Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-27
FIGHTING The WHITE PLAGUE
Religious Bodies Join the Campaign
Against Consumption.
EDUCATION AS A PREVENTIVE
Worldwide ~Interest In AbatinG he
Great ScourEe-CuratIve POwer
of Fresh Air, Rest and
wholesome Food. g.


Within the last four months the churches
OF over 100 different cities in the United
States. all the principal religious deuomina-
tons, and several INSTRUMENTATION so
%cieties, have united in a campaign against
consumption, according to a statement is-
sued by the National Association for the
Study and Prevention Of Tuberculosis.
Notable campaigns have been conducted
by the allied churches OF New York,
Brooklyn. P~ittsbure. st. Paul, Milwaukee.
Washington, Chicago, Providence, Balti-
more. Trenton. Seattle. Philadelphia and
many other cities. In most OF these PLACES
a special Sunday has been set aside on
which sermons about tuberculosis have
been preached in the various churches. 50
successful has been this method OF de-
clarins the gospel OF fresh air, that It Is
being adopted by pastors all over the coun-
try.
In several OF the larger religious de-
nominations definite resolutions By some
Of the local ministerial organizations, ally
ing these association with the tuberculosis
movement, have been adopted.
Foremost in the fight against consump-
ton is the Roman Catholic church. In this
church, under the direction OF Archbishop
Ryan OF Philadelphia, an educational cru
Eti dk1lfiNA ANOtA aibHAe 70 bNhAs =
into all of the parochial and other schools
in its control. AS a result, over 10000
school children in 1900 parishes are being
reached. The clergy OF the church have been
asked also to instruct their congregations
on the dangers and methods of preventing
tuberculosis. for the purpose of bringing
the simple doctrines Of the cure and pre-
vention OF this disease to every one of
the 100000 Catholics in the United states.
The work Of religious bodies In the war
against tuberculosis received a great I'm
petus in 1906. when Emanuel Church OF
Boston, under the leadership of DR.. Joseph
II. Pratt and Rev. Elwood c. Worcester
started a movement for the treatment OF
tuberculosis patients In their homes under
the supervision of the church. As the
patients held weekly meetings at the church
for instruction and advice from the physi.
clans In charge, the organization was called
a class. So successful was the Emanuel
class's first years work that many Other
churches throughout the country have fol
lowed this example, and tuberculosis classes
have been formed in q large number of
cities. in many cases, independently OF
church organizations. There are now about
fifty regular classes in existence, over one.
half OF which are conducted in connection
with churches.
The activity Of the church, however, as
a center Of education in tuberculosis, is OF
much more recent growth. In fact. almost
all OF the preventive education work of the
churches has been accomplished in the last
four months. The National Association for
the Study and Prevention of tuberculosis
stimate that there are now over 10.ooe
church congregations to whom the message
of the prevention and cure of tuberculosis
has been preached, and the number Is In
creasing daily.
The religious campaign Is not only unde-
nominational. but 1t Is also i~nterdenomina-
tional. The Young Mems Christian associa-
ton, for instance, has started an active
crusade against tuberculosis. Through its
physical department instruction is being
given concerning the nature and dangers
Of consumption to all Of the men and boys
who come under that branch of the asso-
clatlon. Educational lectures are also be-
ing held in many of the associations, and,
in general, the campaign against tubercu-
Iosis is being linked with the general cru
SADIE for a sound body and a sound mind,
The United Society Of Christian Endeavpr
has also taken an active interest in the
tuberculosis propaganda. At the lnterna-
tional convention of that body, to be held
In st. Paul from July Z to II, one Of the
large tuberculosis exhibits Of the National
Association for the Study and Prevention
Of Tuberculosis will be on display. An
active campaign of education will be car
ried on among the 10000 delegates, who will
act as missionaries in further spreading the
message. The tuberculosis exhibit will be
shown by the side Of missionary and other
social and civic exhibits.
This campaign among the churches and
religious organizations is only a special in
stance OF the widespread interest In tuber-
c~ulosis. which has enlisted within the last
year the efforts of such organisations as
schools, labor unions, omen's clubs. COM
mercial institutions, state legislatures. the
press, and almost all Of the organized civic
and social societies. By all of these or
ganizations one sermon Is being preached.
namely, that consumption is a
cable disease, that 1t can be prevented. and
that It can be cured by fresh air. rest and
wholesome food.