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CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDA
IHE SOCIAL LIFE Of MEN HI HE CHURCH;
ITS INSPIRATION, PURPOSE AND PROGRAM
, ...... . - -
Prepared for the Afro-American Presbyterian Council at Detroit^
Michigan, October 14, 1926, .by Rev. lames G. Carlile, Troy, N. Y.
In compliance with the re
quest of the Chairman of Men’s
Work, the Rev, William L.
Imes, T prepared this" paper
on the Social Life of Men iq the
Church, with the understanding
that Mr. Imes will-present a pa
per on “The Spiritual Life of
Men in tne Church,” and that
Dr. ir. L. Winstead will present
a paper QP % Moral Stand
ard of Men in the Church.”
As the social life of men in
the Church is'‘properly subordi
nated to tne spiritual life of men
in the CAurch, and to the moral
standaras which men in the
Church seek to uphold and em
body, what I shall present must
appear as a sort of appendix to
what Kev. Imes and Dr. Win
stead will offer for your consid
eration. While this is true, it
is also true that the topic as
signed to me has, within its own
sphere, many matters of the
moat serious sort in the general
program of Men's Work.
That this is the case cannot
be doubted when we understand
the social assumptions of the
Christian Religion. Christian
ity finds men living in groups.
It has no plan to scatter these
groups, but, on the other hand,
wMle it contemplates the con
tinuance of the groupi life, it
aims to introduce and make op
erative in the individual mem
bers or those groups elements
of knowledge and power which
are designed by God to ennoble
penect, through force of
individuals, the social
Christianity, nor does the her
mit me afford the needed oppor
tunity for Christianity to pro
duce its most perfect fruit. The
good seed are the children of
the kingdom, but the field is the
world of human beings.
Christian men, then, as Chris
tian men, must have a social
life that differs in some points,
at least, from the social life of
men who are not Christians.
They must have a social life
that recognizes both Christian
spiritual ideals and Christian
moral standards. Christian
men fail as Christian men
in so far as their social
life fails to promote the cause
of Christ among men, and,they
fail utterly when they operate
a social program which in any
way hinders the cause of Christ
in the hearts of men and in the
church and world.
From these considerations, it
is evident, you will concede that
the unaided social instincts of
men cannot inspire a so
cial life suited the high de
mands of the Church of Jesus
Christ. The social instinct of
the men of the Church must be
subjected to the authority of
the Lord, if the social life of the
men of the Church is to be as
< becometh saints. Men of the
1 Church are to be social to save,
not simply social to please, or
social to win. The inspiration
of the social life of men in the
Church must be the product of
faith working by love for the
Lord's sake that other men may
be converted and edified.
As the truth goes into the
minds 01 men, corresponding
desires must go out for its ful
filling. It is commonly said,
“Inspiration begets aspiration.”
But aspiration is nebulous, vis
ionary until resolution crytaliz
es it into purpose. Purpose car
ries a two-fold meaning, involv
ing both the determination of
the will to do a certain thing,
and also the objective or goal,
which we have decided to reach
by the performance of the task
to which we have set ourselves.
What is the purpose of the men
in the Churh concerning their
social life? What is their decis
to it? What is the
ave set themselves
The'social ' instinct leads in
every men’s organisation. "We
jvfll proipote social activities.”
But it does not lead in every
case to a clear understanding
and to a definite statement^pf
the reasons why those social ac
tivities are engaged in. There
are social clubs that operate suc
cessfully, only to minister to the
social nature what, it craves, but
these ^jouldnot pass muster as
Church clubs or Brotherhoods.
are, the chief declare? object of
which is far broader then the
term social will cover, which,' in
many cases, operate a social pro
gram of rathpr large propor
tions, but the men of the
church, as men of the church,
can neitner adopt $ieir purpose
nor imitate their methods. The
craft Unions have prudently, in
many places, .provided a social
program for,', their members,
finding it very helpful to their
main purpSiel but the purpose
of the. social activities of men in
the Church differs widely from
the purpose back of the social
activities of the Labor Unions,
andrignay so, ....
Men m.the Uhnrch may be
social to pHase both themselves
and their guests, but they must
be extremely watchful that ..th«
social diversions in which thesi
engage net only do not offend,
but p^tfAly please their Chief
Guest, fife Lord Jesus. The
men of the Church may be social
to win the approval or the men
' ‘'ey jisek to^nhst.in.t1
tions, but it would be the crud
est folly in so doing to jeopard
ize their prospects of winning
the approval of. those men for
their religion, and at the same
time to forfeit the approbation
of the Lord. The organized men
of the Church are more and
more coming to. regard the pur
pose of their social activities as
a very important part of their
primary purpose, made when
they surrendered to the Lord
Jesus onnst their souls and
iheir bodies, to love Him and to
serve Him by serving their fel
low men in, the highest aims of
their present and future life.
