, 1934-11-16


the membership Of the churches Of
the district during the year was
fixed as a goal. As there are at
present 252 members in the dis
trict. this will give the churches a
numerical goal Of 725 members for
the new year. The Presiding Elder
discussed plans for reaching the
goal. The bishops Of the church
suggested a goal OF 10000 new
members for the whole church dur
ing this quadrennium. Plans will
be made in the next few weeks for
one or more revival meetings In
every Methodist church In the
Brownsville district during the
year, In addition to the use OF 9TH
er evangelistic agencies at the
disposal Of the churches.
The Brownsville District last
year led the entire Western Texas
conference in It's educational pro-
gram, taking 654 leadership train
Ing credits. Plans were made to hold
that lead for another year and
arrangements were made for six
standard training schools, four CO.
operative schools, and for at least
one. If not more. standard or Cokes-
bury classes in every branch OF the
district not having a standard or
cooperative school during the year.
Six Christian Culture Institutes
were arranged for, and nc least
two Christian Adventure Camps.
This, 1t was said, LIS one OF the
finest educational programs ever
outlined by 9 district In South
Texas.
IN the matters Of benevoIences,
the Presiding Elder urged full
collections. declaring that the rails
ing of funds for the missionary and
benevolent work OF the church was
as religious and urgent as the hold
ing Of revival meetings. The
Brownsville district has been asked
TO raise Sill, SIS for the work this
year and the district asking hma
been apportioned to the several
churches in varying amounts sub
ject to their ratification.
A larger program Of lay activity
was announced which calls for
numerous get together meetings Of
the men OF the district around ban
Quet tables or otherwise, but with
the emphasis upon International
and i~nspirational programs. Lay
mans Day will be observed In the
district on the second Sunday In
June. Methodist laymen have adopt
ed as their slogan for 1885. "A
Christian Home, A Christian IN
dustrial Order, A Sober Nation, and
"A WarleSS World" These themes
viii be discussed all over the dis
trict this year by competent lay
men.
More sympathetic cooperation
with the Latin-American Methodist
churches throughout the territory
was urged by the Presiding Elder,
who also urged that such coopera-
ton be given as might be nee
essary to provide the Gospel and
religious services for the nero
people In the Valley where they
are without services. There are
such places, II vas stated.
a concluding paragraph In the
program OF work submitted by the
Presiding Elder for adoption by ne
conference called for the beautifi-
cation this year Of all churches and
parsonages. and church and par
Sonage grounds where such work
Is needed and can be arranged for.
The churches ought to Join whole
heartedly In every community move
ment for community Identification
he said. If the community is with
out civic pride and a Identification
program, the church ought to pro-
vide such leadership, the Presiding
Elder declared. The house Of God
ought 70 be In the most attractive
building IN a town and the sur
rounding grounds the most beauti-
full, and the parsonage and parSon-
age grounds ought likewise to be
made beautiful and attractive. In
this valley OF shrubs and beautiful
flowers this can be done at little
cost. he said.
The Presiding Elder urged in
closing that every effort possible
be made TO reduce the church in
debtedness to the district as much
as possible this year. Something
Like 100000 is owed on church
property, he said. Its our pur-
pose" he said. TO take are Of
these obligations as rapidly as con-
ditions will permit"
President w. w. jackson, OF
Westmoorland college Of san An
tonic, was present to address the
meeting on the conference laymen's
program. Superintendent Hubert
Johnson, Of the Methodist Orphans
home ut Waco, was also present,
addressing the meeting in the in
terest OF the home.
Plans were completed for q tour
Of Valley towns In December By the
Orphans home Glee club and
orchestra, and for the shipment
Just before Christmas OF a carload
Of citrus to the home as has been
the custom Of Valley churches for
years.
The next district workers con-
ference viii be held In December
at the Port Isabel Methodist
church. The subject to BE- discussed
at that meeting Is Evangelism"
Rev. Z. p. Neal of Mission was
elected by the conference Wednes-
day as the preacher for the Port