WORLD PROGRAM * -,V v*'tV rSS HANDBOOK = SUGGESTIONS WOULD PROGRAM HANDBOOK Suggestions for Centenary Speakers and Other Workers “The firing destiny has at last become as vide ns the horizon ' ' —Woodrow Wilson. Joint Centenary Commission Methodist Episcopal Church Methodist Episcopal Church, bouth lit Fifth Avenue, New \ork Table of Contents PAGE General Centenary Organization 0 anil 7 Centenary Hymn 8 President's Wilson's Message on Missions 9 Centenary Organization and Working Program 10 . Organizing the Church 11 I The Area Council 11 II Annual Conference Council 12 III District Council 12 IV Sub-district Group Council 12 V The Pastor and Local Church Council 13 The Centenary Goal 18 Centenary Standard Church 19 The Development of the Spiritual Resources 20 The Fellowship of Intercession 22 Christian Stewardship and Tithing 24 The Four Weeks’ Program 25 The Department of Life Service 29 Missionary Education 30 Centenary Courses for Bible Classes 31 Department of Finance 33 World Parish and Allotments 35 I The World Parish 35 II Allotments and How to Present Them 36 Statistics 38 Sunday School Cooperation 39 I The Goal 39 II The Plan . . ! 40 Sunday School Bibliography 42 War Emergency and Reconstruction 43 Methodist Minute Men 44 Local Church Organization 48 Speakers’ Bureau 49 I Speakers and Dates 49 II Literature and Supplies 49 Lantern Slides and Lecture Bureau 50 * Publicity 52 3 The Columbus Celebration 56 The Centenary Abroad 56 Bishops and Area Secretaries 58 Helps 60 Centenary Training Conferences 62 I A Statement 62 II Suggested Program 63 III The Speakers 64 Materials for Addresses 65 Additional Helps 66 The Coming Triumph 69 4 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/worldprogramhandOOmeth General Centenary Organization Joint Centenary Commission Chairman Secretary W. W. PINSON RALPH A. WARD Vice Chairman JOHN Methodist Episcopal Church D. D. FORSYTH JOHN F. GOUCHER LEONARD C. MURDOCK JOHN T. STONE S. EARL TAYLOR W. H. G. GOULD . PEPPER Methodist Episcopal Church South BISHOP THOS. ATKINS W. B. BEAUCHAMP MISS BELLE BENNETT E. B. CHAPPELL BISHOP JOHN M. MOORE JOHN R. PEPPER Centenary Commission Board of Foreign Missions Chairman JOHN T. STONE FRANK L. BROWN W. E. DOUGHTY GEORGE P. ECKMAN FRED B. FISHER GEORGE M. FOWLES JOHN F. GOUCHER L. O. HARTMAN FRANK A. HORNE A. W. HARRIS JAMES R. JOY WILLIAM B. MILLAR JOHN R. MOTT A. P. NELSON F. M. NORTH H. LESTER SMITH S. EARL TAYLOR E. S. TIPPLE R. B. URMY BISHOP L. B. WILSON 6 Centenary Commission Board of Home Missions and Church Extension Officers Chairman BISHOP J. F. BERRY Executive Secretary DAVID D. FORSYTH Assoc. Exec. Secretary RALPH E. DIFFENDORFER Recording Secretary RALPH WELLES KEELER Members BISHOP J. F. BERRY BISHOP TIIOS. NICHOLSON FRANK C. DUNN DAVID D. FORSYTH W. H. G. GOULD ELMER E. KIDNEY LEONARD C. MURDOCK WILLIAM S. PILLING Joint Centenary Committee Methodist Episcopal Church Chairman Executive Secretary D. D. FORSYTH S. EARL TAYLOR Associate Executive Secretary RALPH A. WARD Representing the Board of Foreign Missions FRANK MASON NORTH JOHN T. STONE GEORGE M. FOWLES FRANK L. BROWN Representing the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension D. D. FORSYTH W. H. G. GOULD FRANK C. DUNN LEONARD C. MURDOCK National Campaign Committee Chairman Campaign Director JOHN T. STONE C. S. WARD Executive Secretary Assistant Secretary FRED B. FISHER EUGENE C. HICKMAN L. B. BOWERS I. G. McCORMACK 7 Cije Centenarp il)pmn Lead on, O King Eternal J EAD on, O King Eternal, The day of march has come; Henceforth in fields of conquest Thy tents shall be our home. Through days of preparation Thy grace has made us strong And now, O King Eternal, We lift our battle song. Lead on, O King Eternal, Till sin’s fierce war shall cease, And holiness shall whisper The sweet Amen of peace; For not with swords loud clashing, Nor roll of 'stirring drums; With deed of love and mercy, The heavenly kingdom comes. Lead on, O King Eternal, We follow, not with fears; For gladness breaks like morning W’here’er thy face appears; Thy cross is lifted o’er us; We journey in its light: The crown awaits the conquest; Lead on, O God of might. 8 I think it would he a real misfortune, a misfortune of lasting consequence, if the missionary program for the world should be interrupted. There are many calls for money, of course, and I can quite understand that it may become more difficult than ever to obtain money for missionary enterprises, . . . but that the work undertaken should be continued, and continued, as far as possible, at its full force, seems to me of capital necessity, and I for one hope that there may be no slack- ening or recession of any sort. Woodrow Wilson I 9 The Centenary Organization and Working Program IN addition to the Joint Commission which represents A the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South in all interdenominational mat- ters, and in addition to Centenary Commissions in the Board of Foreign Missions and the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension, which Commissions look after Centenary matters relating especially to these Boards, there is the following plan of organization: A Joint Centenary Committee representing the Boards of Home and Foreign Missions of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. This Joint Committee car- ries out its far-reaching program through I A National Campaign Committee which directs the field campaign with the entire Church organized into Centenary Councils in each 1 Episcopal Area 2 Annual Conference 3 District - 4 Sub-district Group 5 Local Church II A National Committee on Finance in immediate charge of the financial phases of the Centenary III Departments which are in charge of the following definite assignments of work: 1 The Development of Spiritual Resources 2 Christian Stewardship and Tithing 3 Life Service 4 Missionary Education 10 5 World Parish and Allotments 6 Statistics 7 Sunday Schoo\ Cooperation 8 War Emergencies and Reconstruction 9 Methodist Minute Men 10 Local Church Organization 11 Speakers’ Bureau 12 Lantern Slide and Lecture Bureau 13 Publicity 14 The Columbus Celebration 15 The Centenary Abroad Organizing the Church I The Area Council The Area Council in each Episcopal Area is composed of the resident bishop and at least one minister and one or more laymen from each conference in the area, with a sufficient number of laymen added from the Area Centre to form a strong executive committee. Area Executive Secretary The Area Executive Secretary, appointed by the bishop, with the approval of the National Campaign Committee, is in general charge of the campaign in the area under the direction of the National Campaign Committee. Area Office There is a Centenary office in each area with the Area Secretary in charge. This is the seat of the area activi- ties and the direct point of contact between the area and the National Office at New York. Each Area Council shall have its local treasurer, who shall pay all bills incurred by the area. The Area Treasurer will be sub- ll sidized by the National Committee until such time as provision can be made within the area for meeting the overhead expenses. The minimum amount of detail will be handled from the central office in New York and the maximum from the area office. Area Teams and Special Workers Centenary teams and special workers are to be assigned, as far as practicable and possible, to definite areas to work under the general direction of department heads through the National Campaign Committee, but under the immediate supervision of the Area Executive Secre- tary, who is to be held responsible for carrying out the plans of the National Committee. No dates shall be fixed by the central office or programs put over within the area except in cooperation with the area office. Each area office shall be the center of publicity activity; the depository for Centenary literature, lanterns, slides and other supplies. II Annual Conference Council The Annual Conference Council shall consist of the dis- trict superintendent and one minister and one or more laymen from each district. A strong layman should be chosen as chairman. Where possible, an influential preacher of the conference should be selected as secretary . Ill District Council The District Council shall consist of those members from the districts who are on the Conference Council together with one minister and at least one layman from each sub-district group. IV Sub-district Group Council The district should be divided into convenient sub-dis- trict groups, each with its own Council, composed of 12 the pastor, the lay Chairman and Secretary of each local church Council within the group. It is recommended that the district superintendent appoint a Sunday School representative upon both district and sub-dis- trict Councils, to assure coordination of the Centenary forces in Church and Sunday Schools. V The Pastor and Local Church Council A The Pastor The pastor should 1 Know all about the Centenary 2 Appoint and organize Methodist Minute Men 3 Organize Local Centenary Council 4 In cooperation with the Council (1) Complete organization of local church forces by mobilization Week, January 5- 12, 1919. (2) Conduct thorough educational campaign January, February, March. (3) Carry thorough the Four Weeks’ Steward- ship Campaign. (4) Plan to reach or exceed the Centenary financial goal. (5) Prepare for World Program, Sunday and Ten Day Drive (date to be announced) . (Local Church Workers’ Packet contains full instructions.) B The Council I Organization 1 Composed of at least five strong, representative members, chosen by the pastor with great care. 2 In churches of more than three hundred mem- bers, a Council member should be added for every fifty additional church members. 