The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-05-11
DR.. Black, President Of W. & J. College
and DR.. wier, Secretary Of Presoy-
terrain Mems work Committee
Address Gathering
Over 200 Men Of Wheeling and St.
ClairSvtlle Presbytertes Attend
Rally and Banquet At tho
First Church Hero

Two hundred Presbyterian men last
night attended the Mems Work Institute
and Rally. held at the First PrrSUytcr-
ian church under the auspices of the
Mems Work committee OF the l'rcShy-
terrain general assembly and the COM
mitteeS of the Synod Of West Virginia
and the Presbyteries of Wheeling and
st. Clairsvlle. The meeting last night
was the eliminating event Of busy
day along the lines Of consistent mems
work in the church.
The principal speakers were DR.. VIII
liam +. Weir. general secretary Of the
Mems Work committee of the General
Assembly. and DR.: Samuel Charles
Jefferson college. DR.. G. II. Mcdonald
formerly Of this city. now actively con-
nected with the mems work III New
York City. presided.
After the serving of a delicious ban
quot by the ladies of the church. DR..
Mcdonald spoke Interestingly OF his
West Virginia connections. saying that
he felt more at home among the hills Of
West Virginia than anywhere else in the
world.
In speaking OF the mems work among
PresbyterianS. he characterized the
movement as one OF the greatest inn
p0rtance. He stated that il was growing
vastly, and would, with the help OF all,
develop more and more until it became
paramount in the work of the church.
He then introduced DR.. William i. Weir.
DIR. Weir" he said. is the greatest
man in mems work today. From all
ination he is looked up TO as the great
est man in this field. 1t is a particular
pleasure to have him here tonight"
Address Of DR.. Weir
Or. Weir attacked the probclm of eff
f,cient mems work in the church from
Il general viewpoint. lie showed that
other movements national in character,
both UNCONVENTIONAL and interdenomina-
tional had more or less signally failed.
The reason for this failure" he said.
us that the work has been started from
tho wrong end. Proponents of mems
organization have tried to start with a
strong national organization and work
down TO a strong organization in the
local churches. In this movement we
are beginning from the other end. Our
first aim is 10 have strong mans or
GaniZation In every church.
Hand in hand with the movement in
ternational INSTRUMENTATION mems
movement which prompted the inter-
national Mems Congress in London a
year ago. This world congress will be
repeated in this country next year.
Lack of organization must not de-
feat this move as IL has others. Every
man must get behind II and make it go. ,
DIR. Weir. in discussing the national
Presbyterian movement, showed that
there are a half million Presbyterian
seldom get into touch with the work
because under former methods it has
been confined TO national work. He said:
Work Of Individual Church
I'VE will have Il strong national
movement built up Of the work in the
individual church. At the national gem
eral assembly in Philadelphia this year
We have reservations for over thous-
and men. If We were able to accomo-
date them We could just as easily have
twice that many. In the same way. the
Synodical and Presbyterial meetings are
increasing their attendance. The move
ment is beginning at the bottom and 60
ing throughout the national body.
"Lo ally the men must get behind the
work more fully. The man can do things
that cannot be done by any one else
but a man. The layman Is the funda-
mental unit of the church. He can
touch the man outside OF the church
as no one else can IL he has organlza-
ton such as We hope for TO back him
up. The local church must provide this
organization.
will build up the church and make two
congregations where there were but one.
The Service Man
"One OF the biggest problems con-
fronting the mems organizations is the
important factors in religious life.
Bring him into the church and the
church IS stronger for his presence. The
man who went over seas 10 uSnt CdIl
not be brought into the church without
an interest there. The mems work
properly carried out will provide such
an interest and bring the ex-army man
into the doors OF the church.
An equally great problem is the BOY
and his relation to the church. There
is nothing so appealing TO man as
boy in his adolescent period. when the
youth is feeling his way toward man
hood and developing his ideas. None
but man can influence him at THIS
period. and TO influence him relislously.
the church must have u strong mems
organization.
Germany Lost Her Reng1on
The big work Of the mems organic
alton Is to bring true religious feel
ing to the nation. When Germany lost
her religion she lost her nationality.
She became a machine. and her religion
was a mockery. As proof that she
had lost religion and morality. prior to
the war. l have some figures taken from
the Outlook. Convictions in Germany
az compared to America in 1912 Tor
fraud, robbery. and embezzlement were
as four to one. There were SIX times
as many rapes committed. and illegit-
imacy in Berlin as compared 20 New
York was over 20 10 l.
America IN Danger
without wishing to inslnuate that
America Is in the same condition, l can
state that America is in danger OF losing