Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-24
VIEW cE>rrR, MOVEMENTS.
Trend of Nctivity Among various Re
tigtous Hodies.

Baltimore American.
The twentieth century, just begun. sees
unusual activity among the great religious
bodies that are working for the evangeli-
zation OF those large classes of peope who
have so far kept aloof from all church in
fuence Leaders in these new century
movements are spurred on and encouraged
by the remarkable successes that have at
tended the efforts made in the last decade.
While during those years there has been
no mighty revival. that has swept over
the Protestant world and brought men into
the church in armies, yet there has been u
steady increase In every denomination and
the churches count themselves stronger
today not only In numbers. but in wealth.
and influence. than they were when the last
decade OF the last century began. IL is
this greater strength, this better equip
ment and more earnest devotion that
give unusual force to the new century re-
ligious movements, which have already
taken practical shape in the old world
as we'll as the new and which give fair
promise Of good results long before the
next ten years have passed away
Not the least among these latter-d day
crusaders is the mission organized by the
National Council of all the Evangelical
Free Churches OF England and Wales,
NIiNH mas lbl lNH ubJtNN Nht tNahbNiiH"Ni''
Of both OF those countries. No greater re-
ligious task was ever undertaken in Great
Britain and not only thousands, but mil
lions Of people. will lend their aid to it's
accomplishment. No haphazard methods
will be employed, but both England and
Wales will be districted in such a man
ner that there will be no waste OF effort.
Each missioner will have its own field and
each local council OF the Free Churches
will be made center of activity. So care
fully have the plans been made and so
large is the army of missloners that the
statement is now published that before the
mission begins every house in London Will
be visited at least three times in the in
terest of the movement Two million
church members will be engaged in this
work alone.
This movement which will he given its
start next week, will have features which
seem novel at first but many OF which
have long been employed by the salvation
Army. II will get out OF the beaten tracks
and will carry the church to the people in
stead Of carrying the people 10 the church.
There will be, for instance, early morning
services for mikmen and marketmen; mid
night services for car conductors, motor
men and hackmen; special meetings for
policemen and letter carriers: rescue gath
crings for the fallen dinner hour scrv-
ices in warehouses. dockyards and ship
yards; MONDAY services for business men;
drawing room meetings in the homes OF
the rich; cottage and hovel meetings in
the homes Of the poor.
1t Is useless to say that the same methods
could not be employed In this country. IL
missions to policemen, TO letter carriers, to
ear conductors and motormen and hackmen
are possible in the great city OF London and
in the other cities OF England, they are just
as possible in New York, in Baltimore, in
Chicago. in Philadelphia, in Boston and In
other great cities Of the United States.
There can be no good reason why any class
OF workmen or any class OF people, rich or
poor, small or great. should feel offended
at special religious efforts made in their
behalf Missions to them cannot be inter-
preted as meaning that they are greater
sinners than others, or more in need of sal
walton than others. They are each a part OF
the whole, and 1t is the whole that needs
the leaven. and the best way TO leaven the
whole is through its parts.
New century religious movements In the
United States have not yet taken on this
form, but tho adoption of n similar plan
here would cause no surprise. Nearly all
the denominations in this country are de-
voting special effort to securing immense
funds for church purposes. and money is
rapidly pouring into the treasures. But.
although there is an increase in member
ship from year TO year, is that increase
keeping pace with the increase in material
| wealth? In other words. are the churches
| putting these millions to the best use? Are
they reaching out further and further
toward those who need them most? Nearly
| every Sunday some pastor in Baltimore
takes us a text the question, How to reach
| the masses? He Is forced to admit that
| the masses have not been yet reached, and
1t is a serious question whether they ever
will be reached until the churches In this
| country adopt some such system OF evangel-
ization as will now be tried by the Free
| Evangelical churches of England and Wales.