3 In a circuit, there should be a Council for each appointment. 13 4 The Chairman and Secretary of the Council should be laymen. 5 The pastor is ex-officio a member and will give every possible assistance. 6 The Secretary of the Council will act as the Literature Secretary, to secure Centenary litera- ture and supplies from the Centenary headquar- ters and distribute to the local church leaders. 7 Frequent meetings of the Council should be held for prayer and conference. II Duties of the Council 1 Divide the members and constituents of the church into Units of not more than thirty per- sons each. 2 Select a competent leader for each Unit. “Se- lective Draft” is the word here. Do not call for volunteers. Appoint real leaders. 3 Conduct the Four Weeks’ Stewardship Cam- paign. (See “How to Organize the Stewardship Movement.”) 4 Inaugurate and carry on an educational cam- paign. (See educational leaflet.) 5 Conduct the Ten Day canvass. (See item VI.) III Duties of the Unit Leader 1 To inform himself about the Centenary in all its phases. 2 To give general direction to the activities of the Centenary in his Unit. 3 To select, in consultation with the pastor, four assistants to carry on the work of the Unit, viz: Prayer, Stewardship, Education, Life Serv- ice. IV The Duties of the Four Assistants 1 Prayer (1) See that every member of the church in the Unit 11 is enrolled in the Fellowship of Intercession and the signed enrolments sent to the Department for the De- velopment of Spiritual Resources, 111 Fifth Avenue, New York. (2) Circulate among the members of the Unit and promote the reading of literature on prayer. (3) Seek to secure the establishment of the family altar in each family in the Unit. (4) Help build up the church prayer meeting. 2 Stewardship (1) Explain to every person in his Unit the aim and nature of the stewardship movement. (2) Help to organize and carry through the Four Weeks’ Stewardship Program and see that every mem- ber of the Unit has signed “The Methodist Million Pledge” and that the signed pledges are sent to the Joint Centenary Committee, 111 Fifth Avenue, New York. (3) Recommend and circulate books and other liter- ature on the subject. (4) Organize a study group in Studies in Stewardship. (5) Help to prepare the church for the Centenary financial program and assist in the canvass for pledges to the Centenary budget during the Ten Day Drive. 3 Education (1) Distribute “On to the Finish” in accordance with the plans of the National Campaign Committee. (2) Endeavor to put the Centenary combination lit- erature offer into every home. (3) Urge each adult in the Unit to read the two cur- rent mission study books. (4) Organize at least one mission study group in the Unit. (5) Cooperate with the Sunday School in its educa- tional plans. 15 tin 4 Life Service (1) Circulate literature on the subject prepared by the Life Service Department of the Centenary. (2) Cooperate with the Epworth League and Sunday School in the Life Service Programs. (3) Develop by every possible means the attitude of complete devotion to the will of God on the part of every member of the Unit. (4) Cultivate every young person in the Unit with a view to securing enlistments for the ministry or the mission field at home or abroad. (5) Assign every member of the Unit to some definite service in the local church. The Unit Goal be cal me the eai 1 wil tha chi toi wil mi Every family supplied with literature, every member enlisted in (1) Intercession (2) Stewardship (3) Study (4) Service V Mobilization Week January 5-12, 1910, has been designated as Mobiliza- nu tion Week, during which the organization of all Local be Church Centenary Councils should be completed and in all the churches that have not already done so be j; ready to launch the campaign of education, prayer, ^ stewardship and life service. • . . FH VI The Ten Day Financial Drive - , The Centenary campaign will culminate in a nation- pla wide simultaneous ten-day drive, during which every tai local church will conduct a canvass for the purpose of tbf securing a Centenary offering from every member and she adherent of the church. The drive will be launched on drt a Sunday, to be known as “World Program Sunday,” Tb when the Centenary will be officially celebrated to 16 ten throughout the church. The entire ten-day period will be a continuous campaign of publicity, prayer, edu- cation and financial solicitation, with a final mass meeting for report and thanksgiving. The date for the Drive is not yet definitely fixed. It will come not earlier than the Spring of 1919. The plan of organization and campaign outlined herein will prepare the church for this culminating drive so that when the exact date is announced the entire church will be prepared for immediate action. De- tailed information, together with plans and methods, will be given out by the National Campaign Com- mittee well in advance of the ten-day period. Action of District Superintendents “We recommend that in the prosecution of the Cen- tenary Program it be made a primary purpose to safe- guard the interests of the Freedmen’s Aid Society, the Board of Education, the American Bible Society, the Board of Temperance, Prohibition and Public Morals, and the General Deaconess Board; and to raise an- nually their full apportionments, and that the pastors be so informed.” — District Superintendents at Colum- ! bus. The Joint Centenary Committee heartily endorses the above 1 1 ction. VII Charts The following charts should be hung in prominent places in the local church so that the measure of at- tainment may be registered from time to time during the progress of the movement. Every local church should enthusiastically strive to reach the one hun- dred per cent goal. The charts may be made locally; set the young people to work on them; or they may be obtained from Cen- tenary Headquarters. IT The Centenary Goal For the Local Church Every Church Dominantly Missionary I Characteristics of a Dominantly Missionary Church 1 An Adequate World Purpose and Program 2 An Intelligent Interest in the W T orld Program • 3 A Willing Acceptance of the World Program 4 Loyally Carrying on the World Program II Centenary Aims for the Local Church 1 The Dedication of Life to Christian Service 2 The Whole Church Enrolled in the Fellow- ship of Intercession 3 The Whole Church Enlisted as Christian Stewards 4 The Whole Church Studying Missions 5 The Whole Church Engaged in Community Service and Evangelism G The Whole Church Meeting or Exceeding Its Centenary Quota III Centenary Organization in the Local Church 1 A Centenary Council in Every Church 2 A Missionary Superintendent and Committee in every Sunday School 3 Departments of World Evangelism and Social Service in Every Epworth League 18 Centenary Standard Church Attainment Chart Name of Church No. of Members. . Credit Column Items of Attainment Church Centenary Council appointed and at work Observed Four-Sunday Campaign . . . .% Members Enrolled in Fellowship of Intercession . . . .% Members Enlisted as Christian Stewards . . . .% Members Studying Missions and Christian Stewardship .... Subscribers to “World Outlook” EPWORTH LEAGUE: Meeting Mission- ary Standard of Hoard of Control of Ep- worth League SUNDAY SCHOOL: Meeting Missionary Standard of Board of Sunday Schools . . . .% Members Dedicated to Definite Christian Service Church Meeting or Exceeding Its Cente- nary Financial Goal A Credit of ten points to be given for each item in the Standard A church 100% efficient will be able to fill in each blank under “Credit Column” with 10. 19 The Development of the Spiritual Resources far-reaching spiritual aims of The Missionary centenary have been recognized and emphasized from the beginning of the movement. Well did one of the leaders of the Centenary say almost at the beginning of the project, “This movement will be more powerful than those gone before, and draw us nearer to the goal only in proportion as it shall suc- ceed better than the movements that have preceded it in giving us all a larger faith in the God who hears prayer and a more honest practice of the life of prayer.” The World Program Committee at its meeting at Niagara Falls in September, 1917, put itself on record as follows: “Resolved, That the final triumph of this imperial program depends upon a new birth within the Church of New Testament teaching, as to the stewardship of life, and prayer and possessions. The first need of the hour is not money, but the consecration that lays money on the altar. “Resolved, That we approve the plans proposed for the development of the missionary prayer life of the Church, and we urge that an effort be made to enrol by name tens of thousands of our Methodist pastors and people to meet daily at the Throne of Grace in interces- sory prayer for the Centenary and its objects as repre- sented in our World Program.” Executive Chairman W. E. DOUGHTY Secretary BRUCE B. CORBIN Spiritual Foundations 20 Declaration of the District Superintendents “We therefore, the District Superintendents of the Methodist Episcopal Church commit ourselves unre- servedly to the realization of this program. “And we earnestly call upon the whole church, its individual membership and organized life, to take this program upon its heart, to surrender itself to the stewardship of life, of prayer, of time and wealth, to give itself to united and daily intercession not only that the millions of dollars we ask for may be raised, but that the church may have a rebirth of spiritual power and further be given a new vision of her pres- ent task at home, in Europe and abroad, and a mighty girding of Almighty God for the realization of this program to the praise of Ilis name and the glory of His Christ forever.” The Department for the Development of the Spiritual Resources has been organized to aid in realizing the aims emphasized in the quotations given above. Plans of the Department 1 Arousing the Church A widespread appeal is being carried to the Church through the church papers, by means of special liter- ature prepared for the purpose, through extensive cor- respondence, and by special emphasis on the spiritual message and meaning of the Centenary at the Annual Conferences and special Centenary meetings. 2 Enlisting Intercessors The Department has organized the Fellowship of In- tercession and is securing tens of thousands of signa- tures to the following enrolment. The memberships in the Fellowship of Intercession come from all over the world. These cards are being filed in the Centenary office. 21 22 Every Church in Methodism is urged to set aside at least one Sunday as Intercession Sunday when the subject is presented and enrolments taken. Special literature has been prepared to assist the pastors in preparing for the work of this special Sunday; pamphlets for widespread distribution among the people are available and many thousands of copies are being circulated. All who make addresses on the Centenary are urged to emphasize the place and power of prayer in the Campaign and to secure enrolments in the Fellowship of Intercession. Many enrolments are being secured in personal inter- views. This is one of the most effective methods. 3 Training Prayer Helpers As soon as enrolments are received in the Centenary office, a folder acknowledging the receipt of the en- rolment, a prayer cycle entitled “First of All” and other prayer helps are sent to each signer of the Fellow- ship of Intercession enrolment card. It is the purpose of the department to communicate from time to time with all members of the Fellowship of Intercession, to send them special requests for prayer and circulate literature among them. Extensive plans are being made to utilize this army of prayer helpers in the future w r orld wide activities of the Church and through them to release measure- less spiritual energies to refresh and invigorate the life of the world. 23 Christian Stewardship and Tithing Executive Chairman Secretary RALPH A. CUSHMAN J. HOMER SLUTZ 'T'HE message of the Stewardship Department briefly A put is that the Centenary movement is primarily a call to repentance. There can be no doubt that this present great emergency involving the raising of eighty million dollars is the result of the failure of church mem- bers to make good the profession of the surrender of their lives by the putting on God’s altar of their property as the witness of their faith. Church members have failed to recognize that what God said from the beginning was true, — money giving is generally the truest index of sincere consecration. The present movement is not primarily to raise eighty million dollars but to bring the Church to new standards of devotion and life. It is a movement to lift Methodism to a new plane of spiritual vision and ministry from which it shall accom- plish its part of the Christian conquest of the world. The Centenary Commission has taken advantage of the Christian Stewardship revival that is now sweeping over America by establishing the Department of Chris- tian Stewardship and Tithing. The Stewardship Department has issued the slogan, “A Million Tithers in Methodism,” and is using the following enrolment: 24 , THE Methodist Million "and crown him loro of ALL" My Acknowledgment and Purpose as a Christian Steward 2(n loving loyalty to my Lord and as an Acknowledgment of His Ownership, I covenant to pay The Tithe of my income for the Purpose of maintaining and extending the Kingdom of God Date Age. if Child. IAME ADDRESS THE PURPOSE OF THIS CARD IS TO ENROLL BOTH OLD AND NEW TIT H I NG-STE W A RD9 IN “THE METHODIST MILLION'* .CONFERENCE DISTRICT CHARG DO NOT FAIL TO CHECK THIS — THE EPWORTH LEAGUE — THE SUNDAY SCHOOL — THE WOMANS F. M. SOCIETY — THE WOMANS H. M. SOCIETY MARK X OPPOSITE ALL TO WHICH YOU BELONG THIS CARD SHOULD BE RETURNED AT ONCE BY THE PASTOR FOR RECORD AND FOR MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE IN THE METHODIST MILLION** TO 111 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK The Four Weeks' Program CYNE of the main features of the work of the Depart- ment is the promotion of a Four Weeks' Program of which the following is an outline. (A pamphlet entitled How to Organize the Stewardship Movement contains a more detailed statement.) The First Sunday Morning Theme: “The Stewardship of Prayer.” Aim : — To show that prayer is “the first work” and the Christian's responsibility; that prayer is the decisive factor in Kingdom Conquest; that scripture and ex- perience teach that unrealized resources are made avail- able through intercession. Fellowship of Intercession Enrolment blanks should be signed at the close of the service and sent promptly to the office in New York. 25 The pastor should secure and read “The Enlistment of Intercession” in preparation for this service. Evening Theme: “The Stewardship of Souls.” Aim : — To show the Christian’s responsibility for soul-winning, with special emphasis upon prayer as the decisive factor. Special literature: (a) for sermon suggestions, (b) for general distri- bution, is available for each Sunday. Send for samples. For this Sunday for general distribution either “Stewardship of Prayer,” Cushman, or “The Highest Service,” Doughty. The Second Sunday Morning Theme: “The Stewardship of Life.” Aim : — To realize God’s ownership and to show that all life is a trust from God; that just as there is a steward- ship of prayer, so there is a stewardship of business, of property, of time, of talents, etc., all pointing to the stewardship of the entire life; that even God’s definite claim to one-seventh of the time and one-tenth of the income was made only to secure man’s acknowledgment of divine sovereignty over all time and property and life; that stewardship is simply Jesus’ way of showing that God and the Kingdom must be placed first; that the sins of Jonah, Dives, the Rich Fool and the Rich Young Man were those of refusal to make this full surrender of life; that the heroic characters of Kingdom Conquest have always been characterized by full surrender; that this is the challenge of the present hour. (This theme can be used effectively for leading parents to dedicate their children to the will of God and to secure from young people life decisions to the same end. The Centenary life decision cards togetheV with follow-up literature may be obtained at headquarters.) Evening Theme: “The Stewardship of Property.” Aim : — To show that faithful stewardship of property is generally the test of faithfulness in the larger steward- ship; that from the beginning God has recognized that the giving of money is the truest index of a sincere human interest; that the study of the scriptural teaching about 2(5 covetousness shows that this sin is classed with the hideous sin of adultery; that the payment of the tithe has been God’s safeguard against this sin. For tl;is Sunday for general distribution either of the following pam- phlets: “Thanksgiving Ann,” Hamilton; or “New Emphasis,” Rail. The Third Sunday — Laymen's Day Layman’s Theme: “Tithing and Christian Steward- ship.” A layman or a laymen’s team speaking or witnessing on “Tithing and Christian Stewardship” at both morn- ing and evening services. Many churches have found great advantage in putting one service of this day into the hands of the Women's Missionary Societies. Where the pastor has the opportunity to speak, it is suggested that he shall discuss on this day “The Scriptural Basis of the Tithe.” For general distribution for this Sunday, either the pamphlet “How to Tithe and Why,” “The Farmer, Can He Tithe?” or “My Money Creed.” The Fourth Sunday — Enrolment Day Morning Theme: “Stewardship and the World Emergency.” Aim : — To show that there is a present world emer- gency; that it is a call to Christians to repent for un- faithfulness in stewardship, failure to put Christ and the Kingdom first, Luke 14:33, that the need of thehourisnot money, but a new Church and a new race of Christians who actually will put Christ and the Kingdom first; that as a matter of history and experience this fullness of consecration is evidenced by the placing of property on the altar. Acts 4:32; that the full consecration of property and life will generally be attested by willingness to make a special dedication of the tenth of income; that 27 in the present world emergency God is calling for this heroic consecration “here and now.” (Whatever method is used in drawing the net, the emphasis should be placed upon consecration. “The Methodist Million” Enrolment cards should be signed and upon receipt of signatures “The Methodist Million Membership Certificate” and necessary follow-up literature will be sent.) For general distribution “The Story of the Geneva Church,” Cushman. Wherever possible the Department advocates a Chris- tian stewardship campaign, put across simultaneously by all the churches of a given district, with the district superintendent leading the way. Wherever practicable the Department also endeavors to secure the cooperation of all districts in a given annual conference and thus put on a conference-wide drive. 