Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1913-09-11
AMERICAN FERMENT IS
SAID TO Be WORLD WIDE
Men and Religion Team Mem
bers Are Back From Globe
Circling Tour.
ADDRESSED $4,000 MEN
Social Service Idea Caught On" in
Australia and South Africa
Christian Union in
Service.
ADDRESSED $4,000 MEN
eY THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.

BY THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.
Bringing tan tales of triumphs In
many lands, the Men and Religion team.
led by Fred b. Smith and Raymond
Robins, has returned from it's trip
around the world.
The most remarkable of all the state
ments that Fred Smith makes is.
There is not q problem which we are
discussing in America concerning the
larger rights of the people. as mani
Tested in the referendum. the Initiative.
the recall. equal suffrage minimum
wage. restriction of child labor, the en-
forcement OF Standardization, etc. that
we did not find being intensely agitated
everywhere. Japan is in the midst of
renaissance of these democratic
ideals. All this gave us tremendous
opportunity, because II is upon such
ideals that the Men and Religion mes
sage is essentially based"
Ambassadors to the Earth.
That quotation reveals the distinc
tiveness OF this circumnavigating evan
gel tour. Many preachers and mission
aries have visited all the lands of the
earth. holding religious meetings There
never WAS one that had the unique
character of this Men and Religion
team Fresh from a years work that
had stirred North America, this team.
which consisted of Erred b. Smith, as
the specialist on evangelism, and Ray
mond Robins. the specialist in social
service. and the Men and Religion
quartet. which has been heard in all
the leading American cities, Travelled
west until 1t reached the east. 1t visited
Hawaii. Japan. the port cities of China,
Manila, Australia and South Africa.
The endeavor was To repeat, so far
us possible, the Men and Religion cam
paign that swept over the American
cities. OF course. an unusual amount
of time had To be given to explaining
the whole Men and Religion ideas to
The church leaders. many of whom had
never even heard the evangel spoken
with this social note before.
The number OF men and boys adj
dressed by the team during the tour is
estimated at 147,000-wlich is consid
trable of congregation. especially in
view of the fact that they all Wore
for
How Asia Took tho Message.
In speaking of his experience. Fred
smith said. Il often think of that re-
mark made by an Episcopal rector in
Atlanta when he said that the Men
nnd Religion campaign in that city had
taught them that the church is respon-
sible for everything in the town. from
what might be found in the tin can
nlle.. clear up to the kind of bells they
had in the church tower. II seems to
me that this is fair Interpretation
of these past months of work abroad
When we have challenged the leaders
in Christian work from country to
country. they have responded with ire
mcndous enthusiasm. This was Pc
culialy 50 IN Australia and South
Africa. AT the close of the campaign
In Melbourne, which had reached more
than 10000 men, the lord mayor of the
city said. You and Your associates
have filled the town hall day after day.
discussing phases Of this one topic. re-
ligion. while we have never been able
to do it for a corresponding period upon
any political theme that has ever been
brought forward.
In kioto. Japan, the largest auditor
iurn iI the city was crowded with
throngA on the outside unable to get
in. 1t seemed incredible, even to the
local committee. that the Japanese
could understand that this was purely
ncty what the Japanese men wanted
to hear considered.
In Manila the same experience was
repeated. with the largest auditorium in
the city unable to hold the crowds.
Tho Ameriaanism Of 1t.
The church press of the antipodes
and of the orient commented enthusi-
astically upon the tour OF course they
hac their characterizations of the men
and of the methods. Some of their
descriptions of the American element
in the campaign We're amusing. The
| real sympathy of these reports was
notable. They talked Of the breeZineSs
| and unclerical character of Robins and
| Smith. quoting with appreciation a
| phrase of Smiths concerning mer that
| are she men"
iyta ,caIx t.nI f,t,o not t,.A
message and the fact that the speaker
| on social service was dominated by the
| evangelisttc passion. while the men
! whose theme was evangelism forever
talked a social service application of
the gospel. impressed these listeners
| who had been used to o more conven-
tional presentation of Christianity.
The pressure VI present social prob
lens. especially in Australia and South
Africa. gave special pertinency to the
| teams message at this time.
A Now Fashion in Religion.
The Melbourne correspondent of a
great religious paper In London an
| alyZed the campaign in a long article.
His viewpoint quite expresses the
thought OF the more careful observers:
The thing that has SO deeply i'm
| pressed us all in this movement Is the
| perfect sanity of the advocates and of
| the scheme. Quite new era in evan
gelism has opened up before us.
MIR. Smith evidently realizes that
religion has suffered untold harm at
the hands of fanatics. holy rollers.
and professional speakers who press
| their way into cities and towns and
by methods stepped in professionalism
and p.ous graft do untold violence to
the caase of Christ and the church.
He is also emphatic in his condemna
ton OF those ranters whose stock
phrases are: I believe this old book.
I believe in the BLOOD Higher criti-
cism was born in hell ETC., and he de.
clares that the manner and method OF
these peoTls make for schism and dis