El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-10-21
COney islanders Converted
Inspiration For Religious Work Is
Found at Americas Greatest
and Gayest Playground.
10y Frederic j. HasiSIn--

Continued from Page l. this section)
the Congregational churches of the
country for securing the desired re-
sultS Each will be presented before
the council and it is likely that the
plan ultimately adopted Will De IN
fluenced by all three In addition 10
the plan of the commission Of l9, one
will he presented by the Home Mis-
sionary board and another by the Chi
cago Ministers union The first pro-
vides that the home socIetles shalI
make their voting membership the
and that the council shall appoint
committee of % to study missionary
activities and to report at each session
of the council such changes as viii
bring about greater results Inc Cnl-
cago ministers suggest that the Ma
tional council recognize the organiZa-
tons of the church and request them 10
modify their constitutions so that the
membership of the council shall be
their electorate, each society being al
lowed to nominate $50 members at
large. and also that the council shall
establish a missionary commission OF
Is members to study the work Of the
societies with a view to closer cooper
alton for maximum efficiency at mini
mum expenditure
Chief Activities Are Missionary,
The chief activities of the church are
missionary in character. But this mis-
usual Interpretation of the word. One
of the works which will receive much
attention during the council is increaS-
ing the means of reaching and helping
the immigrants A demonstration of
the success with which the efforts Of
the Congregational immigrant work
has already been met with was the or
ganization of the Congregational
Slavic union made in Cleveland last
month at a gathering in which over 30
oh cd
The representatives came from widely
separate fields, some from rural dis
tricts in Virginia and others from con-
gested city sections Among the mat
ters discussed was the publication Of
undenominational religious newspapers
in several languages. as it is difficult
for nOn-English reading Christians to
know what is being done by their
brethren in other parts Of the country.
The Work at COney Island.
Another novel religious effort put
forth by the Congregational church,
chiefly for the benefit of the foreign
born citizens, is the religious work
which was carried on throughout the
season at COney Island, as a part OF
the mission work of the Brooklyn
churches Few persons would think of
Americas greatest playground as
place of religious inspiration yet II has
been made such to thousands of people.
Over 10000 were in attendance last
summer. about so per cent of which
were Jews. Thirtythree states and 81
different nationalities were repre-
sented- Seventeen hundred Bibles and
portions Of Bibles were distributed, as
well as Yiddish TRANSACTIONS of the book
of Matthew
Sunday schools are conducted in
numerous languages in different cities.
IN Claremont, California. Hindu Sun
day school is well attended by people
of that nationality who were having
no opportunity Of receiving the gospel
IN this Christian land, although thous-
andS of dollars are being given an
nuaIy to send to their native country.
The religious needs of the Oriental
residents of this country will be q topic
discussed at a council meeting.
Work Among Negroes.
The Congregational church has al
ways done great deal toward helping
and educating the negroes At least =
Iz,Uu0 negroes now belong to COngre-
churches in this country. The
appointment of a secretary who will
look after the interests of negro Con-
is one of the measures
hoped for by this council Many of
lneSe church members never see any
representative of their denomi- !
nation excepting their own pastors
such a secretary would travel from
church TO church, studying the work of |
each and helping the pastors by sug- /
costing new methods.
The question of church unity is IN
receive considerable attention at the
council. The Congregational church !
has always taken an active part in i
ms movement It is especially help |
ful in rural localities A merger be- !
tween the Baptist and CONGREGATIONAL |
of Pullman Washington has
been annOuced. Under the
articles of federation which have been
iraWn up. the pastor of the new organ
-zauon IS a Congregational minister 4
out Baptist layman is to have charge (
)f the Sunday school and the Young /
peoples activities. The two church !
will be put to use for various
services and assemblies for the good
= tHe FEDERATED parishes. similar
combination has been arranged he
-Ween the Baptist and CONGREGATIONAL
churches of Meredity. New Hampshire
tomorrow: Congregational church or