28 The Department of Life Service Executive Chairman Secretary Bishop THKODORE S. HENDERSON J. FRANKLIN REAM r PHE success of the Centenary World Program will * require, during the next four years, 1,850 annual recruits to the ministry of the church, 525 recruits for work in Foreign Missions, at least an equal number for service in Home Missions, and 10,000 annual recruits for special training in local church administration. The Department of Life Service proposes to seek these recruits among the students at our colleges, universities, secondary schools, among the Methodist students at the state institutions, among the attendants at summer conferences and institutes, among the Methodist boys in camps, awaiting their return from war activities, and among the high school groups in local churches. Carefully selected teams will be employed throughout the country to present the call of the Kingdom in ad- dresses, interviews and lantern slides. Leaflet literature and charts will be distributed. The candidates who are selected will be directed into paths of definite training, some into local study courses, some into schools for training Christian workers, some into colleges and theo- logical schools. Parallel to the campaign for recruits, the Department will furnish facilities for training the younger ministry, already assigned to actual work, in methods of service commensurate with the world task. 29 Missionary Education Director DAVID G. DOWNEY FRED H. SHEETS Field Secretary whole Centenary movement has great educational power, and every possible advantage should be taken of the opportunity to inform the church as to the various features of the World Program. The suggestions here given relate to special educational plans and materials available for use in the Centenary Campaign. The Mission Study Plans for 1918-19 are centered around the Methodist Missionary Centenary. The two special books briefly reviewed below have been written for the use of Methodists in their study classes. CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA America boasts of her democracy, but a thousand forces are at work to overthrow it. The future of American democracy depends upon the character of the nation. This book deals with the contribution the the-minute in its attitude, it is a book to command the attention of all who love America. Its chapter titles are: Democracy’s Founda- tions; The Rural Opportunity; Our Future Citizens; Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life; The Church and the Negro; Christian Democracy Power Plants; Variants of the Task; The Challenge of the Christ. THE CHRISTIAN CRUSADE FOR WORLD A book of large horizons and timely interest. A rapid glimpse of the world's adventure in democracy. In terse, picturesque style the reader is carried to the Far East, to Africa, Latin America and parts of Europe and shown the lack of many of the fundamental necessities of democracy. The crusade of Christian missions is portrayed as the necessary completion to the winning of the war if democracy is to be safe for the world. Mission Study By D. D. Forsyth and Ralph Welles Keeler Church can make to national character. Large in its outlook, up-to- DEMOCRACY By S. Earl Taylor and Halford E. Luccock 30 CHURCH WIDE MISSION STUDY The Centenary will not be a complete success unless a large increase in missionary knowledge accompanies the increase in missionary giving. MISSION STUDY AT THE EPWORTH LEAGUE HOUR During October and November the Epworth League topics correspond to the chapters of “Christian Democracy for America.” In January and February they correspond to the chapters of “The Christian Cru- sade for World Democracy.” It is urged that for those weeks the usual devotional meeting be changed into a Mission Study Class or group of classes. If desired, meet together for opening and closing exercises, but break up into small groups for informal discussion under a regular leader. HELPS Special helps and supplementary material may be secured free upon sending your enrolment card to the Central Office of the Epworth League, 740 Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois. Centenary Courses for Bible Classes TT'OUR Centenary Courses for the use of Adult and * Senior classes have been prepared and will be avail- able in pamphlet form. The courses are all arranged for twelve weeks’ lessons. The adult classes of every Sunday School should study at least one of these courses during the Centenary year. The following courses are now available in pamphlet form, illustrated. Published by the Methodist Book Concern. Price, 15 cents, $1 .50 a dozen, $10.00 a hundred. FOREIGN MISSIONARIES IN ACTION, By L. O. Hartman. A picturesque trip around the world presenting the vivid impressions of an eye witness. THE CHRISTIAN CONQUEST OF AMERICA, By Ralph Welles Keeler. A popular presentation of the task of the church in our own land. MISSIONS AND WORLD DEMOCRACY, By George Heber Jones. Democracy is the largest word in the dictionary today. This course shows the relation of missions to the democracy we are fighting for. 31 In addition to these three courses, a Centenary course will run in the Adult Bible Class Monthly for January, February and March entitled: THE NEW MAP OF THE WORLD, by Halford E. Luccock. It considers the new world map which is being made by the war and the new frontiers which the Kingdom of God faces. This will also be published in pamphlet form like the other courses. Literature Combination Offers I TWO DOLLAR Periodical and Pamphlet Combination 1 A Year’s Subscription to — (1) World Outlook (2) Missionary News (3) Centenary Bulletin (4) Men and Money 2 Inspirational Packet covering Principles and Timeliness of the Centenary 3 Booklet, Why A World Program in War Time II TWO DOLLAR Book Combination 1 The World Crusade for Christian Democracy 2 Christian Democracy for America 3 Studies in Stewardship 4 Home and Foreign Surveys (Bound in one vol.) Any of the above material may be ordered separately. In addition the following may be secured: Packet No. 1 Local Church Workers’ Packet . Packet No. 3 Stewardship Packet There are also many pieces of pamphlet and leaflet literature published by the Joint Centenary Committee which are not included in the above but are con- tained in a catalogue of Centenary publications which may be obtained upon application. 33 Department of Finance Directors GEORGE M. FQWLES ami JOHN W. H ANCHER Office Secretary W. E. BLACKSTOCK 'T'HE work of the Department of Finance lias been * divided by the directors into two divisions. Dr. Fowles will have charge of the solicitation of large gifts throughout the Church and will have associated with him men who are well known to our men of wealth. Dr. Rancher will direct the financial men who will work with the Area Secretaries in making the financial canvass for large gifts in each area. Mr. Blackstock will conduct such correspondence of the Department as does not require the personal atten- tion of Dr. Fowles or Dr. Rancher. Dr. Fowles is the Treasurer of the Joint Centenary Committee and to him should be sent all Centenary pledges from individuals, exclusive of the pledges taken in the ten day drive. The pledges taken in the ten day drive will be retained by someone designated for that purpose by each local church and will be reported to the Area Secretary and through him to the treasurer in New York. Vouchers 1 There will be but one Centenary Voucher issued for all kinds of Centenary gifts. This voucher will indicate whether the gift is designated or undesignated, but regular credit will be given in every case. 33 2 Previous to June 1st, 1919, regular vouchers will be issued as follows: (a) For large gifts ($1000 or over) for Centenary Askings or payments on pledges of large amounts, sent to the Treasurer. ( b ) For money raised in Districts or Conferences where the Centenary allotment has been accepted, and a date fixed when the payments are to begin, when payments are made within the period designated, by the District or Conference. (c) Regular vouchers will be given for all Centenary gifts after June 1st, 1919. ( d ) IT IS ESSENTIAL to the proper crediting of gifts that the District and Conference from which they come shall be clearly indicated with each remit- tance. It is impossible for the Treasurer to give all credit due unless this information is furnished as requested. ( e ) Centenary gifts designated for the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension should be sent to Samuel Shaw, Treasurer, 1701 Arch Street, Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. (f) Centenary gifts designated for Foreign Missions should be sent to George M. Fowles, Treasurer, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York City. ( g ) All undesignated gifts for the Centenary should be sent to the Joint Centenary Treasurer, George M. Fowles, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York City. 34 World Parish and Allotments Secretary E. K. MORROW Assistants H. C. BOWER and B. S. SWARTZ I The World Parish p ENTEN ARY developments soon indicated the ^ necessity of a definite world program for each district in Methodism, and the World Parish Department was established to promote a unified plan. This Department represents both a home and a foreign parish. The World Parish plan is the principle of designation in action. A district specifies to what objects and for what purposes its Home and Foreign missionary money shall be contributed. It is the “know-where-your- money-goes” plan. Through personal visitation by Home and Foreign missionaries