The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-29
.LAYMEN OF VIRGINIA
TO HAVE CONVENTION
Will BE Gathering OF Representatives
OF Evangelical Churches From
All Parts of STATE.
PROBABLY IN JANUARY. 1915
Meeting of Richmond Laymcu in
Seycntb-Street Christian Church
Yesterday Presided Over by o. j.
Sands--Dr. ID. Clay Lilly Speaks.

Early next year Richmond will be
the seat OF Il State convention Of lay
men of the evangelical churches Of
all sections OF Virginia. This was de-
termined by representatives OF the
Richmond churches at q meeting held
in the annex of the Seventh Street
Christian Church yesterday afternoon.
The meeting was held under the
auspices of the State committee OF
the Laymen's Missionary Movement.
and Oliver j. Sands, chairman of the
committee, presided. Shortly after
the meeting was called to order by
Chairman Sands, Rev. d. Clay Lilly,
former pastor Of Grsce-Street Pres
hyterian Church. now In charge OF
the work OF the laymen's movement
III the South. addressed the body of
about 100 men.
DR. Lilly explained the work being
done by the organization for the ex-
tension of the KINGDOM through the
securing of greater interest in the
work on the part of the male MEM
bers of the churches. THE one thing
in which We have been dilatory." he
declared. is the creation of interest
among laymen in the work the Church
| is trying To do
Grca, Need of Church.
DR.. Lilly told the men that the
great need OF the Church at this time
is the gaining of large numbers OF
workers among the laynen. He EN-
phasized the value OF conferences or
conventions in various sections, bring
ing together the laymen Of the
churches of various denominations
for the exchanging of views and ex-
periences and the intensifyins Of In
terest in the advancement of the
Church.
He told Of a number Of conferences
or meetings which ALREADY have been
held and which have given the lea@-
ers of the movement much expert
enee that is Of value in the creating
or stimulating of the interest needed.
The Inspiration growing out of the
conventions. he declared. reflects IT
self in greater efficiency In church
organization ana in the building mp
Of the Church and the increasing II
its influence.
Norfolk Had LOO.
Secretary - H Brown. Of the
movement in Virginia. told or a re-
cent convention held In Norfolk, in
which 1.40o men were registered,
more than 900 Of whom were church
men ~ Norfolk.
Others who gave expression II
opinion on the conclusion Of DR.
f.tllv's talk declared they believed
Richmond could have a convention.
covering the state with mNcH
larger registration than Norfolk Sc
cured. II IS expected that not less
than oa0 lavmen will he REGISTERED
for the state convention. and couser-
vative estimates OF the prohah Bile reg
{strntion were ! SOC to $500.
Chairman Sands declared that such
gatherings OF laymen not only result
in an extension OF the missionary
work. but in n broadening or IN :
l!fe and spirituality of the Churct
He said the state convention should
he made the browning event OF the
Church year and suggested that CON
ferences he had In various sections or
the state before the convention meets
that there be n larger attendance
and greater interest in that event.
Januar~ e3 Proposed.
Or. Lilly explained the scope or
the work and outlined some of the
details of the proposed convention
when the question ss TO whether or
not Richmond should have state
convention OF layraen was presented
il was unanimously edopted.
The date for the hig meeting was
left OMEN hut the suggestion was
made that the convention he during
the week ~ January "a 1916.
The action taken bv the laymen at
their meeting yesterday Veil be re-
ported 10 the Ministerial Union ~ ITS
meeting today ana the union VIII he
asked 70 endorse the proposition me
state committee il to supervise the
work OF arranging for the conven-