Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-08-30
Religion Is Being Standardized
Throughout the World, Says
Evangelist Fred B. Smith

u
church unity ever becomes fact, OF
two things I am sure; a universal ex-
preston of religion is now on its
way, gathering force year by year,
and religion itself is being standard
tied throughout the world"
This sweeping declaration is made
with emphasis by Fred B. Smith, long
chief administrative officer of the re-
lfgious work of the international Y.
M. C. A.. who has just returned to
New York City from tour of the
globe undertaken for the purpose of
carrying to foreign lands the Men
and Religion Forward Movement,
which had its inception three
years ago in the United States and
Canada. The campaign which Fred
b. Smith and Raymond, Robins, as
sisted by the members of the Inter
national Quartet, held in Honolulu
some months ago win be long remem-
bered
Wherever we went" continued Mr..
smith in recounting the world tour,
I'VE found that multitudes of men
business men, professional men, fin
anciers, artisans, mechanics, teachers
were more than ready to throw
themselves into religious work when
once they understood that the relig-
ious work we were promoting con-
Germs itself with the welfare of men.
women and children right here on
this old planet, the earth, where most
Of us are grubbing hard for living,
and that it is by no means exclusively
concerned with indefinite hopes of an
endless hereafter.
Mind you," he continued, bringing
down a big, hairy fist on his desk,
I'VE do not minimize, by any means,
the purely spiritual side of religious
work But what we have been trying
to teach scores of thousands Of men
in the Pacific islands, in China, Japan,
the Philippines, Australia and South
Africa is that, II religion is worth
anything at all, it works practically
for the betterment of human beings
in their homes, in shops and factories.
in public school surroundings, In all
forms of public entertainments, in
relieving tenement congestion, in as
|sisting an adequate water supply,
equable carrying out of the law re-
CARELESS of whether man is poor and
friendless or rich and powerful.
Worldwide Enthusiasri
Young men and old volunteered to
serve in their communities under
competent committees or direction,
and in one land after another they
are now quietly, seriously, and / be-
lieve, steadily on the job of doing
their utmost to. abolish white slav-
cry, and black; to remove the filth
causing typhoid, the insanitary condi-
lions reaping deaths harvest from
tuberculosis; and are striking at the
arch-evil of modern life-intemperance
in alcohol. 1t is safe to say that no
thing said or done in our long jour-
ney has been taken up with more
determination than the advice to at
tack poverty, disease and general mis-
cry at is very root through carrying
into effect the slogan Down with
the saloon" and IN this was included,
of course, the wiping, ont of the OPT
UNI and other drug habits"
In commenting upon some of the
impressions he gained during the sew
en- months tour, Mr.. Smith said he
must frankly admit that organized
Christianity is passing through very
serious test in its relation to the
great mass Of men,
Here and there you may find q
church with unusual leadership which
has already risen to the occasion
to its opportunities: but there are a
mighty few of that kind. The relig-
ious spirit in some form, lower or
higher, has always been present with
the vast majority of mankind as far
back as history records; and it will
continue to exist forever, for some
kind CT religious spirit seems to be
inherent in human nature.
The religious spirit viii continue to
exist, and among many, to dominate
life. But unless the organized ex-
preston of religion-the church at
large wakes up to its opportunities
to help suffering men and despairing
womenothe organized church is DOOM
ed; doomed to become weaker and
weaker, of less influence and import
ance, and finally to fade away as
memory, vague "reminiscences in the
minds OF strong men and courageous
women who do the work of the world.
Having tried to make myself clear
on that point" continued Mr.. Smith
with a grim smile. II wish to add with
equal emphasis that never in my.
life have seen such whole-souled ac-
tiyity In individual churches and in
federal churches of one city after an
other as during the last two years. Re-
CARELESS OF denomination or sect, they
are now rvalizing that they have prob
lens to grapple with which vitality af-
feet human life, health and happiness
every day in the year. The day when
religion was confined to a beautiful
service within the thick walls of
some time-scarred cathedral has gene
and gone forever. / hope.
Let me give an illustration. When
we arrived in Kioto, the ancient CAPT.
tai of Japan, some of the visiting
Americans doubted whether the local
committee OF Kioto residents had
been wise in securing for our prin-
cipal meetings the largest auditori-
nm available in tha cifv We oos,ld