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There is much room for misunderstanding here. All possible definiteness is urged in the work of particular Brotherhoods, many of which have helped to build churches, clear off debts, support mission workers, and do all manner of special things needing to be done then and there. But no single line of work for all Brotherhoods has been found, or, it is believed, can be found.

From the beginning the Men's Bible Class has been recommended as in most cases the best starting point for Brotherhood organization, and such classes are welcomed to affiliation as the Brotherhoods of their respective churches. But the appeal even of the Bible Class is not universal; men who do not respond to it can often be enlisted in other lines of activity. Moreover, even the successful Bible Class ought to be only a point of departure for the broader program of church efficiency which the Brotherhood presents.

The fivefold message of the Men and Religion Movement seems adapted to all churches and Brotherhoods, and the promotion of this plan by the Brotherhood will furnish new definiteness to its program.

Most of all, this fivefold division should make it easier to develop leaders in special lines. For the lack of leaders is perhaps the most frequent and significant note of discouragement in all the recent inquiry. Wherever a Brotherhood has found a man, it has almost always achieved success.

This difficulty is not peculiar to the Brotherhood. It is the tragic problem of the Church-even of Christianity. The Brotherhood, no more than any other agency, can supply a method of Christian_work that does not involve sacrifice of time and cultivation of leadership. If the Brotherhood could do nothing more than promote the training of leaders, it would justify its existence. Such training, however, is hand-to-hand work; the central organization can help it forward only in a general way. Pastors in their own churches, key men in the Presbyteries, conferences of picked men from the churches of a city or neighborhood, and every other means must be tried for this indispensable object.

5. Finance. The Brotherhood is sometimes spoken of as an expensive luxury. No one knows this better than the members of the Council. It is doubtful whether the Church at large has felt the financial burden very perceptibly. Certainly the Church has a right to protest against any unnecessary expenditure.

The indications are that the suggested enlargement of the budget in connection with the appointment of District Secretaries would not be generally approved at this time. The quieter promotion, if successful, will inevitably lead to a demand for a larger working force and consequent increased expense; though very much may be done through volunteer help if it can be secured and properly directed.

But if serious work is to be undertaken at all, it will require from ten to fifteen thousand dollars a year.

It is the clear conviction of the Council and all its advisers that it is not desirable, even if it were possible, to meet this by large gifts from a very small number of men; and the members of the Council are frank to say that if it were desirable, they do not know where the men could be found.

On the other hand, no plan of contributions from the local societies has thus far produced satisfactory results, though the receipts from this source may be expected to increase with the growth of the organization.

It seems clear that the budget must be raised by active personal solicitation from individuals, in comparatively small amounts, and it is hoped that this policy will receive the hearty endorsement of the Assembly, without which a favorable response can hardly be anticipated.

In the light of the foregoing, the Council presents the following as its policy for the coming year.

(a) To cooperate with the existing Boards and other agencies of the Church and to become, so far as possible, the means of arousing intelligent interest on the part of all the men of the Church in the departments of church life which these Boards and agencies represent.

(b) To promote, so far as possible, the enlistment of all the men in our churches in one or more of the departments of activity outlined by the fivefold division of the Men and Religion Forward Movement.

This means that there ought to be:

(1) In every church a men's organization which, under whatever name and with whatever functions, shall include five groups or sub-committees, under active and competent chairmen, for the study of these respective subjects as related to their own church and community, and the application of the results of such study.

(2) In every community where there is more than one Presbyterian church, some systematic interchange of fellowship and suggestion between these groups of men along the lines of their common study and interest.

(3) In every larger city, an efficient central body whose chief business shall be to see that the men of the churches are thus organized and at work, and, if not, to know the reason why.

(4) In every Presbytery, an active committee for the same purpose.

(5) For larger fellowship, stimulus and inspiration, state or synodical organizations; conventions, local, state and national; periodical and special literature; and such intimate and helpful supervision as is possible through correspondence and personal visitation.

The function of the National Brotherhood in this scheme is, of course, to promote, rather than to execute; but its promotion will be marked by point and persistence. It will endeavor to set Presbyteries and cities and groups and churches and individuals in motion toward the attainment of this fivefold organization. It will supply literature that will not merely urge the appointment of the committees, but will indicate how they may be successfully started and what they are to do afterward; the literature of the Men and Religion Movement in this direction is of the greatest value. Its monthly magazine, already a powerful instrument of suggestion and help, under the self-denying editorship of Dr. William C. Covert, will continue and increase its helpfulness. The General Secretary and other leaders will render such personal help as they are able, by visitation and otherwise. And unless the hopes of the Council are grievously disappointed, the national headquarters will become the real centre of information and inspiration in respect to Presbyterian men's work for the entire country,

The settled conviction of the council has been immeasurably deepened by the recent expressions of so great a body of pastors, secretaries and other leaders, that, in order to succeed in its work, the Brotherhood must be deeply rooted in the confidence and affection of the Church at large. To this end, it must be quick to discern the mind of the Church and to retrace any steps taken in error, as well as eager to enter upon new paths of service as they shall be opened before it. On the other hand, the Church must learn, even more than heretofore, to look upon the Brotherhood not as an independent, still less an alien organization, but as the right arm of the Church and the pastorate, working within the very innermost circle of church activity and loyalty. Without such a relation, the whole enterprise is doomed to failure; with it, the present crisis of opportunity will prove the gateway to large and abiding success.

It is the belief of the Council that this vital relation will be promoted if the Assembly shall see its way clear to appoint a special committee, perhaps of seven members, to confer with the Brotherhood Council in order to plan adequately and efficiently for carrying on the work of the men of the Church along the lines suggested by the Men and Religion Forward Movement, and to cooperate with the Brotherhood in securing adequate financial and practical support, to the end that the entire manhood of the Church may be more completely and successfully enlisted in the entire work of the Church. Such committee to report to the next General Assembly.

By order of the Council,

CHARLES S. HOLT, President.

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