to the district supporting them; through snappy, illustrated material from the field supported; through regular study and lively corres- pondence from the missionaries supported by the district, who are on their fields of work; through stereopticon pictures and group meetings, the membership of the district receives the reaction and impact of their in- vestments. By knowing where their money goes they are able to pray more intelligently. These Foreign and Home budgets, which in every case can be secured only through the World Parish Department, are built with a view to giving the district a world vision. The Foreign budget contains a minimum of two, and a maximum of six foreign countries; usually one, two or three foreign missionaries. The Home budget 35 features work among the Indians; the needs of the negroes in the South; the Americanizing of the foreigner, both in rural and industrial centers; the opportunity of the rural church; home frontier work and the development of the mountain whites, and the great, needy city fields. A World Parish for any district always covers any work already being done by the district and thus con- serves all of the valuable work done in the past. Special gifts continue to be given in the same way as formerly, but credit is given for all specials. No new missionaries are selected and sent to the field, and no work is under- taken as a definite financial responsibility, until the money from the district has been sent to the treasurer, when it is appropriated at the annual meeting, by the Board, for the objects in the World Parish budget of that district. In working out the plans of the World Parish Depart- ment, Home and Foreign Boards unite in a permanent plan of effective action. The aim is to give a designated missionary responsibility to every church in Methodism. If every district at home should line up according to tentative figures worked out in connection with the Cen- tenary World Parish plan, the entire Centenary obliga- tions would be met by the regular giving of the churches. II Allotments and How to Present Them A LL Centenary allotments are built on the apportion- ment grade figures. It is best never to present them unless you are sure of a warm-hearted attitude on the part of the district superintendent. He is the man who should be approached first. Allotments are ready by areas, conferences and districts. It is always better not to try to impose the actual allotment, but to get the district or conference to set its own allotments, by adopt- ing an even higher figure . It is never safe to depend upon the actual membership given in the minutes. If you will ask the ministers assembled in the conference, or in a district, to analyse their membership and cut down to an 36 actual working basis, you will find that they will deduct from forty to fifty per cent. For instance, the Troy Conference cut their membership from 58,000 to 30,000, in order to establish a reasonable and safe per capita. Forty per cent is a fairly safe cut. After you have taken forty per cent off of the membership, you can then tell, by dividing the allotment by the reduced figures, about what the per capita should be, or rather, if the district or conference sets a higher figure than the allotment, divide the figure agreed upon by the reduced membership, in order to secure a good working per capita. It is fatal, even then, to talk in terms of per capita, for the well-to-do are liable to excuse themselves from giving by simply adopting the per capita. It is better to urge a scale of giving, starting with the per capita as a minimum, and showing how those especially well situated will do much better, and how the wealthy mem- bers of the congregation will go into a class of their own for large gifts, some of them giving, perhaps, beyond the full per capita of the district. The main thing is to deal with the whole proposition on a large basis. Allotments to districts and conferences will be given out by the World Parish Department to persons author- ized to handle same. District Superintendents, Pastors .and Chairmen of Local Church Councils should at an early date write the department for the district or church quota so that this goal may have a vital place in the prayer and activity of every phase of the church's life. 37 Statistics Secretaries W. B. HOLLIXGSHEAD , R E. DUNLAP A MOST thorough and scientific study of the giving '**■ life of the Church is being made by this department, and a mass of information, compiled from the official records of the Church, is available in chart and pamphlet form. Confidence may be placed in any facts or figures given out by this department due to the fact that they have been given the most painstaking scrutiny and will not be published or distributed until they have been verified. These statistics place before the Church in a most striking and convincing way the facts as to the former giving of the Church, the need for new standards of giving and the possibility of new and unprecedented attainment because of the resources of the Church and the Centenary plans. This department works in close cooperation with the department of World Parish and Allotments. 38 Sunday School Cooperation Secretaries GILBERT LOVELAND, J. S. STOWELL I The Goal 1 To make every Sunday school member a missionary , as Christ was. We have been working ahead on this problem for years. But never before have we had so challenging an opportunity for making good as that which the Centenary affords. The woodsman seizes the time of high water to do in a few days what would otherwise require many months; the wide-awake Sunday school will grasp the Centenary occasion to bring the whole missionary program so vividly before its members that each for himself will say, “This is indeed the most worth-while task in the world.” Only in this way can we make sure that tomorrow’s church shall be a missionary church. The financial contribution which our Sunday schools will make during the Centenary is insignificant as compared with the spiritual contribution which the Centenary, rightly handled, may make to the lives of their mem- bers. Here is the real significance of the Centenary for the Sunday school: to burn deep into the heart of every member the meaning of the equation — “Christian — missionary ” 2 To secure, as one very definite expression of their missionary (i. e., Christian) spirit, an offering from the Sunday schools of $ 10,000,000 for missions during the Centenary years. This means an offering at the rate of $2,000,000 a year instead of the present $696,000 a year. Seen in 39 the large, it is a big task. Seen in the small, with every one of our 4,679,943 Sunday school members on the job, it amounts to a gift of one cent per week from each member. Every member giving something for missions, no matter how small the gift; giving it regularly, each week; knowing where the money goes and how it is used; praying God’s guidance and blessing for both workers and work — here is the goal for the school that would imbue its members with the missionary (which is the only Christian) spirit. II The Plan 1 Organization: It is required by the Discipline that every Sunday school should be organized into a Missionary Society. This includes the appointment by the local Sunday School Board of a missionary superintendent and a representative missionary committee for the school. (See Efficient Missionary Organization in the Sunday School.) 2 Instruction: (а) At least once a month a missionary program should be presented during the opening period of the Sunday school session. Graded programs for use, either before the entire school or in the departments, are available for this purpose. (б) So far as possible, particularly in adult classes, the study of missions should be made an integral part of the work of the class session. Missionary courses have appeared and are appearing in The Adult Bible Class Monthly. Making the World Safe for Democracy andChristian Democracy for America, are the two official text books for use with young people and adults. Other books adapted to particular age groups are available. (See catalogue.) 40 3 Giving: (а) Acceptance of Centenary quota by the local Sunday School Board. The Sunday school Centenary quota is one-eighth of the Centenary quota (or allotment) for the local church. A minimum offering, however, of one cent per week per member, is asked of every school . (б) An every member canvass for missions within the school. A special Centenary program and four beautifully illustrated and carefully graded leaflets are provided for this purpose. (c) Regular missionary offering, on a weekly basis if possible, but at least monthly. For this offering a Sun- day school Centenary envelope (10 cents the hundred) is available. This Centenary envelope should be used in those schools where the Duplex or other similar envelope is not already employed. Our giving goal is: Every member giving regularly, intelligently , prayerfully and ivith a definite goal. (Secure leaflet. Training in Giving.) 4 Prayer: Every school should undertake a definite program for training boys and girls in the practice of prayer. (Secure leaflet. Training in Prayer.) Adult Sunday- school members, including all teachers and officers should enrol with the Fellowship of Intercession at 111 Fifth Avenue, New York City. 5 Service: A standard Sunday school is required to have a graded program of service activities. As a part of our Sun- day school Centenary plans, we must bring the pupils in the local school into vital forms of service for others, thus training them for larger participation as they advance in years. Service activities for Sunday school pupils are discussed in the free leaflet, Training in Service. 