The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1919-03-20
MISSIONARY CENTENARY.

Throughout the length and breadth
of the United States and Canada, the
Methodist Missionary Centenary is be-
ing heralded in every corner, nook and
crevice An army OF recruits are busy
day and night, explaining to the peo-
pie of the country that the church has
awakened and is launching program
of religion.
From Lake Superior to the, Indiana
state line the Centenary organizations
are functioning in Michigan. Three
thousands of Minute Men are voicing
their pleas for the million tithers, and
recruiting for the Fellowship of Inter
cession. An epoch in Church history
is present.
The financial phase of the Centenary
provides for the raising of $l20,000,000
during the first week in May. This
money is to be used in spreading the
gospel of democracy, eternal peace and
Christian fellowship. 1t is to be used
in putting the church on business
basis and lifting it into its logical pos
ition as a leader in the civic, social,
political and religious activity of the
community.
This great campaign for world re-
demption and reconstruction has been
styled the Centenary in commemora-
tion of the initial activity of the first
Methodist missionary, who started his
work among the Indians of Ohio just
100 years ago.
DIR. John q. Benson, of Detroit, pas
tor of the Wesley Methodist Church,
Executive Secretary OF Detroit Area
and assistant to Bishop Theodore ).
Henderson, is In direct charge Of the
Centenary Movement throughout Mich
igan. de declares the campaigu is
spreading like wildhre.
People are enthusiastic over the
movement. This does not confine it.
self. to Methodists, for we are receiving
support from many non-church mem
bers. They like the idea OF Christian
Fellowship. They realize that the
world is, today, in one OF the most
critical positions in history. We are
! threatened on every side by these soul
breaking and nation wrecking "isms'
which are running rampant
The Church was never fertile
field for the seeds of such trash and
it is not the followers of Christian
principles that are the leaders in these
traitorous movements. With the spirit
of Christianity in his heart, no man
would ever recommend tire, bombs and
pillage as means of political warfare.
Christian leadership is the salvation
of the world at this time. No delega-
tion of diplomats can bring about
democracy and Eternal Peace by agree
ing upon an international constitution;
| the world cannot be reconstructed by
formula; the universal reign of peace
and good will among men can be made
certain and everlasting only through
cleansing the hearts of men and the
practical application of the religion of
Jesus.
That is what the Centenary will do.
In the Home Missions and Church Ex-
tension, for which $4O,OO0,000 will be
expended, great community centers
will be reared in the cities and practi-
cal community oenters will be provid-
ed for the rural districts. In foreign
fields the thousands, yes, hundreds of
thousands and even millions of heath
ems that are seeking the opportunity
to embrace the religion of Christ and
are yearning for an education will be
taken care of.
Twenty millions will be spent in de-
vastated France where the orphans
and financially, physically ruined peo-
pie must be given succor. Our pro-
gram is immense but we are merely
following out the mandates of the
Savior who started practical religion
by healing the sick.
The Centenary is the first great
church movement toward making re-
ligion serviceable by making it efficient
This efficiency will come by process
of elimination as well as by a process
OF accumulation. In other words, while
Methodism intends to build strong in
certain centers, she also will tear down
and move away in other centers where
others are more responsible.
The Centenary is the greatest evan
gelistic movement ever launched in
America. 1t is Christian movement,
Church movement, a strictly religious
movement; but, If all signs do not fail,