The Washington herald., 1911-09-02
THE. TREND OF THINGS

A large number of pastors will speak
tomorrow in Washington pulpits on mat
ters Of interest to laboring men. Three
years ago the Federal Council of Church
es suggested the plan of setting apart
the Sunday before Labor Day for the dis
cussion in the churches of problems Of
interest to the handwriting labortng men
of the country. The idea has found favor
generally throughout the country, and
the many labor talks" in Washington
churches tomorrow is only indicative OF
the general effort on the part OF the
church to bring itself into a closer re-
lationship of helpfulness to the sons of
toll"
a striking instance of the fact that a
large part of the richest part Of the Old
Testament belongs to Jesus came out in
raelite recently.
A committee on personal prayers Of
the rabbinical convention after seven
years hard work submitted a tentative
manual of private devotion. In the
morning prayer for children and adults
the two verses: Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy
might" Oev.. xix:1s) and Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself' CDeut., W:5)
just as Jesus selected and Joined them
in his talk with the Pharisees Matt,
xxi :34) were used This harmless bit
Of Christianity" as it was termed by the
writer was vigorously objected to and cut
out of the proposed prayer. 1t was deem
ed unwlse policy to leave 1t in.
1t seems from letters from Japan and
Japanese newspapers that the effect Of
the recent anarchist plot to assassinate
the Mikado did not, as was first thought,
result in an Endorsement of all reli-
Rious observance by the people. but was
simply an attempt to revive the old
Shinto beliefs. The minister of educa-
tion is reported 10 have said: In i'm
parting education, the most careful at
tention should be directed TO encouraging
the people to reverence the Shlnto del |
ties, placing great importance on re-
ligious services held in commemoration |
of their ancestors" A missionary says |
that the consequence Of this is that |
teachers are marching their children 10 |
the Shinto shrines, and some Of them |
are trying to keep them from attendance |
at the Christian Sunday schools. Sc
rious trouble may result from the Chris
tian opposition to this. and the proposed |
withdrawal of religious liberty which II
possibly foreshadows.
England has a layman who uses his
vacation to spread the Kingdom. Edward
Smith, J. P, of Buedley. Worcestershire,
goes out Of his way each summer TO
speak a word of cheer TO dispirited con-
gregations. He is a man of wealth and |
standing. who is particularly interested
in the adult Bible school movement In
company with Rev. J. Thackery, of New
foundland, he has just completed a tour
of that land. Last year he visited num-
ber of Canadian churches, and the year
before heartened the Confregationalists
OF Australia. He does this all at his
own expense.
According to a leading religious Pc
riodical, there is a contest between the
bankers Of the country, on the one hand,
and the theater managers and college
on the other. as TO the date
Of Thanksgiving. The former wish 1t
to be November q, and the devotees Of
sport wish it November go The President
has selected November 30. The paper
that there has been no dis
position OF the preachers to hasten to
to pull for either date, as
large-or small-on one date as the other.
Shall the Pope stay in the Vatican
and die. or shall he obey the doctors
and go to Switzerland and breathe the
bracing mountain air? To go is to
put an end to the legend that the Pope
is a prisoner. Not to go is to refuse the
law of health that is a law Of God.
For the first time in their history,
forty British missionary societies have
held a joint conference for the discus
sion of matters of common interest
This action is said to be the result of the
success which has attended the annual
meetings Of the American and Canadian
foreign mission boards for the past |
eighteen years. The pooling of issues
has been fruitful over here. May 1t be l
also across the water!
The motor car is becoming a good SER
'ant Of the church. DR.. F. B. Meyer,
Rev. Charles Brown and Gipsy Smith
nave been traversing South Wales,
speaking to fifty different groups on their
rip. Great throngs gather to greet
hem; thropgs of ruralites eager to hear
leader ot International fame. In Great
Britain We read every summer Of tours
" prominent Christian leaders through
he provinces. The car is frequently /
Ised for a like good purpose on this side !
4 the Atlantic. S
That the sentiment for Christian unity S
5 progressing is shown by the growth a
Z the faith and order" movement
tarted within the Episcopal Church. In
little pamphlet, Robert H. Gardiner, Of
ardiner, Me, traces the progress made 3
uring the past ten months. No less q
han fifteen Christian denominations, in n
luding one in Japan. have appointed v
to cooperate with the n
Episcopal Church. These men represent n
onspcuously the intellectual ability and Z
hristlan conservation Of their respective c
examinations. A proposed international Z
leeting for the purpose of discussing a
he things in which we differ az well as 4
hose things in which we are one is v
eing discussed fl
Pope Plus and Catholic Press.
In spite Of age and illness, Pope Plus b
has started a discussion Of newspapers a.