The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-17
SECRETARY
breaches SERMON
The Rev. b. p. Fullerton at
Presbyterian Church
MISSION BOARDS AIM
Denominations Now Seeking Methods
of Cooperation Instead of Con-
tinuing as Competitors, He
Says-Problems of Today

The Rev. b. p. Fullerton, the flele
secretary of the board of home mis-
sionaries OF the Presbyterian churches
of the south and southwest, in which
the synod of Alabama is included, wa:
in Birmingham yesterday. DR.. Fuller
ton preached the sermon at the l.
o'clock services of The Fifth Avenue
Presbyterian church on the topic o
christian Patriotism"
He said in part: 'The work of th'
church of Christ is longer than thu
planting and maintenance of loea
congregation of any denomination
That is only means to the largel
end. The altruistic purpose Is thu
building of great virile and perma
nent Christian commonwealth.
Some months ago 20 boards of hom'
missions and nine women's boards
adopted a programme which provided
for a definite work for three months
beginning September l, 1912. the ultl
mate aim of which was to make Amer
lea Gods country. 1t was a concep
tion worthy of the church and the mel
and women in whose hearts it wai
born.
"It was both prophetic and proyi
Dental. Prophetic in that it looks to-
ward the final cooperation of th'
Protestant forces of this country in &
common Christian enterprise.
1T was providential in that it wa'
undertaken at psychological periot
In great world movements. China as
an empire was giving place to China
as a republic and opening the dooi
as never before TO the heralds of the
cross. How shall America furnish hel
share of these heralds, end at the
same time set before the trainers OF
the new republic a safe model, If Amer.
lea is lacking in virile church oil
hangs her head in the presence ol
just criticisms of her government?
Again, it seems that the 'unspeak-
able Turk is to be driven from Eu-
rope. What religion shall take the place
of Mohammedenism? Shall it be q
weak, sentimentalism or a high type
of Protestantism2 This answer Amer
lea must help to give.
What then is the task? There are
100000 people in the United States
100000 of them are members ol
Protestant churches; 1S,00O,000 OF then
Roman Catholics, and 100000 of 9TH
er sects. leaving total of 56,00o,00(
in connection with no church. These fur
nish the church its opportunity and
problem.
Again, in 2400 towns and cities o1
$500 and over. 43 per cent of our peo-
pie live and while the city population
increased during the period covered by
the last census 21 per cent, the rural
population increased only IL per cent
which means that this opportunity Ii
urban very largely. These are the
nerve centers of the civic body.
This population whether urban on
rural is cosmopolitan. While immigra-
tion has run up into million veal
between the years of 1860 and 1910
the per cent of our foreign born pop
ulation was about IA per cent Of the
entire population of the country. These
immi migrants are not therefore, q seri-
Gus problem, but pressing opportu-
nifty of the Christian church.
Then again, every tenth person In
'the United States Is black. This IL
no longer the 'southerners problem.
as Thomas Nelson Page calls 1t, but
the great American question: The
north. east. west and south are equal
ly interested in 1t.
"rhe forces at work on this prob
lem are: First, the cooperating forces
represented by 81 home boards and
nine women's boards numbering not
less than 100000 people. Instead OF
continuing as competitors the repre-
sentatfves of these 1S,000,000 people
are seeking methods of cooperation
The acuteness OF the problem is fore
ing them to the serious consideration
of this. Likewise the growth of the
church for the period covered by the
last census being the same as the
growth of the country nightly inn
presses these leaders, that something
must be done to change the situation.
Second, never before were men OF
wealth SO profoundly moved in the
interest of this enterprise. Now, these
Napoleons of finance are asking What
obligation to the country their wealth
carries with it and colossal sums are
being laid on the altar for this enter
prise.
Third God is at work. This. in the
last analysis, is the ground of oui
hope without Him cooperation is inn
possible and wealth is unavailing, but
avaiIing and no hand raised against
Him can prosper. The final triumph
waits on the hearty cooperation OF
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