41 Sunday School Bibliography 1 Catalogue of Missionary Educational Material. 2 Centenary Hand-book for Centenary Sunday School Workers. 3 What is the Centenary? 4 The Challenge of the Centenary to the Sunday School. 5 Efficient Missionary Organization in the Sunday School. 6 Training in Prayer. 7 Training in Service. 8 Training in Giving. For these leaflets, and for any other information re- garding Centenary plans for the Sunday school, write to The Board of Sunday Schools, 58 East Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois. iH War Emergency and Reconstruction WILLIAM ARNOLD SHANKLIN Chairman BISHOP THEODORE S. HENDERSON - Executive Secretary Dept. War Emergency bishop w. f. McDowell Chairman GEORGE B. DEAN Exec. Sec'y Dept. Reconstruction at Home BISHOP J. F. BERRY Chairman PAUL L. VOGT Exec. Sec'y Department Reconstruction Abroad BISHOP W. F. ANDERSON - Chairman B. M. TIPPLE - - - Executive Secretary r PHE PURPOSE of the department is to study the . whole question of the relationship of the Centenary to the war situation as it affects the Centenary budget at home and abroad; the present war activities in the colleges as they may affect our denominational man power and life service situation; the use of men who have seen service at the front, in connection with our field campaign; and the whole question of rehabilitation work which will be upon us like an avalanche when the war is over. Bishop Henderson will especially see that the patriotic note is sounded in the clearest and most unmistakable fashion, and that everything that is possible will be done by the Centenary organization and by Centenary speakers in promoting the war aims of our Government, as well as in stimulating the Church to perform its work of extending the Kingdom of Christ. 43 Methodist Minute Men Executive Chairman CHRISTIAN F. REISNER Why Organized Mr. Ryerson, a Chicago layman, originated and financed the Four Minute Men to speak in Motion Picture theatres for the Government. Thousands of laymen are now- speaking for this organization. The church needs the same activity. Patriotic laymen know that the church must prosper if the nation is to endure. They will speak for the church as quickly as for the Government. Purpose To establish a patriotism that will carry America to victory and prepare a nation capable of helping the world w T hen the war is over. This will be accomplished if the message of the Centenary World Program grips the heart of Methodism. Members Every Methodist layman approved by his pastor and pledging to speak not more than five minutes one or more times a week on a subject for which material is furnished. How to Enrol Ask your pastor for the pledge. Offer to serve and ar- range to have him send your name to the Joint Centenary Committee, 1 1 1 Fifth Avenue, New r York, and helps will be forwarded. •14 What Are the Credentials A membership card will be mailed when the enrolment arrives. The badge, especially designed, neat and attractive, will be mailed without cost to the first 10,000 who enrol. There will be conventions and conferences for Minute Men only. What They Can Do Speak not more than five minutes wherever arrangements permit — at one or more regular church services, at prayer meeting, Epworth League or Sunday School. Outdoor meetings preceding regular services or at a special fixed hour or a lodge meeting, or a public gather- ing may offer opportunity to explain why Methodists are raising eighty million dollars during war times for a world program. A platform meeting with three or four five-minute speeches, special music, and possibly pic- tures would be effective. It is possible to secure very beautiful and interesting lantern slides by addressing Lantern Slide & Lecture Bureau, 111 Fifth Avenue, New York, for a small cost. Minute Men will inter- change between churches, towns, and cities. Subjects Treated They will show the vital need of the Church to the w r orld. An Editorial Board from all over the L'nited States will suggest subjects and speeches. A complete staff of experts will gather further material and do the editing. Helps “Ammunition” will be sent in a special periodical con- taining news, facts and incidents found nowhere else. No one but Minute Men will receive it. Because it is hard to talk only five minutes, there will be speeches to commit as wel 1 as outlines and material. Either or all may be used. They will be mailed free to enrolled and working Minute Men every two or three weeks when 45 the publication begins. In addition, the Government may send special printed matter from Washington. A designated person will call time and enforce it when the five minutes has expired. How Many Should Enrol It is expected that there will be one to every 100 members, with at least two in every church. When two or more have received credentials they should meet and designate one as Chairman. Where there are two or more churches in the town, city or community, someone should take the lead in forming a local organization. After the church or local organization has been formed the chairman will arrange a schedule for the Minute Men talks. Becoming “Fit” First get a deep conception of the world’s need of the Church of Christ. Believe in your own regiment — the Methodist Church. Meditate on Centenary plans until thrilled by them. Be determined to discover and use every method for scattering information. Other Tasks Many will develop. The Government Four Minute Men solicited field glasses, secured ship workers, sold Liberty Bonds and W. S. S. Methodist Minute Men will be equally responsive to the call of the Church as tasks are assigned. Good “news” stories along religious lines will be sent to be offered to local papers. Fosters will be furnished advertising Minute Men speeches, and other forms of general publicity work will be suggested. The Ultimate Goal To awaken and enlist every intelligent Methodist in the Centenary. In this way individuals will reach highest efficiency — Methodist churches will be “prepared” and the King of Peace enthroned on the earth. If our Church • 46 is fully alert others will be energized and new disciples be won to Christ. It Works The Central New York Conference organized three hundred laymen to speak all over the territory of that Conference in the campaign to raise a large Superannuate Fund and they met with immediate success. Over $340,000 was pledged in a few weeks. Some who had never before shown any interest pledged as much as $1,000. Incidentally, this Conference was the first one to go “over the top” with tithing pledges, securing for the Conference ten thousand. The United States Govern- ment has now 50,000 Minute Men speaking wherever the Stars and Stripes fly. District and Area Every District Superintendent’s district will have a chairman who will aid the local Minute Men in every way. He will receive a report concerning the work in each church from the Episcopal Area Chairman, to whom the chairman of each local Minute Men group reports every two weeks. He can then constantly know what each Minute Man in his district is doing. The Episcopal Area Chairman will compile a report of his whole territory at least every two weeks and send it to New York Head- quarters. A comparison of the work in the various areas will be published in the church papers and interest- ing notes of the Minute Men campaign will be incorpo- rated in “Missiles,” the official publication. 4-7 Local Church Organization JOHN L. FORT 'T'HE Local Church Centenary Council and the Unit * System comprise the organization recommended by the Centenary for the Local Church. The task of this department is the working out of the plans, producing the Unit system literature and giving general direction to the organization and introduction of the Unit system into all the local Churches of Methodism. THE LOCAL CHURCH CENTENARY ORGANI- ZATION IS FULLY DESCRIBED ON PAGES 9 to 15 OF THIS HANDBOOK. Speakers’ Bureau A. J. COULTAS T. A. HILDRETH R. L. TORREY I Speakers and Dates 1 All assignments of Centenary speakers to Areas, Annual Conferences, District Training Conferences or other Centenary meetings will be made by this bureau in consultation with the Area Secretary in whose area i the speakers are to be employed. I 2 All dates arranged for personally should be com- municated at once to the Speakers Bureau for O. K. and final acceptance. 3 So far as possible all fixing of dates and arrangement of program should be referred to this bureau. 4 All conventions or other meetings under Centenary auspices which are listed, whether district, conference, or area, should at once be reported to the Speakers Bureau and should not be considered as authoritatively set up until so reported and checked over to insure against conflicting of dates. II Literature and Supplies All Centenary literature, whether general literature or that published under the direction of the departments should be ordered from this Bureau which handles all shipping and literature accounts. Literature and other supplies will either be printed from plates furnished to the Area Offices or be sent to the offices in quantity and charged thereto. So far as possible local orders within the area should be sent to and handled from the Area Office. 