The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-14
PRESBYTERIANS OF
CITY ORGANIZED
FOR CHURCH WORK
Mant Hood Elected President
OF Laymen's Organization
Whose Slogan Is "Per-
SonaI Service"

Presbyterians of Birmingham, at
meeting held at the First Presby-
terrain church yesterday, organized
for definite church work in this sec
ton. Every Presbyterian church in
the Birmingham district is to be in
Guided in the organization and the
idea of personal service by every
Presbyterian layman in this section
will be carried out.
Instructive and inspiring addresses
by F. i. Slaymaker of Athens. Ga.
and James Morton of Atlanta, did
much to fix the idea of Service" in
the meeting.
The organization completed has the
following officers: President, Mani
Hood vice presidents, E. E. Forbes
and Albert Dobyns; secretary, Roger
w. Snyder; treasurer. H. c. Keller
The meeting opened with devo-
tional exercises by T. A. Peacock, who
stated that those present were ready
to serve. F. A. McElroy briefly re-
viewed the work of the laymen, since
an organization was perfected some
time ago, and stressed the necessity
for better organized and more active
work.
f. L. Slaymaker was then intro
duced. Mr.. Slaymaker is secretary
of the Laymen's Missionary move
ment of the Southern Presbyterian
church. He has organized associa-
tons of this KIND in a. large number
of southern cities. the idea being to
do much of the personal missionary
work for which the minister does not
have the time.
Mr.. Slaymaker brought out the
fact that the laymen had in large
measure left church work to the min
listers. They had not faced what 1t
meant to be a Christian.
Christ did not work that way"
said the speaker. He took respon-
sibility upon himself and suffered
a shameful death to show us what
could be done for God. If each Chris
tian in this country made pledge
to bring In just one more to Christ
in a year the whole nation would he
Christian in two years. The goal of
the Southern Presbyterian church for
the year was $4,000 or one to each
eight members, and we have fallen
snort OF that ny hat1.
The speaker urged an organization
in each church for the laymen of the
chuches to hold services at times
among the churches and to be ready
to assist in December in the cam
paign for tithes and in January for
more family worship in the home.
James Morton, the next speaker, is
a member of the BILLY" Sunday club
of Atlanta. He related the story of
the ten lepers healed by Christ and
only one of them turned back and
praised God. Where are the other
miner" asked Jesus. And" said the
speaker, I'VE laymen are like those
nine lepers who did not even thank
God that they were healed" He urged
those who were at the meeting to
pledge themselves to do something for
Christ. They would then know the
Joy of service.
Cards outlining the nature of the
service were passed around and were
filled in. The service to be given by
the laymen includes conducting pub
lie worship, song services, Sunday
school work, use of automobile, as
sisting in organizing other laymens'
associations. and helping in recrea-
ton and athletic work among the
young people.
1t Is planned to hold one business
meeting and one social meeting each
month. The following Presbyterian
churches are included In the organi-
zation First, Second. Third, Vino
Street, Avondale, Woodlawn, Seveny-
sixth Street, North Birmingham,
Thomas, Pratt City. Fairfield Memo
rial, Fairview, Bessemer First church,
Hardy Chapel and Brighton.