The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1920-04-08
LAYMEN WILL meet
AT FIRST N. E., TO
Join MINISTERS

The annual laymens association
meeting and the lay electoral confer
: ence of the Methodist Episcopal
church, will be held Friday at the
First NJ E. church The meeting will
be apart from the general conference
being held at Grace NJ. Z. church, un-
tia D. M, at which time a joint con-
terence will be held at the Coliseum
During the session at First church
Bishop Nicholson will talk on the PRO.
posed plan of unification of the Metho-
3 dist Episcopal church and the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South.
The, officials are E. sStarbuck OF
Fort Wayne, president; D. o. Skillen,
Yorktown. is vice president; F. w.
Green of Syracuse, secretary-treasurer
District presidents are William Ems
len, Fort Wayne; d. G. Turnbull, Mish-
awaka; George E. Neck. kokomo;
e. E. Youse, Wabash; c. H. Neff, An
derson, and Jesse McKinnsey, Dun
kirk.
The program for Friday follows:
Morning Session.
Auditorium First Methodist Episco-
pal church, E. Starbuck, president,
presiding: 9:2O, devotions, c. c. Ayers,
Redkey, Indiana: 9:40, opening SEN
tences, E. Starbuck; 9:55, organization
Of lay electoral conference; nomina-
ton of delegates: 11:20. song, Earl
Cartwright; 11:30, address. Why
Must These Things Be?">Judge c. c,
Raymer, Elkhart, Indiana; 1900, din
ing room, First M. E. church, Rich
mond, MONDAY banquet, E. Starbuck,
postmaster.
Following are the after dinner
speakers and the toasts: 12:40, win
One-The Methodist Million c. l..
Walters, Decatur; 1880, "Interchurch
Movement" James NJ. Triggs, Hunt
ington; 100, mo Place to Stop" ]. H.
Bentley, Richmond; 40, Our Evan
geIistic Opportunity" c. P. Fitzpat-
rick Dunkirk; 1:20, New Church for
the New Age" H. B. Roberts, New
castle; 1:30, Every Minister Every
Layman, Cooperating" Edward j.
Humpe, Kokomo.
Afternoon Session.
Auditorium First Methodist Episco-
pal church, E. Starbuck, president,
presiding: 1:4O, song, Earl Cartwright,
1:45, Laymen and the Centenary, John
w. Perry; Secretary Lay Activities,
Chicago, Area; / :55, address, '1nten-
sive Methodism," John w. Kendall,
Peru; 2:20, Lay Electoral: 3:15, mis-
cellaneous business of Laymen's asso-
citation: $3.50. reception of representa-
tive boards Of church and considera'
tion of memorials; 400, joint session
with annual conference, Coliseum.
Bishop Nicholson delivered the sec
ond of evangelistic addresses to an
audience which filled the pews and
aisles of the Grace M. E. church
Wednesday evening. His text was
the parable of the prodigal son, which
he said should have been the parable
of the father heart toward the way.
ward son.
by this parable Jesus Christ in
dicates that He believes there are
some people who are lost" Bishop
Nicholson said. THE time has come
for a revival of family religion.
"In my experiences l have found
many times that the obstinacy o1
parents who profess to be Christians
stands in the way Of the children
giving their life for Christian work.
Scores Indifferenees Of Parents
Indifference of parents toward the
spiritual welfare of their children was
scored by the speaker. He said that
sin should be painted in all its blight
edness and blastedness by the par
ents, who, on the other hand should
be able to present Jesus Christ tc
their children. Bishop Nicholson ther
dwelt on the destructive power of sir
and gave concrete examples.
The only safety for children is in
vital relations with Jesus Christ. In
terest in Him must be aroused. The
programs of the church must be pu
on a large scale. Socrates taugh
that if a man knew what was right
he would do right. But many mer
know what Is right, and sin. We neet
new moral and spiritual reinforce
ments of the human will to enforce
mans knowledge of what is right,
concluded Bishop Nicholson.
Outlines Unification Plan
An exposition of the proposed plar
of unificaton of the Methodist Epis
copal church and the Methodist Epis
copal church south was presented tt
the conference late Wednesday after
noon by DR.. Abram w. Harris. genera
secretary of the Board of Education
of the Methodist Episcopal church.
No action was taken. However, 1
is expected that the matter will com,
to a vote in the general conference
Of the church in May and that of th'
church of the South in June.
The Methodist Episcopal ChurCl
South, withdrew in 1874, because o
differences on slavery and regiona
conferences. The south disliked th
attitude of the north toward SLAYER.
and the north did not want regiona
conferences.
The plan of unifcation Is of neces
sitv a complicated plan. however be
lieve that the plan of the commission
being presented is the best that ha
vet been proposed, and it would b
difficult to suggest one better, tha
would bring about the unitlcation o
the two churches" Dr.. Harris state
that both factions would be protected
that both would be justly represente
in the general conference. Bisho