The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-28
THE TREND OF THINGS.

Thomas X. Cree. who held at one time
an important secretarial position In the
Federal Department of the Interior, and
! who has been since 1870 one OF the inter
national secretaries OF the Young Mems
Christian Associa ton, died recently at
his birthplace in ChambersburG, Pa.
Very many American city associations
own him as godfather.
As one result of the Balkan struggle
the American Bible Society reports an
increased demand for Bibles instead OF
a decrease, as naturally was expected.
From Sofia has come a petition for lO,OOo
New Testaments. Some OF the colpor-
teurs of the society are in the heart Of
the war district, and are having difficult
times The one making his headquarters
at BodostO, il Is feared, has become
victim Of the terrible events reported as
transpiring there. The three cOlporteurs
at Saloniki have been obliged to suspend
their work. But in the territory not in
the war zone colporteurs are active, max
ing Sofia, Philoppopolis, and Samokor the
center OF propaganda.
At this early date. months before the
assembling OF their general convention,
Episcopal Church leaders are discussing
names In connection with the presidency
of the house Of deputies. 1t is rumored
that Rev. DR.. Randolph II. McI[lm, rec
tor of Epiphany. first elected in Boston
in 1904. and serving In Richmond in HOi
and Cincinnati in 1910, will decline cleo
ton in 1919. He will, however, make no
formal statement as yet, and the rumor
is accepted as being correct in many
quarters. He represents the evangelistic
-. t.N3,-.v
considerably more personal than partl-
san. The office always held by a clergy
man, although the house OF deputies con-
tains laymen, is regarded as the most
influential in the church. and was for
four years held by Rev. DIR. Morgan Dix,
rector OF Trinity Church. New York. His
successor, Rev DR.. William 7. Manning,
just elected a deputy. is named as u pos
sibIe candidate. Objection is made that
Trinity parish can put forward no per-
manent claim to the position. On the
other hand. so many presidents have in
tervened since DIR. Dix the objection
seems hardly valid.
Episcopal communicates rapidly APP
proach the 100000 mark in the whole
country, and are now reported at SIS 600.
with increase of 22,s24 last year, or 21-2
per cent as stated. Total gifts amounted
last year to S1S,SO lS3, or a trifie above
Sl9 per member, the highest OF any Amer
lean religious body. The number of Epis-
copal clergy shows an increase OF -,
about the normal. and OF churches 80.
The city which has tho largest number
OF Episcopalians in proportion to popu-
lation is Washington, with Richmond and
New Haven close seconds. Other cities
with high proportion are Philadelphia,
Albany, Hartford. Providence. and Sa-
vannah. The proportions in New York
and Boston are the same. or one Episco-
palian to every 50 Of population. Wash
ington's proportion, the highest of all, is
one in q.
These facts are revealed in the 1918
year book OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States, just issued
by the Living Church. OF Milwaukee.
While it shows substantial growth in the
whole country. being the usual average
OF 2 1-2 per cent, it points ont a serious
condition obtaining in the Middle West,
the North Mississippi States. and along
the Canadian line nearly to the coast.
This condition is due to the losses OF
American population in the small towns
and in the wholly rural parts, and in the
extreme Canada border States to emigra-
ton OF English-speaking people to The
Canadian Northwest.
Through Ohio. Illinois, the northern
part Of Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa. North
Dakota, and some other parts Of these
districts there have been actual losses in
members, and it is stated that Episcopal
Church authorities are seriously dis
turbed over what to do. Caring for such
Episcopal families as remain is a difficult
matter. People are pouring into the
cities. save in the extreme Northwest.
where they are departing for Canada,
and the cities grow in Episcopal com
municants, while rural dioceses like
Southern Illinois and Iowa, that have few
cities, are steadily falling OF