The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-20
METHODISTS HOLD
 SESSION AT ATHENS.
Church Drive for $33,o00,0 ,000 Makes ProgresS-Meeting
 at Alabama College

Athens. March 19.-(Special) )--Large parlor of the college, the alumnae of the church schools in that vicin- ity met this week to discuss plans for cooperating with those engaged in the great Christian education movement, ir which the church has undertaken tc raise $33 3,000,0OO to properly equip their schools so they might hold their own in the educational system of the south.
 At the close of the opening prayer by Rev. George w. Read. the college giee club gave several enjoyable numbers Mrs Anna Hobbs Frierson, officiating alumnae director, gave the opening ao- dress of welcome, ''The Church and the School" touching upon the intimate con nection between Christian education ana AmericaniZation.
 In the secureness of our splendid CIV ilization we are apt to overlook the great debt Americans owe the church. IT WE would have proof of our obligations, looh at South America settled by the span iards in the search for gold, and com pare 1t with North America, settled py the Pilgrims in search of God. from childhood we are taught that ours IS a democratic government, ana we are prone to regard it as something neVlta- ble and political. Of course, 1t IS some thing deeper than thay. It is the spirit of Jesus Christ through the work or great personalities slowly carving a mon- umental work which Is today recognlzed as the greatest model government Tn the world.
 Mrs. Thomas Frost in her talk, Can the Church Afford Not to Educate? emphasized this fact by citing statls- tics where religion had been left out oI education. Is it not an apalllng Iaet that the guardians of the future genera tions-the teachers-are held respohsiple for the German war?
 Dr. Read stated as one of the needs of the church, trained teachers TOT schools and for Sunday schools. They need teachers who are not only splr1tu- ally equipped to properly guide and train the student, he said, but teachers who have had at the same time the pest scholastic advantages, Another purpose young men to fill the pulpits in the l,o4s churches we have been forced to close their doors for lack of men.
 The Southern Methodist church owns 31 colleges and universities, 26 junior col leges and 26 academies Some of them, owing to the generosity of some wealthy men, have splendid equipment, and the best or 1acuIty. Ine cHurcH HiuSe oAAoi the best in all of her schools if she Is to do her duty. Curtailed, as have been their finances, the church schools have borne the chief burden, and their splen- did atmosphere makes them superior in spite of their handicap.
 "IN GOOD OLD DAYS"
 One of the speakers present stated his experience during his residence as minister in a certain college town which held large secular school Not once, he stated, in his four years connection with the town had he or any other min- ister been allowed the privilege of doing anything for the students in religious way, other than to appear at com mencement and select the hymn and lead in prayer. Yet, this school turns out many leaders every year. How their leadership shall be directed, or what their Influence in their community t would be difficult to tell.
 It is the trained intellect that leads in every sphere of life, and it is the church's duty to see that this intellect is given an opportunity to be trained. in the right direction The church has launched a great movement to raise money for this purpose, and after care ful survey of the schools. has asked for s3S 900 OOO