The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-12-31
NOTABLE YEAR
IN RELIGIOUS
HISTORY 1912
Marked BY Several Events
and Tendencies of Far
Reaching Importance
SOCIAL SERVICE FIXED
Men and Religion Movement Gre
ates a New Era-I'ederal
Council On Its Feet
PLANS FOR WORLD WORK

Everybody knows that great changes
are under way in the religious life of
the country. Seldom. however. in one
year have been conferred so many
clearly discerniblc evidences Of the
new tendencies as may be recorded b.
1912. Even what is seen from SO
near a backward lOok over the twelve
month now ending reveal evidence of
its epoch-making character. 1t may
yet be written down as one Of the
great years in the Christian calendar.
In this year social service has come
to it's own as a dominant interest Of
all the churches.
Christian publicity has become Il
recognized redium Of the church'S ap-
prOach to the world.
The world ministry of religion, by
foreign missions and by peace prOpa-
sanda, has been newly apprehended.
The leaders Of the churches hem
selves have made an honest effort to
strip evangelism of its professional
and disreputable features, and to make
it still a vital part Of the church's
Christian union has been set for
ward strikingly by several forces.
The Men and Religion Year.
The one single event Of most out
standing importance IN the religious
life Of 1912 was the Men and I:eligion
Movement which eliminated in the
congress in New York city last April.
By a new sort of scientific and COM
prehensive religious campaign which
reached a hundred of the principal
cities and thousands Of the smaller
communities of North America, the
Men and Religion agencies put clearly
up to the men Of the churches the
present religious conditions OF America
and the pre-eminenr duty Of the
church. In connection with these
campaigns, the religious survey OF act
ual conditions in a was es-
tablished as g permanent actor IN
church work Henceforth men Will
have to know definitely what they
are talking about before they general
we about religious conditions in
America, or in any given community.
This marks the advent OF the ~scientiflc
spirit into applied Christianity. All
over the land cities are now studying
themselves with a view to discovering
their own delinQuencies and opportun-
tiles in the line OF social conultiohs
and religious ministry.
The Men and Religion IN
New York city was, IN a UNIQUE ue-
gree, the voice of North American
Christian manhood. 1t was notable
for it's great u~tterances. especially in
XIX vi IN 80
saces upon living Christian themes
This was the most advanced and sclen-
tific, and withal the most sOun0l!
evangelical utterance that the churcf
has received for generations. IL pu'
into the hand Of every minister OF
worker desiring IT, a cOm~prehenSlVt
view Of the church'S mission and the
worlds need. In his congress socla.
service stood in the same platform
with evangelism, and there was ne
in the note they SOUNDED
The great address Of Miss Jane Al
dams upon the vice question has sine
been said by discriminating men c
have mmit the church finally tt
a constructive and immediate program
for the solution Of the social evil
christian unity also made q 5rea
showing ct the congress.
One of the many unexpected conse'
quences Of the Men II ltellslo
Movement was the ~revltaIzihS u ny
Federal Council of Churches, tina
comprehensive organization OF vas
potentiality and most fully eiticlen
character The Federal Council has
for various reasons lapsed into a mer'
name and form, but under the I'm
pulse of Men and Religion II got ltsei
together for a strong convention thl
month in Chicago. and there is a VIDE
spread belief that not only VIII IN
things for which it stands be accom-
pljshed. but that the Federal COuncl
itself will be able to acconpllsi
them.
Linking Tn to the Printing Press.
Tendencies show themselves II
many ways, and in diverse places, ant
thus II has been with Christian pup
licity, or the use Of the news and ad
VertiSing columns Of the secular pres
by religion. Men and Religion special
ized on this; but ii also revealed tina