The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-21

the former premier is to go TO Rome to
be received by the pope In his youth M.
Combs attended an ecclesiastical semi
nary, and had even taken minor orders
with the intention of becoming some time
a Catholic priest. Since his retirement
from politics he has led quiet life, and
with time to think has gone again into
the church in active ways.
Meanwhile, under the plan of a free
church, unhampered by politics and stats
limitations, the Catholic church in France
has advanced as it had not previously
done in a hundred years. Many new
churches have been built, especially in the
large cities, where parishes were too large
Gifts by the people are, in amounts I'M
heard of In the days when priests were
on government pay rolls. Some churches
have fallen into decay, but many more
are kept up in ways they were not when
the state was depended on. Priests are
alert, Jealous and in touch with the peo-
pie as they never were when supported
by taxation. 1t is even said that expert
ences in France without a concordat are
having marked influence on Vatican
opinion, and not less influence upon Cath
Ollie opinion In America. In the judg
ment of Cardinal Gibbons and others that
here Catholic interests are best served
as they now are. Former Premier Combs
will, 1t is said, take part in the revival
tres not far from which is his country
home.
Episcopal church growth last year, ac-
cording to data just made public car
ried membership and contributions to
missionary appointments for the first
time beyond the $1,0O0O0O mark. At the
same time the increases We're trifa
less for the year than usual. They We're
in membership an even 2 per cent, where
as In some recent years the rate of in
crease has gone to and even to per
cent. Reasons for slow growth are given
as losses from parish records, not to other
religious bodies, but to churches alto
gether. These losses are shown to be
enormous, and affect other bodies tl,ln
the Episcopal. In missionary receipts the
increase was also less than normal, al
though 1t Is shown that Episcopalians
have doubled their missionary gssts with
in six years last past. In total money
gifts for the year there was an increase
OF $6S7,0Oo, or to a total of $20,000,00o or
an even $40 per communicate, the very
highest of averages, for any large body.
Sunday school membership, unsatisfac-
tory for some years, shows a decided
increase. The number of clergy, how
ever, hardly increases at all and many
churches, especially small ones, are with
out clergy because there are none to be
considerable incomes to maintain them
there is a surplus. Leaders say there is
a very brisk demand for unmarried clergy
Yet the report for the year shows II
decrease in candidates for the ministry,
and the large falling off of SO in num-
bers announcing their purpose to enter
the Episcopal ministry. Dioceses that
exceeded markedly the general average
of membership growth for the year were
California, Connecticut. Dallas, Long Is
land, Los Angeles, Louisiana, Massa-
chusetts,, Newark, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
southern Ohio and western Massachu-
sets New York, the largest, barely held
Its own, due to c.anges in population on
Manhattan Island and the removal to
New Jersey and Long Island
Educational departments of practi-
cally all religious bodies, especially the
Protestant ones, are alert over meth
DDS brought here and described by
Nine. Montessori of Rome Most had
read OF her experiments with quite
small children and with her peculiar
childrens home schools in Italy, and
SO they flocked to hear her personal
accounts of her work. An interview
was sought by some of them, privately
to ask her judgment concerning her
methods as applied to Sunday school
work, but she replied that her meth
religion. She feared, she said relig-
ious controversy might arise and ter
minated the Interview She Is herself a
devout Catholic. 1T Is said, and the
church In Rome has. through its pre-
lates, repeatedly aided her in educa-
tlonal matters, Her schools are not
however, either parochial or public but
strictly private.
E Educational secretaries of Episcopal
and Methodist Episcopal societies, hav-
Ing looked into her methods, give az
their opinions that she has not vet at
tackled the problem of the older child
surric1ently to warrant any deductions
Whatever. Speaking for himself the
Methodist secretary states that recent
publications on Sunday school work
have carried the basic principles put
forth by Nine. Montessori and to that
extent her. ideas are not new In this
country at least not among Methodists
me Episcopal secretary reports that
he Is unable to find any helpful sug-
&c stions. but purposes to make further
study. He believes religious education
here to be quite as far advanced as
anything Nine. Montessori has put
forth may apply to 1t.
Christian Endeavor, officially in it's
united society, has just voted to take up
plans to help churches after pattern
found successful In Illinois recently. 1t
Is that of trained and active service-mem-
bers agreeing to telephone non-church-
goers to come to religious services and to
take hold as leaders in all educational.
missionary and financial lines of effort
In local churches. Christian Endeavor
week is to be observed in February, when
will be given to the anti-saloon
campaign. Toward the Endeavor head
quarters building. to be built in Boston,
$3.50, 900 has now been secured, and a cam
paign to secure the balance up to s3O0. 900
is under way.
Headquarters of the Endeavor move
ment report that the past year has been
the most successful in all fields. There
are now more than 100 900 societies, with
g. 000, 900 members. Large numbers of So
cieties exist In the far east, especially In
India and China. There Is to be big En-
deavor convention in London In June and
many are planning to attend a world con-
IN Australia. Endeavor societies
exist In more than IN re1fRious bodies