The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-04-18
Radical Plans For Religion In
America Are Involved
TO SURVEY STATE OF NATION
Experts Will Report on Efficiency of
Churches and New Forms of Work at
Convention In New York-Prominent
Names on List of Speakers.
By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

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-
tons.
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.
1t is now being argued that, with all
the elaborate organizations of religion
in America, there is literally no provi-
sion fer finding out the facts in which
religion is supposed to be especially in
terested.
The survey idea, which has involved
a 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-
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
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. It 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 cub
licity, missions, boys work, evange-.au ,
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. A
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
resentative 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
q 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
to this strategic body of representative
men gathered from all parts of the
land.
Shining Platform Lights.
From the first the men and religion
forward movement has been able to
command the services Of big men upon
Its committees and upon its platforms.
The chairman of the national move
ment is James G. Cannon, president of
the Fourth National bank and of the
New York clearing house. The most
virile of the country's speakers to men,
Fred B. Smith of the International Y.
M. G. A., is campaign leader and adj
m1nistrative head Of the work. The
executive secretary is Rev. Roy B.
Guild, who has lately been called to
succeed Charles NJ. Sheldon in the pas
torate of a famous Topeka church.
The speakers for the congress num-
Der more than twoscore. They in
clude five bishops of three different de-
nominations and an arch6eacon from
overseas. Among the names are Will
liam Jennings Bryan, Secretary Of the
Interior Walter l.. Fisher, Captain
Richmond P. Hobson, Rev. DR.. J. II.
gowett, Archdeacon Thomas J. Mad
den, Bishop David 81. Greer, Bishop
William F. Mcdowell, Bishop e. r.
Hendrix, Bishop q. E. Hoss, Bishop
Anderson, DR.. John F. Carson, moder-
ator Of the Presbyterian general as
sembly; John Mitchell, Booker Wash
ington, Miss Jane Adams, William T.
Stead Of London and DR.. Talcott Will
ltams, head Of the new Pulitzer school
Of journalism.