Evening star., 1915-01-02
Cburrbes AMI the Dear 1914.

Backed in its judgment by leaders in
all religious bodies in America. the
Church News Association, in its annual
review, declares the year 1914 to have
been more eventful than any for CEN
turtles, and 1t predicts that 1915 Will
witness changes OF tremendous conse-
uuence. The breakdown OF Christian
forces in Europe, as shown by the
great war, profoundly affected Christ
tian forces in America For months
organized Christianity on both conti-
nents was admittedly unequal to the
challenge.
When the storm broke at Vienna and
London last summer many big plans
Of churches went to smash. The Rev.
DR.. John H. Jowett OF New York. until
recently foremost English pastor.
has described the union movements be-
tween British and German ministers
and fraternal visits to their respective
countries. Three hundred British pas
tors went to Germany, were sptendid!y
entertained. and the same number paid
a return visit to England. Delegates
from both England and Germany came
to America early last summer and
gave aid to plan which was to In
clude fraternal deputations OF min
listers of all three nations. OF course,
all of these plans went to smash with
the declarations of war.
Church unity delegates from America.
backed by committees in all Protestant
and August upon a unity mission to
the Roman Catholic Church, with
Protestants interviewing the Pope, to
the Russian Orthodox Church, with
promised receptions by the Metropoli-
tan Of Moscow and to the many Ortho-
dox communions OF the Balkans. col
lectively known as the Greek Church.
World peace delegates. backed by the
churches and including in their number
Emperor Williams Berlin pastor, were
in session in Constance and the war
sent them scurrying for shelter. There
was a battle between peace and war
and war won. An adjourned session
was held in London, and an organiza-
tion was kept intact, although German
and Austrian ministers were no longer
a part of it.
1t is admitted by Christian leaders
on both continents that for four months
the challenge to the churches remain
ed unanswered. The challenge was that
organized Christianity might, perhaps.
have prevented the war; that it did not
do SO, and that it, therefore, failed. The
civilization fostered by it had proven
a thin veneer only. During the very
Christmas sentiment and perhaps fall
ing but for it. Christian forces in
America rallied and began to make
themselves felt in positive ways. The
peace sentiment, out not the unity one.
recovered. Christian faith reasserted
itself. and the churches in America, If
not in Europe. ended the year. it is
claimed. at something like normal
standard in vision, If not in activities.
To slight extent Roman and east
ern Catholic churches were In the fore
going plans. and were called to the bar
Of civilization to be charged with fail
ure to prevent the war. In Roman
Catholic internal administration the
event of 1914 was, of course, the death
of Pope Plus x and the election of
Pope Benedict XIV. It was a marked
change. involving more than the sup
planting of one man by another. It
was a change from a pontificate that
looked backward in not q few ways.
to one that looks forward in all ways.
It was change from a Pope who came
up from common people, worthy in all
respects. to one representing the best
culture OF italy. Many new cardinals
were created, and the sacred college
changed in great part during the year.
Among the Jews the year witnessed