49 Lantern Slide and Lecture Bureau GEORGE F, SUTHERLAND G. R. LeSOURD SUMNER VINTON 'T'HE Centenary World Program offers the Church an A opportunity to emphasize her teaching function. To make the Church intelligent is an important part of the task. Hence modern methods of instruction will be used. Never since the day Jesus said “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields” could this be done as literally as today. The camera and the stereopticon have brought the mission fields to our doors and it is our duty to look upon them and get the inspiration from their readiness for the harvest of the Kingdom of God. Lectures The Centenary has access to more than 40,000 photo- graphic negatives from all over the world. From these, selections are made for tise on lantern slides. Lectures and sets of slides are available for use in presenting the Centenary message. Apply to the Episcopal Area Centenary Office, or Joint Centenary Committee, 111 Fifth Avenue, New York. Stereopticons The Lantern Slide Department of the Centenary has designed a very efficient stereopticon which is being manufactured especially for the use of Centenary speak- ers, district superintendents, missionaries and others. A demonstration room is provided where those who are not familiar with stereopticon work are given instruc- 50 tion on how to use the machine successfully before going into the field. The entire outfit is packed in a traveling case, ready for use. This lantern is fitted with the new tubular 1000- Watt nitrogen-argon electric lamp, which will project a ten-foot picture forty feet from the screen of such brilliancy that it resembles an arc lamp, yet connects on any 110 volt line without rheostat and requires only ten amperes current. The outfit includes screen, wire for connections, switch and everything necessary. A display cabinet for lantern slides is so arranged that hundreds of slides may be examined in a few minutes and selections made for use. This cabinet may be found in Room 615 at Centenary headquarters. The department, therefore, is prepared to help all Centenary speakers to secure the very best material available for this important service of having the church visualize the mission fields. The price of the complete stereopticon outfit is $75.00. Owing to the demands of the government for lenses, it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure stereopticons. Our supply is limited, yet so far we have been able to provide for all who need machines. A cordial invitation is extended to visit the Lantern Slide Department of the Centenary, Rooms 613 and 615, 111 Fifth Avenue. 51 Publicity TYLER DENNETT RALPH WELLES KEELER F. E. WHITESIDE HALFORD E. LUCCOCK DAN B. BRUMMITT 'T'HERE are open to the Centenary the following A avenues of publicity: the newspapers — daily and weekly — and the secular journals and magazines; the church papers and the Centenary Bulletin; and specially printed leaflet and booklet literature. The preparation of all leaflet and booklet literature should be referred to the Educational Director of the Joint Centenary Committee, 111 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The progress of the Centenary should be reported directly to the church paper covering that area. Pastors and district superintendents should see to it that the Advocate which circulates throughout their region is informed promptly as to the result of District Training Conferences and other Centenary meetings and the progress of Centenary organizations and accomplish- ments in each church and district. The Publicity Department of the Joint Centenary Committee should be informed directly of any con- spicuous examples of Centenary work, either in the perfecting of the organization, the holding of meetings and later in the financial canvass. Some of these reports will be included in the Advocate Syndicate pages for publication throughout the church for the stimulation and emulation of other pastors and district superin- tendents. Brief news items with reference to the progress of the Centenary are published each week in the Cente- nary Bulletin. For this information the Joint Cente- nary Committee is quite dependent upon the supply of news sent in from the field by pastors and district super- intendents. The publicity in the newspapers and general secular press is handled in the following manner. Stories ex- ploiting the Centenary in whole or in part, are sent out through the mails on the average of once every two weeks with a release date, so that they may be published at the same time throughout the country. These stories are being taken quite generally by the papers to which they are sent, in the cities where the Methodist con- stituency is strong, and where evidence is forthcoming locally that the Centenary is of interest to the Methodist constituency. It would be very valuable for every Treachers’ Meeting in the country to pass resolutions requesting the local newspapers to give as much space as possible to Centenary news. Such resolutions ought to be carried in person to the office of the paper and the magnitude and significance of the Centenary be ex- plained verbally to the editor. District superintendents can promote this plan by advising with local Preachers’ Meetings and suggesting that they pass such resolutions and make provision for their personal presentation to the papers. Newspapers also receive advance notices of Cente- nary speakers in local churches. Whenever a Centenary speaker is booked for a local engagement, a notice of who the speaker is and his subject is sent directly to the papers covering that region. These stories are written with a view to securing the largest possible audience for the speaker. Centenary speakers will confer a favor upon the Publicity Department of the Joint Centenary Committee by reporting directly as to whether these notices which are sent out from the New Tork office, are being printed. Much depends upon the enthusiastic cooperation of the local pastor who 53 should also notify the newspapers of the proposed meet- ing, the subject, and the name of the speaker. The newspapers are usually quite willing to carry a brief report of Centenary speeches in the Monday edition of their paper when the speeches are made on Sunday, if brief reports are sent directly to the newspaper office on Sunday night for the Monday morning papers and early Monday morning for the Monday evening editions. Different notices should be sent to different papers when there is more than one paper in the city. Many of the Centenary speakers are either returned missionaries recently back from some foreign country or are experts in some phase of the Home Mission’ prob- lem, such as Americanization or the Church and the Working Man. Pastors and district superintendents can promote advance publicity for Centenary meetings by notifying the newspapers when the Centenary speakers arrive in town and inviting the papers to send reporters to interview the speakers. District superintendents and Centenary organizers ought as they move about from place to place to inquire whether the local papers have as yet carried any general story as to the extent and world-wide plans of the Cente- nary Program, both in its national and international aspect. The tendency is for pastors in reporting Cente- nary news to the local papers to confine themselves almost exclusively to the local aspects of the Centenary. The Centenary in anjr village or city will gain significance for the readers of the paper, when it is understood that the movement is national and international in scope, as well as local. Pastors should be charged with the duty of reporting the news of the progress of the Centenary in their churches directly to the local papers. The putting on of the Four Weeks Program of Stewardship, the enrolling of Intercessors, the acceptance of a World Parish, or the perfecting of local church organization, is news and will 54 1)0 so recognized by most papers. In such reports names of the leading officers should he included, great care being given to accuracy and completeness in giving the names of the people. It is hoped that hy the first of January there will he installed in each area office a publicity man charged with the handling of all local publicity within the area which is now handled from New York. These publicity men will be at the disposal of the area secretaries, district superintendents and pastors to cooperate with them in obtaining the maximum amount of publicity for speakers and for Centenary activities in districts and churches. Announcement will be made in the church papers when the area publicity men have been placed. Suggestions for the improvement of the publicity service either through the church papers, the Centenary Advocate Syndicate or the Centenary Bulletin, should be addressed directly to the Publicity Department, Joint Centenary Committee, 111 Fifth Avenue, New York City. 55 The Columbus Celebration Secretary Assistant Secretary H. B. DICKSON C. R. LOWE Director S. EARL TAYLOR A CENTRAL Patriotic Centenary Celebration on the Exposition Grounds at Columbus, Ohio, is being planned for June, 1919. The general theme of the Celebration will be, The Christian Crusade for World Democracy. The plans include addresses, conferences and lectures, a World Program Exhibit, pageants and demonstrations on an unprecedented scale. This will be a joint meeting of the three great branches of American Methodism and is designed to furnish not only a fitting commemoration of one hundred years of history but more particularly an appropriate beginning of the new era of spiritual conquest at home and abroad wherever the Methodist Church is at work in the world. The Centenary Abroad TN practically all of the thirty-six mission fields, * Centenary Sub-commissions have been organized with executive officers, whose duties are to lay the foundation for the carrying out of the Centenary upon the individual field. There are instances in which some large gifts have come to the Centenary on these fields. 