned an organization that will extend
from the conference association TO the
smallest county committee. He plans
10 hold the annual meeting of the as
ISOLATION at the time the Northwest
Indiana Methodist conferences held
Semi-annual. quarterly and monthly
meetings Of the district association He
said in part:
What Of next year? First a con-
stitution which will apply to the asso-
citation in its general aspects; then to
the district meeting and farther to the
county association With the above
We could have a basic law underlying
the structure we would build Then
We would have an annual meeting at
TO the seat OF the annual conference.
The district and county meetings can
be held as often as convenient and in
this way create more interest in the
association.
God has been good to us in the past
year. He has allowed us to have good
health. wealth and influence. We have
brOadened and grown all because Of
Gods goodness But, brethren, what
have we done TO warrant all of these
things. Have we been true to Him at
all times2 Have we been true TO our
own selves2 Have we given TO Him all
that was due Him or have we with
should have done? Have we omitted
the many things belonging to Chris
tian activity? Have we handed out
the cup Of cold water or given even
the good word of cheer or, as we are
assembled here, can we look back on
the many times or neglect Of omis-
sion Oftener than the sin of activity ?"
Marvin Campbell talked on THE
Obligations of the NJ. r. Church to
IFS GrnnF-a NJ a facf II
Mcdowell gave a short address at the
afternoon session. At 3:45 O'Clock
there was a round table discussion on
the finances of the church. This dis
cussion was lead by +. &. Evans of
Charlottesville.
W. G. Bellman of Hammond, in an
address at 1880 o'clock, pointed out
the place of the layman in the work
of the church, taking as his subject
'Laymen Plus Efficiency Equals
What2" Mr.. Bellman showed chat
the work OF the layman in reference
10 the church has changed in late
years.
Duties OF Laymen.
He said that the duties OF the lay
man were almost as great as those of
the pastor, if the layman is to do real
work. He is not only an active church
worker but ne is vitality interested in
the business end of the church. In
his address. Mr.. Bellman said in
part:
The place OF the layman in the
church has changed. He is not only
a church worker. but he is a stock
holder in the corporation as well and
the church is as much a corporation
as any business. The only difference
lies in the work that each performs
one is financial business; the other is
a moral business.
Efficiency means the getting of the
largest results. II is needed as much
The church is In a sense a factory
The church is in a sense a fectorv.
II is an organization for making raw
material into a finished product. which
is the power Of living. The church is
demanding not only good, but efficient
relationship 20 life which has a com
pelling force The church is de
handing not a fashionable religion.
but a Fashionable religion.
The church needs 10 understand
that the absolute equality of each Of
its members in privilege and reSpOn-
sibility must be vitalized. Efficiency
requires in the church. as in the fac-
tory. the training of young men 10 do
the work. Construction is the work OF
the church and the message OF the
church must not be one OF protest,
but one OF construction. The social
problems OF life are the live problems
OF the church"
In the absence OF Ralph y. smith
of Laporte, who was unable 10 after d
the morning session, Prof. +. Il. Far
nam OF LapOrte conducted the devO-
tonal exercises ut the opening OF the
program. Prof Farnam lead the lay
men in song and prayer. taking as his
text When 7 was Child, / Spoke
as a Child and When I Became a Man.
I Put Away the Childish Things"
Secretary is Absent.
Howard Kahn OF Frankfort. secre-
tary OF the association, could not at
tend the meeting and G. b. King was
elected TO read the minutes Of the
last meeting held az Lafayette year
ago ard 10 act as secretary until Off
GERS are elected. Reports OF all OF
the regular and special meetings held
at lafayette were read, including a
meeting held at Battle Ground, near
Lafayette.
J. l. H1,t OF Richland. treasurer.
gave a financial report OF the assOcia-
ton. showing that there was a balance