The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-12
CONFERENCE LAY LEADER CHOSEN,
 JUDGE CHAPMAN
Ardent Supporter of Chris tian Education Movement. Formerly of Dothan, Now
 Making Home Here

Behold he is in Dothan," the members of the Alabama conference, Methodist Episcopal church, south, agreed, when they looked for a con- ference lay leader, and. found him in the person of Judge William R. Chapman.
 Fortunately for uhe north Alabama conference, however, Judge Chap man is no longer in Dothan. He has moved to the Magic City. His busiest hours are spent with the law firm, Weatherly, Birch & Chapman: and his happiest hours are spent at home at Graymont Heights near Birming- ham-Southern college. where his young sons are promising students Rather, three of the boys are in the college of which their father has long been a trustee; and in all prob ability the fourth young gentleman will be there when his kinder gartea days are over.
 That this group of wide awake boys with the judge. himself, his charming wife and attractive young daughter, are no longer in south Ala bama. means the loss to Dothan that is great gain to Birmingham and to Methodism of north Alabama
 Supports Christian Education
 
 the most ardent supporters of the Christian education movement.
 fThis is the most important and significant movement in southern Methodism today declared the lay leader. who carried the centenary movement lover the top" in the Ala bama conference. '-It is bound to succeed throughout the south. and I believe there is a great future ahead n. l. -II
 As lay leader of the Alabama con AhA2~-snrge constituency as a member of the general conference After considering carefully the splendid accomplishment of laymen during the centenary movement, he has con cluded that the laity Is quite equal to a -man's size" job in the pro- gramme of the church. that the time has passed when the burdens of souls and of finances should rest en- tirely upon the shoulders of the pas tor of 8 congre egation-
 44 Man's Size Job
 In speaking of the layman's re- sponsibility, this successful leader stated to the Alabama conference what he believed to be the standards for lay activities of every confer ence, when he said:
 "The laity today, more perhaps than at any other period in the his. tory of the church, feels the great burden of the sins of the world In the past we have been content to leave this task to the ministry today we know that the world can not be saved by the ministry alone and we are eager to give ourselves and our means to this great cause. The centenary awakened this con sciousness and after its close we hoped that the church might use this enlivened asset to more noble pur- pose than the mere raising of money
 "The laymen of the church hunger for an enlarged opportunity of re- ligious service. The awak re- ligious consciousness demands this and will have it. though the policy of the leaders of the church may unwittingly force this activity to other religious and social organiZa- tions."
 Further, Judge Chapman declared: .aThe pastor should not be burdened with the responsibility of raising any of sSe obligations of his church. This is by rights the laymen's duty-a duty which they cannot rightfuliy shirk. The preacher is the spiritual leader of the people and not mere business manager of the church ne serves, and when his time is con sumed in mere business matters his main duties are of necessity neglect ed and the cause of the Kingdom nec- essarily suffers. The spiritual needs of the people are overwhelming, and the ministers we now have are Tar too limited to supply this great de- mand. We earnestly appeal to the laymen of the church to respond to your duty--unshackle our clergy ana make them free to hold aloft the light which will lead us to safety and security.
 .'When the business affairs of the church are placed where they rightly belong-on the laymen--our minis ters will be free to do the real work to which they are called. In this way alone may our church successfully go forward in the evangelizauon or the world"
 Tribute to . Layman
 Perhaps Judge Chapman's tribute to the late director of archives and history of Alabama, in an address ne delivered before the historical society of the Alabama conference, describes the sneakers ideal for every layman of the church in his conclusion
 ..As the life of Dr. Thomas M. owen vas consecrated to a high ana noble spiritual purpose so must each fife be consecrated. each in his own business or profession, but all doihs Gods work and by this uniteu anu combined effort will His kingdom pc established among men,.
 COUNTY AGENT BUSY
 F,ort Payne, July t1.-tSpeciaL)- /, D~aaford corptv farm demOn-