Concerning a program for thC
social activities of men in the
Unurcu mucn can De said—a
great deal more than can be util
ized in the work of the men in
any single, church. Let me ven
ture a few practical suggestions.
Not to frown on .others, is,
perhaps, social .obligation: re
duced to its lowest terms. And
yet, botn in the men’s, organiza
tions and in the wider field of
the Church, men have been en
countered whose frowns repelled
venturing friendship, .as . the
lowering night or: the darkening
storm sends silent to their nests
the birds of song. If the voice
with the smile wins, the face
with a smile wins more, and
the Christian professor . who
knows that he has neither - the
smiling face, nor rite .smiling
voice, should entertain serious
doubts as to the genuineness of
his conversion..
The extended • hand is the
symbol oi friendship. ■ There is
need for a greater number of
converteu hands; • hands that
can show by a general: hearty
grip the diligence and fervency
of the Lord-servingpersonality.
Hand-shaxing Christian men axe
worth more to a church than an
endowment. In the Judgment, I
have no doubt that there will be
somewhere near the givers of
the cup of cold water, a group,
not small, of those persons who
in early life did not neglect to
extend tne converted hand.
Some wicked folks say that
women talk too much. I am
sure tnat the men of the Church
do not converse sufficiently.
Talking in meeting is one thing,
conversation is an entirely dif
ferent tnmg. Just to sit d
with an uninteresting pe:
for the Lord's sake, and for
person’s sake*- finding out s
fully what he can talk about
best, gives him the chance of
|iis life to express himself. He
Will love you for that opportu
nity, and he will gladly listen
after tnat to any thing you have
to say.
; Then, there are the interest
ing persons, like yourself, who
have need of new and extended
ronversational opportunities. It
is ready a thing hot to be re
gretted occasionally, when the
speaker ol~ uie evening fails to
Appear, and the men of the
Church are forced to engage in a
|ittle informal conversation, for
some at least will imitate the ex
ample 01 Jesus at the Well of
Sychar and that conversation
piay leau to conversion.
1 Gaines have their place; per
haps not the larger place, but a
very aenmte place. If checkers
pr dominoes and similar “inno
cent” plays can be made of ser
vice in promoting a Christum
program of men’s social activi
ties, there is, so far as I know,
no law against them. Some
men’s churcn organizations have
to do m the parish, where there
is mo Y. M. C. A., much of the
Work which is normally done by
those serviceable institutions
and where this is the case, there
should be no shrinking from
Adopting similar approved meth"
bds. '
The Brotherhood dinner,
yearly or even monthly, if the
apod sisters will it so, cannot be
Overlooked as a social means of
fcrace jtoboth the sisters who pre
pare and the brethren who con
sume. it should be remem
bered tuac restaurant methods
pugnt not to prevail. Do not
have a cashier. Provide
cial means; a lump sum from the
treasury, or season tickets or
even passing the hat before the
dessert;
Of course, there is need to be
alert, that the Brotherhood din
ner does not degenerate, into
what has been described as “a
meet, and eat with a sad re
treat.” After dinner fellowship
is fine, if the men who fellow
ship are keen to keep it fine.
But many church men are
stimulated by the organized so
cial, purpose of the Brotherhood
land Men’s Bible Class to extend
their social activities beyond the
limits of the meeting room, and
beyond even the neighborhood
of the church building. Natural
ly, the men of the church aid
iin making ’the Every Member
Financial Canvass, which, of
course, has its social side; not so
generally, however, do they con
duct a purely social every mem
ber visitation, or as some have
characterized it, “make a call
without a haul;” and yet there
is no reason why it should not
become a more general practice,
for those who have tried it af
firm that it produces more val
uable returns, of another sort,
of course, than the financial
canvass, One pastor boasts
that such social visitation car
ried on by about sixty men of
his church really furnished him
|with about sixjty assistant pas
tors. And, strange though it
may seem, several of these as
sistant pastors claim that the
training and the fellowship
which they have had in such a
“can without a haul" more than
repaid them for the time and
energy thus expended.
Some church men have even
found social outlets in calling in
pairs on the unchurched during
the evenings of the late Autumn
an early Winter, in a well or
ganized effort to build up the at
tendance on the Sunday night
church service, and With the
most satisfactory results. Oth
ers have formed themselves into
quartettes and singing groups
and have furpished to weak
Churches both social pleasure
and gospel truth through song.
