The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-08-06
WOULD REVIVE THE
FAMILY AS UNIT
Church Heads Seek to Stimulate
Common interest and Offset
Too Much Individualism.

Saving the American family from
'ever-emrllasized indiyidualismH IS an.
nounced as leading purpose OF the
New World Movement Of Northern
BaptistS
There Is TOO much talk OF living
ene's own life and TOO little of the unit
good. 7 said Or II A. Heath Of the Gen.
eral Board Of Promotion OF the North.
erE Baptist Convention. 1T IS an un.
usual family that has any vital common
interest
TO unity the family In its church life
at least 10000 Baptist churches
throughout the country are being ne
organized on the basis Of what Is
known as the Family Group Plan.
Every local church OF The denomina.
zion In the Northern states viii be df-
yided into family groups, with not more
than ten families Ia group; a leader
will be appointed. and the various
group leaders, with tile pastor, Will
form church cabinet TO put local and
UNCONVENTIONAL programs into effect
Family sunday will be observed at
least once each three months In all the
Baptist churches In the country Ey-
erything about the services, songs, text
and sermon, win be chosen from the
point of view OF interesting the fumi-
~. Members OF the family will be ask
ed 10 sit together, and IN thousands OF
rows of seats In the United States fa-
ther Will head the row and tow.head
son will occupy the end seat
Christian leaders say that family
prayers are held at the present time
In not more than one out Of every ten
families OF church members. The gap.
list campaign will make an effort to
revive the custom IN all the homes OF
that denomination.
The various members of each family
group In the church win be expected to
entertain each other In their homes
Since these divisions will be made
without reference TO social status. per.
haps on an alphabetical basis or In
some other equally impartial way, this
viii mean real test OF Christian de
mocracy The leaders believe that the
members Of the various congregations
will come through this acid test tri
umphantly.
brotherhood ought to be an actuaI
working principle in our churches ant
not IN idle word" DIR. Heath said. I'll
II Is not an actual working principle
this Is the time for us TO find 1t out
IL there is Christian snobbishness Il
should be uprooted. But. as matter
of fact, the Family Group Plan Ii be
ing met with favor wherever 1t Is being
tried out in our churches, and familie.
write IN that they welcome this oppor
tunity to mingle with those of varying
viewpoints"
Family weekend meetings will also
be introduced into many local Baptlst
4 churches, at which the various mem
bers OF the family viii come together
for readings, Rotations, music, games
and chat These programs win mo-
necessarily be religious at all, tn,
church leaders say, The church car
safely be used for family enjoyment II
these modern times, they declare.
Br Heath contends that this recr
ganization Of the church on the famll,
basis is both wise and natural.
THE family is the natural division
within the church as well as outside Of
IT," he said, The Baptist Church II
simply recognizing this fact in the New
World Movement. II the movement re
suits in stronger welding OF famil,
ties and in helping to settle the nation
al discomfort through the mingling o
various classes the church. the HON,
and the nation will all be the better fol
it."