The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-05-28
cd .heathen'' at their doors the
churches have zen helpless
surveying FriScO's Religion.

i Z. - III t4iaA -
der the direction of the United Home
Mission Boards. have been making ar
investigation of conditions IN the
coast. and especially Of the region cen
tering around San Francisco bay.
Rev. Edward l.. Parsons ave an ad-
dress before a group Of experts in
san Francisco that portrayed wildly,
by actual figures and maps, the case
as it now stands. Half the popula-
ton Of California centers about the
DAY SO That the strategic point OF
attack by the mission forces IS THIS
region.
For its population of nearly half a
million. San Francisco has 119
churches-Protestant and Roman
Catholic-including also the syna-
scgucs and oriental temples. Setting
aside a maximum of 100000 for the
thirty-five Roman Catholic churches'
MIR. Parsons succeeded in getting de-
finite reports from 81 out Of the IA
remaining organizations. The figures
show that the actual non-Roman
Catholic church membership IN San
Francisco is not more than 5000
persons, or, granting two adherents
for every communicate member only
as, 900 Protestant adherentS, leaving
81 per cent of the entire population
entirely outside Of touch with any
sort Of church or religious body. He
finds that on the same basis of COM
putation about IA per cent Of the
entire population Of the Nation are
unchurched. This means that the
san Francisco non-church going pop
"ulation is very much more than twice
as great as that Of the Nation at
large.
on the other side Of the bay, in the
cities of Oakland, Berkeley and Ala
media, a better showing is made. Out
of q population of 210, 900 for the
three cities. a Protestant membership
Of more than $4,000 Is reported.
There are nearly as many churches
in these cities Of an aggregate popu-
lation of 10000 as there are in San
Francisco's population Of nearly half
a million.
The survey Of the Tome Mission
Board also takes cOgniZance Of the
peculiar besetments of the "Barbary
coast and other openly irreligious
sections of the city. Some way OF
dealing with them is yet to be evolved.
The point emphasized is that the
churches should furnish, if not the
agency, at least the inspiration and
the leadership.
Service or Services.
A pathetic showing is made by
, some Of San FranciscO's churches.
The new state Of mind of religious
leaders is shown by their willingness
= to place their fingers fearlessly on
- wan 0poNo "A1INl OAN I1Cy WSAO III
clined to conceal for the honor Of
> their respective denominations. Now
1t is frankly said that "the great un-
, churched population Of the city should
be reached in some dignifed, united
fa shion. These struggling little con
gregatiOns really make no impression
" upon the community. They are
fighting for their own life They are
melancholy tokens of divided Chris
tianity. They are living pleas FOL
unity" Some of these churches have
II slavishly applied conventional meth
eds to unconventional conditions
- They have been futile as we'll as feeble
~ and commonly have themselves beer
. maintained by Home Mission fund:
from the East. In the popular phras
Of the day, they lave been holdin:
II services instead Of rendering service
F" A few Of he congregations hav
provided community centers and Serv
ed as social agencies, with syn,
le nasiums, clubs, reading rooms, etc
I At least our of the churches pro
81 vide dances for the young people
H. n this fact is Illuminating in tn
le light of the unwillingness Of a Ger
.f tain element in the Methodist demon
nation to follow the advice of thei
d bishops and emove the church
&c ban upon dancing. Other churche
ne report moving pictures. EVIDENT,
81 like all the rest Of the West, tn
cHurCil@ are COMING 10 an emu {
the i~ndividualiSm which has been S
Oh characteristic Of this part Of Americ;
We a Get Together Movement.
~ Now the national leaders, most {
10 whom have their headquarters
ST. New York, Boston and Philadelphia
SO are in cooperation with the loo;
ne ~churchmen. planning for a co-ordine
EST ton Of the Christian forces to me,
re the unique needs of the day on tt
IN Pacific coast. 1t is recognized tn;
the great UNCONVENTIONAL bodies ar
lot ether Christian agencies of the Lar
ne must come to the help of the West
AN this time. Whatever is done will ha'
IN an effect upon the whole nation.
BILE will minister not only to the spir;tue
me ct hical and social leadership Of :
asst ligion in San Francisco and 9th
DID Western cities-as we'll as make f
Ia the Americanization of the expect
alienS-but it will profoundly inf