Phonograph records containing hymns, selected addresses and devotional messages from the 9th Annual Meeting of the National Council of Presbyterian Men on March 15-17, 1957 in Chicago, IL. Includes addresses by Eugene Carson Blake, Howard Pew, and others. Topics discussed include the nature of the church, unity, missions, tithing, obedience, Christian character, committment, and community.

This collection consists of an album of three phonograph records which contain hymns, selected addresses, and a devotional message from the Ninth Annual Meeting, March 15-17, 1957, of the National Council of Presbyterian Men, held at the Palmer House in Chicago, Illinois. An agenda of the meeting is included with phonograph record P 1. Each address was concerned with some aspect of the church and its role in contemporary society, taken from the theme of Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed...."

In addition to a short devotional message by Dr. Orlo Choguil on selected passages from Acts 1 and 2, Side 1 of P 1 contains an address by Dr. Arthur L. Miller on the nature of the church. Miller discussed the essential unity of the body of the church which transcends its individual parts and individual Christians, the ability of that body to renew itself as does the physical body, and the ability of that body to redeem and to be a literal part of the physical resurrection of Christ. Side 2 contains an address by Paul C. Payne in which he commented on man's present ability to destroy himself. Such a power requires not just a few leaders, but a concerted effort on the part of the entire church joined together in community to speak out before it is forced to do so under fires of testing when choice and freedom are taken away.

Record P 2, Side 1, contains two addresses: the first, delivered by J.Howard Pew, discussed the history of the Presbyterian agencies formed to plan for, recruit for, and invest financial resources used for mission programs in the church. He stressed the urgency of counteracting the trend toward totalitarian life which limits and destroys men's freedom. Pew reiterated the fundamental qualities of honesty, fairness, and justice which are necessary to support a democratic process of free choice and which are found only in the Christian principles which need to undergird men's social and political activities. The second address is part 1 of Eugene Carson Blake's remarks concerned with the realities of contemporary church constituency, its strengths and "dark spots," and a brief overview of the forms of church government. He described the Presbyterian constitutional representative form and its need for a combination of commitment and education to be effective.

Side 2 of P 2 begins with a speech by David W. Proffitt, then moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., discussing the challenge and need to increase giving to benevolence programs and to stress tithing. He urged attendees to maintain the momentum gained from their meeting and to return to live out the church's mission to provide hope for solutions to problems the church faces. The second section of the record contains the speech of William J. Grede, who expressed observations and convictions drawn from travels across the country as current leader of the National Assocation of Manufacturers and the YMCA. He concluded that individuals are the most important units in both society and religion. Stereotyping in groups does not reflect an accurate picture of individuals involved, nor do groups accomplish goals. Only men and women do this. He pointed out that the New Testament first stressed the unique and precious individual and that political and economic charity alone will not accomplish freedom for that individual unless rooted in Christ's teachings, clearly transmitted in each family and through friendships.

Side 1 of P 3 contains the second part of Blake's address, challenging the church to more selfless use of its lay skills, more patience, and more obedience to the discipline of God. Though God is able to miraculously use what wedo give, additional resources would be even more fully blessed. A second address was given by Governor Howard Pyle, then serving a Deputy Assistant to President Eisenhower, on the subject of why and how men function in the church. He stated that the question of why requires complete conviction, not a partial or easily-swayed loyalty, and the how should be guided by the words of James admonishing Christians to show forth their faith in their deeds, the measure to the world of Christian convictions. Lack of character based on Christian principles hinders all world peace and requires church members to witness through their deeds to the saving potential of Christ's standards in men.

Side 2 of P 3 contains an address by Dr. Hermann N. Morse, General Secretary to the Board of National Missions, in which he discusses the agencies of the Presbyterian church to study, plan for, and implement the greatest needs and priorities of world mission programs. He reiterates the voluntary nature of this commitment, but he warns that the contemporary trend toward revolutionary and repressive political systems, the depths of need across the world, and our essential unity as men requires the fullest participation, commitment and effectiveness or men's allegiances will seek other channels.