56 The Goals which are being emphasized are as follows: To release the prayer power of the church in the mission field. To double the self-support in the next five years. To meet in full the Centenary estimates made upon these fields. To enlist a definite number of tithers in each district abroad. To definitely enlist folk for life service so as to make it possible to carry out the Centenary program. To prepare a great evangelistic campaign, a gathering time of results during the last half of 11)19 and up to May, 1920. To establish the family altar in every Methodist household. Special attention is being given to bringing to the forefront the national leaders, both ministerial and lay, also enlisting the local constituencies. It is the desire to definitely enrol members in the Fellowship of Intercession, to carry out the program of stewardship and to raise in full the pledges made by these various fields. Finally, to bring the great forward movement to a climax by a year of intensive evangelistic efforts. It is hoped that the Centenary will prove to be the medium through which each of the mission fields will inaugurate a great forward movement. 57 Bishops and Area Secretaries Area and Bishop Atlanta FREDERICK D. LEETE 9 # West 11th St., Atlanta, Ga. Boston EDWIN H. HUGHES 235 Summer St., Malden, Mass. Buffalo WILLIAM BURT 455 Franklin St., Buffalo Chattanooga FRANK M. BRISTOL Chattanooga, Tenn. Chicago THOS. NICHOLSON 58 E. Washington St., Chicago, 111. Cincinnati WILLIAM F. ANDERSON 420 Plumb St., Cincinnati, Ohio Denver francis j. McConnell 964 Logan St., Denver, Colo. Detroit THEO. S. HENDERSON 520 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit, Mich. Helena RICHARD J. COOKE Helena, Montana Area Secretary Boston J. I. BARTHOLOMEW F. O. JACKSON Wesley Bldg., 581 Boylston St. Boston, Mass. Buffalo F. T. KEENEY H. W. SCHWARTZ 207 Fayette Park Building, Syracuse, N. Y. Chattanooga Chicago R. J. WADE 820 Garland Bldg., Chicago, 111. Cincinnati F. I. JOHNSON 74 East Gay St., Columbus, 0. Denver IRA LUTE 314 Guardian Trust Bldg., Denver, Colo. Detroit J. G. BENSON 418 Sixth Street, Detroit, Mich. Helena REV. GEO. MECKLENBURG 312 Broadway, Billings, Mont. 58 New Orleans WILBUR P. THIRKIELI) Hotel DeSoto, New Orleans, La. New York LUTHER B. WILSON 150 Fifth Avenue, New York Omaha HOMER C. STUNTZ 320 National Bank Bldg., Omaha, Neb. Philadelphia JOSEPH F. BERRY 1701 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa. Pittsburgh Portland MATTHEW S. HUGHES Portland, Oregon St. Louis WILLIAM A. QUAYLE 12 S. Kings Highway, St. Louis, Mo. St. Paul CHAS. B. MITCHELL 157 N. Lexington Blvd. St. Paul, Minn. San Francisco ADNA W. LEONARD 435 Buchanan St., San Francisco, Cal. Washington william f. McDowell 1509 16th St., Washington, D. C. Wichita WM. O. SHEPARD Wichita, Kansas New Orleans New York Omaha G. W. ISIIAM 320 City National Bank Bldg., Omaha, Neb. Philadelphia GEO. H. BICKLEY 401 Wesley Bldg., Philadelphia, Pa. Pittsburgh APPLETON BASH M. B. Bldg., Room 60, 524 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. Portland CHAS. A. BOWEN 207 Platt Bldg., Portland, Oregon St. Louis. W. T. WRIGHT, 713 Frisco Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. St. Paul E. D. KOHLSTEDT 716 Exchange Bank Bldg., St. Paul, Minn. San Francisco A. R. MOORE 3 City Hall Avenue, San Francisco, Cal. Washington MORRIS E. SWARTZ, 723 Munsey Bldg., Baltimore, Md. Wichita A. E. KIRK Wichita, Kansas 59 Helps for District Training Conference Teams and other Centenary Speakers General Suggestions I The Centenary teams are primarily training teams, therefore success will be registered not by the number of inspirational addresses, as important as these are, but by the definite information and training imparted. II The object of a training conference can only be accom- plished by a team working as a unit. To this end each member should be thoroughly informed concerning the entire Centenary message and not merely as it relates to his own message and program. This will not only contribute to the common purpose, but will produce workers who in times of emergency can present any topic on the program. III A study of the suggested District Training Conference program is important as it suggests the general idea of the purposes to be accomplished in each training con- ference. A team has not attained its object unless it has, in addition to creating conviction as to the timeliness and urgency of the Centenary, and the efficiency of the working program, also clearly instructed the local church leaders as to how this program is to be carried out even in the most difficult field. IV Members of the team will strictly adhere to the amount of time allotted to them on the program. Criticisms of the program and other matters should be made in team meetings and not to others. co V Each team should keep in mind the Centenary policy that the Four Weeks’ Stewardship Campaign should be put on in each district soon after the adjournment of the District Training Conference. The importance of this is seen in the statement of Bishop Lewis: “It is hardly advisable to think of putting on the Centenary financial drive where the Stewardship Campaign has not first been carried out.” VI Report blanks will be delivered to each team leader to be placed in the hands of the speaker in charge of the Stewardship conference. A triple report should be made promptly at the close of each engagement, the first to be kept by the worker, the second to be sent to the Central Headquarters at New York and the third to the Area Executive Secretary. VII Address all inquiries regarding the program and re- quests for literature to the Speakers and Supplies Bureau , 111 Fifth Avenue, New York. VIII The Centenary is a revival movement. The object is the lifting up of the church to a new spiritual level. Therefore, a deep spiritual atmosphere in every con- ference is of first importance. Every program should be carried out in the spirit of prayer. The devotional feature of the meeting should be planned with care. The mem- bers of the team should meet frequently to pray over the work. It is easy to imagine what would be the result if every district in Methodism could be covered by training conferences conducted by spirit-filled leaders. 61 Centenary Training Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church I A Statement The Why of the Centenary The year 1919 will mark the one hundredth anniversary % of the founding of the Missionary Society of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. By order of the General Con- ference, the event is to be properly commemorated. The Centenary Movement is the response of the Church to the opportunity of the hour. This movement includes: (a) A call to daily intercession for the coming of the Kingdom of God; (b) A call to the Stewardship of Life and Substance. (c) A call, in view of the present World Crisis, to evangelize the Nations, to the end that the Kingdom may be ushered in and thus make Democracy safe for the World. (d) A call to greatly increased gifts for missionary purposes at home and abroad. The task at first staggers the imagination, but its con- summation is possible. Our leading ministry and lay- men welcome it as a great forward movement on the part of the Church. Its consummation will be one of the most notable achievements of the Church Universal. We do not doubt that it.can be accomplished. Metho- dism is fully equal to the task. “7' he history of the world and of all Christianity , shows that periods of suffering have for some reason, always been great creative moments with God. Thus it was in the period of the great Napoleonic Wars: nearly every great Protestant Missionary Society was called into being in those tragic years of suffering, despair and pessimism. The church 62 found her opportunity in man's extremity. We belittle Christianity and break the force of the message to the world at home and abroad if we scale down our plans at a time like this” — John R. Mott. II Suggested Program What These Conferences Mean to You The Centenary will be featured at your Training Con- ference. Representative leaders of the Church will be present to inspire and to instruct. Practical plans for the carrying out of the program will be presented by com- petent speakers. Suggested Program Outline for One Day Session M or n ing S ession : The Theme: “The Challenge of the World Program.” 1 Home Survey and Opportunity. ( See “ On to The Finish.”) 2 Foreign Survey and Opportunity. ( See “On to The Finish. ”) 3 Resources of the Church. (See Financial Resources qf Methodism in Packet No. 2.) Afternoon Session: The Theme: “Informing and Inspiring the Church.” The Centenary Organization and Working Program: I National, Area and District Organization (8 min- utes) . II Local Church Organization: 5 to 8 minute addresses on — 1 The Pastor and the Centenary. 2 Local Church Organization. (a) The Local Centenary Council. (b) Mobilization Week. (c) Educational Campaign. (d) Methodist Minute Men. 63 For Outline of above Topics, see leaflet “Centenary and the Local Church,” in Packet No. 1. 3 The Centenary and the Sunday School ( see Sun- day School Centenary Handbook in Packet No. 1.) 4 The Four Weeks' Stewardship Campaign (see The Centenary and the Local Church;’ ’ also pamphlet on How to Organize the Stewardship Movement” in Packet No. 1 .) 5 Enlisting Prayer Helpers (see “The Enlistment