The Detroit times., 1912-11-02
Men and Religion Congress
shows Social Service is
Hand-Maiden Of Religion
DANCING AND OTHER
ADJUSTMENTS APPROVED
Present Day Churches Lag Be-
hind, and Hundreds Die
Within 20 Years
~ TIE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.

religious life OF North America this
year il the recent publication OF the
reports Of the Men and Religion con-
rress These documents, which are
issaed as seven stable books, are
really epochal They mark the put
tina OF all church work on scientific
basis. They are a series Of manuals
upon the why and how of present-day
religious activity In them is COM
pretended the consensus OF opinion
and fact bearing upon the whole
I theme OF the church, They represent
the corporate thinking OF American
christendom
New books upon religion are con-
stautly streaming from the press.
These are different, for they do not
represent any one mans opinion.
Through them now the currents or
present-day thought upon religious es-
seniials. The leaders in all depart
ments OF Christian activity express
their ripest views In these pages,
Probably no library of literature ever
commanded such a varied and impos-
ing array OF men The production OF
these volumes is important enough TO
warrant all the expenditure OF money
made by the men who have supported
tbs Men and Religion Movement.
Church Tagging Behind.
These books show clear realiza-
tiUn that the Christian church con.
fronts an emergency. AS the report
on Evangelism declares: The church
II FACE 10 face with one of the most
serious situations in her life.
The situation Is this: We are not
disclrling our land at a rate sufficient
" rapid to guarantee a Christian
nation to future generations.
This Il not an hallucination OF short
sighted pessimism: IL Is the calm
deduction from facts and figures. Lot
us once fairly face the situation and
SEQ n the SNUG Standardization,
which has been our curse all to
long. viii not give way to new and
mighty and enduring Pentecost, to
give Jesus Christ His rightful place
in the life Of this nation and OF the
world.
what shall I've say when the TWEEN
ty-one million OF Protestant church
members made net gain last year OF
less than four hundred and nfty thou
sand souls? what shall we say when
one OF the, very largest denomina-
tons made last year a-net- gain OF
only one-ha1f OF one per cent! What
shall we say when all the erangelicdl
churches made net gain last year OF
only one and four-hfths OF one per
cent. while the population OF our land
increased at rate OF more than two
per cent, and We have been facing the
same experience for practically a De
I oadn ~ veara
aThe Protestant and Catholic
churches, combined. last year, added
to the rolls of church members snip
only 400 Individuals, while the
United States commfsszry geueraf- OF
immigration shows in his annual re-
port that during the same time there
came into this land foreign popula-
ton Of LAS, 900 souls. What
shall we Say, for instance. when thres
thousand churches OF one denomina-
ton failed, last year, to add single
{ unit to their church membership BY
confession OF faith In Jesus Christi"
Social Service Idea.
That conceptions of the church's
mission are radically changing Is
clearest in the notable volume upon
social service The question OF labor
sense of eugenics and OF public health.
are but types OF the practical nature
OF the chapters. J
In treating OF home life. under tbs
subdivisions OF. the. house itself. the
income, the child, and the family, this
volume accepts the platform that
''the family is entitled to a COM
fortable home, sanitation. nourishing
too6, suitable clothing. and good sur.
rour dings, with fair prospect Of the
continuance OF these conditions, at
least until the chilaken are grown"
Such facts as that the annual In
come resources OF nearly half the
families OF the country are below
s60c. and OF nearly one-fourth below
$500. are placed In opposition TO the
concluaion/of experts that 1928 a year
Is q necessary income to allow a fam
Ily CT Ave In New York city to main
tain fairly proper standard OF living
and that 5000 Is probably too low a
minimum for the large majority oil
the smaller cities In the north, east
and west. The extreme low limit for
the minimum living wage OF family
az Eve In American cities. exclusive
OF The south. Is set at $3.50, yet there
are in the United States at least s.
600 900 Industrial workmen who arc
earning $500 or less a year, and OF
these more than 100000 receive less
than $500 per annum
IL Is not long since that the
Churches paid no attention to the sub.
isct OF recreation. except to denounce
IRE theater, the dance and card.play.
ing. This report. In conservatiy.
fashion. points out the proper sphere
and use Of the theater and of dancing
a. factors IN the social life OF a nor.
NAL community. The moyingpicture
show. which Is attended by approx
mafrIy 100000 persons day IN
North America. comes In for sym.
pathetic treatment -
Reooprixinp the Press.
There are other books In print
nIbB social service, and the other
themes treated IN these reports, but
~ ihe ease OF the church and the
n|css the present document II unique
There has pever before been sane
and 1fnpaibclIc study made OF the
|.|.||o1t existing ana possible. be.