Others still have cooperated
with the church deacons in
bringing comfort and help to the
poor of the church and neigh
borhood. Though it may appear
of ehurch men,
haa its social as>
f it, that there
i of our churches
evenings, go into
iuins of their ’ cities
conduct Street Meet
effing effect for the
?wjy!s the spiritual
the church,
too, we may he able
he term social to in
ti at least, the activ
oe of our men who
iKe boys of the
ichiiig intermediate
boys in the church
•bring, directing and
' the athletics and
‘tivities of the young
|*bbys of the church
and Sen!
school, ii
supervise
the Seoul
men and
and neigi
also, not
part of t
ciai work
tiretasfc
church, I
service f<
the wise
men ana
thefuturfe f
r church men the en
of ushering in the
»th the active usher
.the present, and also
raining of the young
lys for that service in
In con
ally insp
wisely
of m en
only a
self
ment,' but
iron, when Scrtptur
and resolutely and
ed, the social life
Uhurch offers, not
opportunity for
and develop
uuTu*, mVi,ww the cnily means by
which me l in the church, and
multitude outside the .church,
may be af broached for the^r ed
ification ^|d for their conversion.
tt who are leaders
•e using and of allow
as though these
end in them
a means to
end, the so
und opportunities
trhood and of the
Chiirch
must
ingf to
things
selves
an i
ciad
of the
church.
A PROGRESSIVE COLORED
FARMER.
One of the most successful
farmers of Standard, Louisiana,
is Philip Barnes. His annual in
come is approximately $1750;
his aSsets $6491. He owns
45 acres of land valued at
$3000, which is improved
as follows: residence $1700,
three quarters of a mile
of wire fencing $179, one quar
ter of a mile of miscellaneous
fencing $50, and miscellaneous
buildings $250. He has steel
fencing, brick and other mate
rial ior future improvement
worth $50, farm implements,
wagons, etc., valued at $200, and
livestock worth $375.
Although he bought the place
only four years ago—a dense
mass of r-saplings, briars and
vines—-today he has a modern
farm with seventeen acres of
cleared land. His orchard, an
excellent young one, consists of
thirty-live trees—apple, peach,
and pear—to which he is ex
pecting to add at least thirty
trees this fall.
“My success is due largely tc
* j^Kc-io-at-home program,”
h<K. “not to my efforts alone,
but also to those of my family
From my potatoes, peanuts,
peas, cane, garden truck, poul
try, hogs and cows I obtain the
major portion of our food, a*
well as considerable revenue
Aside from these I get some
money from wood and other tim
ber products which I market bo
casionally.
“At present there are upoi
our store shelves one hundred
cans of vegetables pnd ample
home-made jellies, jams and
preserves to tide us over th<
slack season. In this we ow<
our success to the untiring ef
forts of our > colored home-dem
onstration agent, Miss Stazii
Hutson/’
—Southern Workman
NOTICE
The Annual Workers’ Con
ference is to be held at Johnsoi
C. Smith University, Char
lotte, N. C., January 25-28,1927
JOHN M. GASTON.
Secretary and Assist. Treas
t
ATLANTIC SYNODICAL
1 ‘T' CIBTY.
Hie Atlantic Synodical
sionacy Society of the At
Synod, met in Zion Presbyi
church, Charleston, S. C.,
G. E. Henderson, pastor, 0
28,10:30 A. M., with the
dent, Mrs. A. A. Jones, ]
in*.
Devotional service was con
ducted by Mrs. J. E. Pearson,
of Charleston, S. C., topic,
“Prayer.” Acts 1:14. Hie value
of prayer was well emphasized.
Hie President introduced Mies
Roberta C. Barr, Field Secreta
ry and representative of the
Woman’s National and Foreign
Mission Boards. She brought
greetings to us from, other
workers and delighted the Syn
odical with a helpful and in
structive address.
All the Presbyterial societies
Were weu represented but Knox,
and the Synodical trusts that at
the next meeting Knox will send
a large delegation. Miss Ban:
introduced Mrs. J. M. Gaston
and Mrs. A, G, Lamont, of
Pittsburgh, Pa, They were ac
corded seats as corresponding
members. They Stated that
they were impressed with the
meeting and hope to visit us
attain.
Mrs. J. . Hams, of Augusta,
Ga., delivered a weU prepared
address on the subject, “Each
Member Win Another." Miss Ro
berta C. Barr and Mesdames G.
W. Lon* and J. G. Porter also
spoKe on cae subject.
The President made her annu
al address which was full of
thought and inspiration.
Thursday Afternoon
Mrs. M. A. Robinson, of Bam
berg, was not present at this
hour and Mia. J.JL Harris con
ducted the devotional service.
The
1:8.
A well prepared and thought
ful paper was read by Mrs. G.
W. Long, of Cheraw, S. G., sub
ject, “Spiritual Advance.” She
emphasized the importance of
reading more missionary litera
ture and urged the ladies to
purchase the “Year Book of
Prayer,” “Woman’s Missions,”
and other magazines. This sub
ject was ably discussed by Miss
H. N. Usher, Miss R. C. Barr
and Mesdames A. A. Jones, R.
