The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-05
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

The war taught American people to put aside little things and get into the habit of tackling big things. TEIs lesson is not to be confined merely to business but to matters religious.
 
 The various denominations were were quick to realize that the hour ! had come for them to cash in on the great impetus which came with the signing of the armistice. It was the psychological moment to capitalize the splendid morale of those who re- mained at home but made sacrifices ] to stand by the boys on the firing line.
 l Time was when billion-dollar Con gress seemed a menace to the people, and It's extravaganza was exploited far and wide, but now we face one that will spend four times that amount without getting panicky. It is fast coming home to us that America Is to be the dominant power in the world and that we have to plan on scale [ most visionary
 Now, one of the first of the leading | denominations to get in step with the new stride of our fast-going and grow ing country was the Methodist Epie- 1 copal church, south. It's a wonderful l thing to have a vision, but if dreams come true there must be an objective. It Is all right to keep ones head in the clouds if ones feet be planted sol- idly on the earth.
 |
 Now, the Methodist church has al- | ways been a great power in the south It pioneered it's circuit riders, blazed trails over mountains and wales, visit- ed the scattered settlers and estah- lished preaching stations, and as pee pie came together in towns they built modest houses of worship. Time came when cities were born and more com modious churches were erected and pastors settled under the limitations of the itinerary system
 Southern Methodism can look back upon many struggles and many tri- umphs. It ought always to be an in- spiration to remember the labors of John Wesley at Savannah, that ma"- vellous man of God who left his im- press on both sides of the Atlantic. uli- til today there are millions of Method- ists in America and Wesleyans in Eng land I never tire of reading his life and letters; in fact, I eagerly devour all that see in print about him. l The hour struck when a few men got the gleam that was kindled in the great centenary movement which is the most ambitious and far-reach- . ing programme ever initiated in the land of Dixie. One hundred years ago in this month of April the foreign mis- sion enterprise of the Methodists in America was launched This was long before the division of the church and consequently both the northern and southern Methodists are celebrating the event. As an outsider and perhaps speaking where I should remain silent hope that the one hundredth anniver- sary shared in by both branches of the church will be the means of bringing them together.
 But my story here is to be of the part that southern Methodists are play ing in the memory of the event which lifted American Methodism out of it. self and gave it a worldwide sig nificance. Missions is side issus.
 but the main business of the church,
 and when any denomination forgets
 to carry out the commands of the
 Master in giving the gospel to all man. kind it's an invariable sign that, to say the least of it, it is out of step [ with the program of twentieth century ! Christianity and will see its numbers dwindle. This statement is not in- | tended to be controversial but a sim } pie statement of facts, for personally have some dear friends whose mem
 bership is held in churches that do not
 call themselves missionary.
 Now, for long years missions never
 got that attention at the hand of the
 churches which it deserved. Some were
 only missionary in name, or at best played at the matter. or neglected t1
 get into active touch with mission 5 boards. Now, there is a general awak- 3 ening on the part of the churches, for r it has been seen if the world is to be made safe for democracy, that democ. Q racy must be made safe for the world by being undergirt and infused witt 8 the spirit of Jesus of Nazareth. the t worlds greatest democrat, and thai 6 his plan of evangelization must be car. 9 ried out in whole hearted way Q, ], the churches be convicted of slack. . ing.
 Southern Methodism began to take e stock of it's past performances in mis.
 sionary endeavor and then girded UT itselffto formulate a scheme challenE.
 ing the best thought of it's preachers : it's laymen, it's women, it's children
 Out of the thinking was born the cen. f tenary movement which provides fol 3 the raising of $S5,OOO,OOo in the nex
 five years as a minimum.
 The idea is gripping the minds O. 3 the business men; it has set to worl
 mighty host of consecrated women t it has enlisted the support of thousand