The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-02-14
49, e aPERoUs
I'd SrRocREssIvE BODY
Resume OF Progress OF The Christian
Church Within the Past Century.
What They Are Doing.

One of the most prosperous and
rapidly growing religious bodies In
America is the "ChriEtian Church."
or Disciples of Christ. In about one
hundred years this communion has
come to number a million and a quar-
ter in this country alone. and there
are tens of thousands in other lands
like England. Scotland, Scandinavia,
Australia, japan, China, India Phil
lipine Islands and Africa. The United
States census reports show that this
people ranks among the first in per-
centage OF growth. They have large
number Of colleges, and these Institu-
tions are growing and prosperous.
Their ministry numbers no less than
six thousand. and some of the ablest
preachers In America are to be found
In their pulpits.
This religious body has placed be-
fore itself great task. Its standards
are high They seek to restore the
New Testament church In unity and
ordinances, and teaching, and life
and spirit. They have made valu-
able contribution to the growing
sentiment for Christian union. which
is rapidly spreading everywhere.
They stand for civic ideals and place
important emphasis upon real tenn
perance reform. The late Rev. Sam.
p Jones, che we'll known evangelist,
said he never saw n preacher among
this peaple that did not ring clear
on the temperance question. Their
membership includes number of
men in public life like Speaker
Champ Clark. of Missouri; United
Senator Oliver. of Pennsylvania, and
others. 1t will be remembered that
President Garfield was leading
and active member of this body
Tho Disciples OF Christ are a
strong and aggressive missionary
body. both home and foreign. Their
strongest organization is probably
the Foreign Christian Missionary So
ciety, with headquarters in Cincinna-
II. This Society conducts missions In
foreign lands, Japan. China, India,
Africa. etc. The membership In the
foreign fields has about doubled In
the past decade The Society sup
ports 90 schools and colleges In the
foreign fields, with 5.400 students.
And. besides, It sustans % hospitals
and as many medical missionaf IS.
and last year $4,000 patients were
treated The income of this organiza-
ton lls year wao over 100000, and
the amouut aimed at this year IS
100000. The first Sunday In March
Us the day appointed for all the
Christian churches TO contribute %
this worldwide enterprise Every
church ~ invited to give so doubt
the churches in this community VIII
contribute with their Characteristic
liberality. The rally of all these
churches the first Sunday On March
Is an important event among the
Disciples. a large number Of new
missionaries will probably be sent
out to the field this year
The next international Convention
will be hold In Toronto, Ontario. De-
tober. 1913. a large attendance is exc
pected. The last convention was held
600 Louisville. Ky. October, 1912, and
more than 5000 were present
The foregoing IS one OF series OF
articles that viii De run in The Sig
nal. as each different religious de-
nomination furnishes the data. These
articles will deal strictly with histor-
teal and development facts and moth I.
ing that sails for controversy Will be |
permitted 10 enter these columns
Editor