W. Boulware and M. V. Fra
sier.
Mrs. S. E. Gray, of Johns Is
land, S. C., read an interesting
paper, suoject, “A Call to All
Presbyterian Women.”
Thursday Evening
A popular meeting was held.
Devotionals were led by Mrs.
M. A. Sanders, of Charleston,
thtme, “ Personality.” The Pres
ident, Mrs. Jones, presided. The
Synodical received a most cor
dial welcome to the grand and
historical city of Charleston by
Mrs. N. Miller which was very
ably responded to by Mrs. J. G.
Porter, oi Irmo.
The President made a short
address on the financial needs of
the Woman's Boards. Miss Ro
berta C. Barr, representative of
the Woman’s Boards, was the
principal speaker of the evening,
choosing for her subject, “Build
ing Highways — Removing
Stones. ” This was indeed an
inspirational and instructive ad
’ dress, in connection with the
address the pageant, “The Dis
. tribution of iLterature," was
beautifully presented b7 the
people of the Atlantic Presbyte
I rial, under the direction of Mrs
; W, T. Frasier.
[' Friday Merging.
s Devotionala were led by Mise
s Helen N. Usher, of Sumter,
• theme, “Prayer.”
The reports of the differenl
i secretaries and delegates were
very encouraging. Several goal*
. were set up for the local Pree
byterial and the Synodical Mia
sionary Societies for 1927. A
few of the important objective*
• are* ....
1 1. Subscriptions to the Wo
• men and Missions* Magazine.*
. 2. A Prayer List in each So
ciety. The societies are asked t<
. offer special prayers for $>effol
presented to her to vefry fcppfo^
priate ’ words by Hub. G. W.
Long, first Vice-President of the
Synod|baL, '
:i' The Synodical adjourned to
meet ; with Newnan ifirst
churchy Hewnah, Ga., October,
1927. ; . -
MRS. A. A. JONES, Pres. ;
M'SS LUCINDA H. WHCTE,
@ ? . Recording Secretary.
..v ‘ .'A_
f CONCORD. *
By Miss Ruth Little
At ,ihe commumo»- services
held /At: Westminster clurch
Sunday more than 200 persons
the sacrament. The
was very impressive.
R. Lewis, President of
Women’s College, assist*
pastor.
Sai&ay night we listened to a
very touching after communion
sermon -/our pastor, the Rev.
H. Wilson. He used as a text
Galatians 2:20: “Andthe life
which I now live in the flesh I
live by faith of the Son of God
who loved me and gave himself
for me. ” After reminding us of
the memorial table of our Lord'
and the nature of the sacrament
^ pointed ^ " —
Rev
the
our
,/e were all glad to iee Elder
and Mrs. I. M.; Martin present
for the* morhibg service. ;v‘
Sunday morning, November
7th, we were delighted to haVe
with us the Rev. 0. E. Sanders;
pastor of Brandon ; chufch, •
Charlotte, who preached a most
inspiring sermon to a large au
dience- -m his message * MT.
Sanders forcefully impressed
the nfeed of “pressing on the
mark.” Every one felt that the
Spirit of God was with the
speaker and hearers,. After the
sermon Miss Carpenter (white)
of the Scotid faculty, rendered •
p very beautiful solo.
At 3 o’clock P.M., Dr. F. T.
Logan, pastor of Reliefonte atnd
Hampton churches, „ preached a
soul-stirring sermon in the in
terest of group No. 5, Mrs. Mon-;'
trose Biggers, leader. Although
the audience was small, a liberal
collection was lifted. ~
Mrs. Saffie
' In answer to the' call of her
beloved Master, Mrs. Sallie
W. Caldwell, aged 56, passed to
tier reward Wednesday evening,
November 10, 10:45 o’clock.
Her passing was very sudden.
She had'not been well for sev
eral days but had recovered her
health well enough to resume
her household duties. Before
she was stricken she was in ex
cellent spirit. While preparing
to retire her nose began to
bleed. She parsed into; the next
room for a remedy to stop the
bleeding but fell unconscious1 as
she was returning to her bad
room, stricken with' apoplexy.
She did not regain consciousness:
and passed quietly While her hus
band and a few friends Stood at
her bedside.
She was'Tichly endowed with
a loving heart and ‘a broad and
deep sympathy. She was a very
faithful member ’ of the church;
and* Was interested in the Work
of the church. •
She is survived by her hus
band and nine step-children.
The funeral services Were
held at Westminster PreSbyte- ?
rjan church of which she Was a’
memberjZtlev. H. Wilson, her
pastor, ®fciatSng. The»pastor
was assnSfed by Drl N. 13. Harris,
ReV. Kiser Shd Rey.Chambem
M Was su^ by;
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