The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-05-16
Radical Plans Fer Religion In
America Are Involved
70 SURVEY STATE OF NATION
Experts Will Report on Efficiency of
Churches and New Forms of Work at
Convention In Nav York-Prominen
Names on List Of Speakers.
By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

An important religious convention in
the form of the national Christian con-
servation congress Of the men and re-
ligion forward movement is to meet in
New York April 1924 The convention
will be made up of representatives
from all parts of North America and
from all of the Protestant denomina-
tions.
Bishops. statesmen. millionaires and
travellers are listed on the program as
speakers. but the speeches are not TO
be the most important part of the con-
gress. which is announced to be more
than talkfest The laymen will quit
their business for the week in order to
ascertain what is the matter with the
churches today and how the forces Of
religion can meet the new conditions.
II is now being argued that, with all
the elaborate organizations of religion
in America. there is literally no provi-
sion for finding out the facts in which
religion is supposed to be especially in
terestcd.
The survey idea. which has involved
preliminary investigation of local.
social. economic and religious condi-
tons. has been predominant in the city
campaigns of the men and religion for
ward movement throughout the coun-
I try during the past year. The news
| dispatches have told how in one place
after another sensations have been
created by the uncovering of unsus-
! pectedly hideous conditions with re-
/ spect to the social evil child labor. in
I dustrial conditions. tenement houses
and even municipal politics. The men
and religion experts have dared to
speak with frankness which has caus-
ed the public to stand aghast. simply
because their statements were based
on the actual findings of these surveys.
Newspapers and Religion.
That plan on a national scale is TO
be carried out by the Christian con
servation congress 1t has had at
work for some months past a series Of
nine commissions. comprising seventy
five leaders in the religious life of
North America. who have been investi-
eating the state of the nation along
such lines as social service. the rural
church, Christian unity. Christian pub
licity. missions, boys work. evangelism.
etc. These reports will be in the hands |
of all the delegates to the congress for |
discussion during the sessions.
OF the radical Innovations made by |
this men and religion forward move.
ment none is more striking than the
new attitude toward publicity. 4
commission of leading newspaper men
has been at work investigating the
existing relations between the daily
newspapers and the churches. It's
report will be one OF the features of
the congress. and among the speakers
heard at that time will be the new
head of the Pulitzer school of journal
ism. DR.. Talcott Williams. The d.
rectors of the Associated Press and
the members of the American News
paper Publishers association. who will
be in session at that time. have been
invited to attend this discussion. A
long list Of questions has been sent
to the newspapers of the land. to rep
laymen and to hundreds of
ministers in this commissions efforts
to ascertain the facts.
Even the long evaded subject of the
social evil has been frankly confront
ed by the men and religion workers.
At their congress in New York they do
a rather sensational thing in that Miss
Jane Adams of Chicago. the foremost
authority in the land upon the social
evil, has been invited to speak plainly
70 this strategic body of representative
men gathered from all parts of the I
and.
Shining Platform Lights.
From the first the men and religion
forward movement has been able to
command the services of big men upon
Is committees and upon its platforms.
rhe chairman of tue national move
nent is James G. Cannon. president of
he Fourth National bank and of the
Jew York clearing house. The most 5
'irile of the country's speakers to men. =
fred B. Smith of the International Y.
Il. c. A, is campaign leader and adj
head of the work The y
Executive secretary is Rev Roy B.
Guild. who has lately been called 10 q
ucceed Charles NJ. Sheldon in the pas e.
crate of famous Topeka church. n
The speakers for the congress num- b.
er more than twoscore They in 81
Jude five bishops Of three different de- q,
ominations and an arch6eacon from =,
verseas. Among the names are Will ;.
am Jennings Bryan. Secretary of the -
Interior Walter L. Fisher. Captain
richmond p Hobson. Rev. DR.. j. II. "
owett. Archdeacon Thomas ]. Mad
en-. Bishop David n. Greer. Bishop
William F. Mcdowell. Bishop e. r.
hendrix. Bishop z. E. HoSs. Bishop
nderson. Or. John F. Carson. moder-
tor of the Presbyterian general as
,mbly: John Mitchell. Booker Wash
lgton. Miss Jane Adams. William ].
tead of London and Or. Talcctt Wi
ans. head Of the new Pulitze sciooI
journalism. O