New-York tribune., 1909-02-27

In number Of cities especially in the East, eco
| nomic studies of church work are under way this
winter and efforts are 10 be made to ind out JUST
! what results are being obtained. Pressure Is
brought TO bear upon those in charge Of valuable
properties to compel them TO see that II Is esselal
| that money invested IN churches bring adequa'e
| returns, just it is that money other"ise ~
! vested should do so. The outcry against TRINITY
Parishsleyr York is not simply because OF the pro-
| posed closing of St Johns Chapel or the keeping
OF it open for a few hundred people more or less
but TO make Trinity corporation tell where 1t ge'S
It's money and what It does with It.
Instances of vast money values producing no'li-
ing or next to nothing to be found IN almost
every city. One church property IN an Eastern
CITY worth fully $500 600. has public service
week save in summer, when II is closed Anothef'
v-ortl, 10000 has two services a week for seven
months of the year and the rest OF the
time The number of persons worshlpplng IN
both barely exceeds five thousand A httIe
probem In mathematics Will show that the cost
Of 2 sermon to each individual worshipper, II II
had 10 he paid by the wcTshipper himself, would
empty the churches That it is not paid by the
present worshpper. but has been accumulated BY
others in the past. does not lessen the responsibility
It is held Of officers in charge 10 see that some
adequate return is had on the amount Of money
invested.
Another thing sought 10 be shown is that the
churches are not failing in their social work There
is a tendency. among religious people. 10 say
without investigating the truth OF the statement
that churches are not what they used to be; that
they have their former hold upon the people
and ministers not so able preachers as once
they were. Investigation and study are showing
II is said that there is in reality falling on IN
the efficiency OF the churches. In order that this
showing may be publicly understood arrangements
are now being made for number OF exhibits OF
the church work OF various cities TO be shown next
year II is said that the plans for these exhibits
are similar to those of the tuberculosis exhibitions.
in that they will be taken for exhibition from city
10 city.
In contrast TO this consideration Of city churches
the recent report Of the commission on country HE
has brought the front in religious circles the
Importance Of the problems Of the country churches
In his comment the report President Roosevelt
mentioned the value OF the country church in pro
noting community life. and the discussion among
church leaders is bringing out from practically ali
religious bodies the fact that the country churches
are suffering sorely OF the movement OF the
populations toward the cities. reports Of number
Of home mission agencies show that within recent
years a number of rural churches. formerly strong
and self-supporting are asking TO be aided by
denomnational mission funds. because the land
owners are leaving their farms for the cities and
are leasing or selling their land to people who have
In many Instances no interest in the church
II Is said to be realized by all leaders that the
country churches have a problem, for which
new methods must be devised. 1t has just been
announced that the Presbyterian department Of
church and labor. which has already done much for
solution Of city church problems, is 20 turn
its attention TO the country church also. Special
being undertaken under the direction OF
this department, in number of factors having rea
ton to the work OF rural churches. Among them
are population, economic conditions. the saloon
Sunday labor, class division crininaty sectarian-
ism organization Of the church. The results OF
the study are TO be made available all who are
interested in the subject and while The investiga
ton being made by a Presbyterian organization
neither investigation results TO be confined
10 that denomination. The Rev. Dr. Warren H.
Wilson has immediate charge Of the work.