New-York tribune., 1912-12-28

Features OF Christian progress III amer =
lea during the year all but ended were
the new emphasis placed upon Church
unity and new plans to work out that
emphasis: the putting OF Christian educa-
tion upon the same basis as Christian
missions and the creation I'm seVeral re-
ligious bodies OF education boards to push
education, and the larger use or layHei
in the work OF the churches. Such is the
Protestant record.
In the Catholic Church the event OF the
year was the creation of two new Ameri-
can cardinals and the extraordinary new
mission interest, especially mere IN Ne"
York. This interest took the form OF
large contributions 10 Catholic missions III
foreign lands, making New York diocese
lead all others I'm gifts outside or France
and In the successful founding in a site
OF it's own OF mission college. Where
young Americans are to be trained for
service in foreign fields.
The striking thing in unity was not the
getting together of religious bodies al
though that made some progress, but new
unity between organizations within the
same bodies.
Promoters OF new theologies had hard
time during 1872 Fifteen years ago New
York would put up a dozen new xmas
winter. al! of them opening halls, bring
ing In speakers, and making bids for pop
ular support. To-day the number is not
half that As In other lines, the old ana
large bodies grow steadily, while new
ventures find IT more and more diihcuit
shift during the year toward soclai ser
vice and a remarkable Increase III ths
number ~ local societies, like the Gram
ercy Neighborhood. aimed TO practise
Dractical Christianity IN clean streets
c,ean politics and good health. Forums
spraug I'D IN considerable numbers They
started in New York, but are extending
to other cities.
Attendance upon public religious wor-
ship during the year was the largest ia
the history OF the churches, all kinds ana
names. There is e popular notion-it mas
obtained for years-that people don't 20
TO church as they used to do. Tho truth
is exactly opposite Records o. attend
once bv actual count. are kept in this
and other cities. and last year the one
now ended. saw the largest numbers III
the churches in proportion TO member
shin OF any year since there were
churches iu New YORK.
There is d new development OF church-
going. TOO. that promises TO beat any
thing of "A Sunday character II Is the
weekday attendance. il is making Trim
uv. St Paups Chapel s. Andrew 8 ana
81 Peters churches downtown; Grace
calvary Holy Communion. Ola FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN and the Labor Temple ac-
,omplish work that they never accom-
rlsled in their earlier DAYS. John street
Methodist Church ought 10 be Included Ia
this list
The amount of money given by the
American people 20 support and push io4-
ward Christianity was the largest IN 1872
tbat IL ever reached. IL was about >''v-
moon OF this sum 100000 went 20 mis-
sion, al home and Sl3ojoOc) TO missions
ir foreign lauds on Manhattan 4slani
missions az. as active - ever Inc IN
etitutional church is less and less de-
r.rd.d Oh. but about S2JUHJ a year IS
..ocuded los the Fifth avenue churches
ON tHe East Side OF Manhattan il
,..s rather above that IN 1872, because
Of the increase IN the support OF the
Labor Temple by Presoyterans. Of larger
worI, done by the Madison Avenue Baptist
church. and a steady growth Of work by
Episcopal churches.
The one odd tuing about churches ~
New York al this end OF the year is the
lack OF any united or special efforts.
Usually there are reyiyals. movements
conventions. or something OF notable
character. For three months there mas
been practically nothing save routine ana
for the next three months almost nothing
is announced Eacu church Is pushing its
own work in harmony with others. ana
there is a sudden and most unusual lack
Of common demonstration. not in twenty
wears has New York seen such dearth or
common effort, the kind that makes news
and causes the churches and their affairs
10 set into the public mind.