The Washington herald., 1913-07-20

| Hail. and formerly vicar OF White
chapel PARISH says the Churchman.
Canon Barnett was one of the earliest
pioneers Of what is called social work
on a large scale. In his parish in the
East End Of London he found large
masses Of people living in practical
heathenism. He felt that the church
should try to bring sweetness and light
into lives that had little or none OF
either; and by various means he labored
to make people see the value OF beauty
| in music and pictures and flowers, in the
hope that from them they would rise
to some knowledge OF the source of all
that is good and beautiful. How far he
| succeeded II Is impossible to say, but
| there can be little doubt that Toynbee
Hall suggested the inception OF other
similar institutions-university and coll
lege missions and settiements-which, be-
ing based on more distinctly and def
| nitely religious foundations. have prob
ably done more lasting. because more
| spiritual, work"
Foreign mission boards in this country.
especially such as have work in Korea,
are looking daily for cable advices con-
tan leaders in Korea It will be remem-
bered a year ago los Christians. coming
from foremost Protestant churches in all
parts OF Korea. were placed on trial for
alleged completely in plots against
Japan's rule The charges excited grave
apprehension among supporters Of Chris
| ton missions IN this country. The Ap-
pelate Court reversed the decision Of the
District Court and acquitted ninety-nine
Of the men and sentenced six to i'm
prisonment for terms Of five and six
years Now the Supreme Court has
reversed the Appellate one and for the
six has ordered q retrial.
The newspapers Of Kansas are pub
fishing statements to the effect that
more than LOO rural churches in that
State are in danger Of becoming aban-
doned for lack of attendance. So seri-
four-day conference has been called to
begin at Manhattan. July q, to consider
the situation and to devise q remedy,
II any can be found.
The motor car is blamed for the situa-
ton, and hundreds of ministers and
churchmen, whose opinions have been
asked. say that they do not see any
remedy for the situation.
Most Of the farmers in the western
part of the State have motor cars. These
make distance 30 small q factor that the
temptation is strong to leave the little
country church and 90 q few miles fur
ther into town to the larger house Of
worship where there ID good music. q
good choir, and where the pews are
little more comfortable and the preach
ers abler men. As result. the coun-
try congregations are dwindling to the
vanishing point, while the city churches
show increased prosperity and attend
ance.
The problem 10 almost wholly one af-
fecting the Protestant churches, the
Catholic churches. as a rule. being bet
ter situated. and the church government
such that the members adhere to their
own congregations. The churches most
affected are Methodist, Congressional
and Presbyterian. where the difference
IL largely one Of church government II
10 believed that the solution Of the prob
lem, 20 far a. these churches are con-
cerned. win be In abandoning something
like half Of the churches, and concen-
trating the membership into strong union
congregations
The American Congressional Associa-
ton has Just issued its stxtieth annual
report, The financial figures Of which ars: