Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-21
OMAHA CHURCHES
ARE TOO "PEPLESS"
George Wallace Tells Ministers Too
Little Attention is Paid to
Missions.
TO WIN 5000 BEFORE EASTER

That Omaha churches are COM
pnratively 'pepless' and inactive in
local mission and extension work, was
made plain by George G. wallace at
the Young Mems Christian associs-
ton, at the regular monthly meeting
of the Omaha Ministerial union.
He has lived in Omaha thirty-two
years, and from his active church ex-
pHrience as a layman during that long
period, he presented a survey of
church mission work in Greater
Omaha, which brought home very
forcibly TO the assembled preachers
the fact that their churches are now
tagging far behind in the work of ex-
tension.
Long periods Of apathy and indiffer-
ence have marked Omaha church work
Hinee the early days" he declared.
Twenty years. ago there were twice as
many church missions In Omaha as there
are now. Although the population has
ouadrupled, the number regularly organ
lzer churches he's not increased much.
ana the number of their branches has de-
creased alarmingly.
Neither has the membership Of these
churches kept PAGES with the population.
many having no increase for many years,
before Billy Sunday stirred things up.
No Church in District.
we ought to bow our heads in shame
at the little mission work our churches
are doing" Mr. Wallace continued
There are splendid opportunities all
around us. over $500 people live in one
district in South Side. and not a single
church is in the district
lie put all tho various Protestant de-
nominations on the griddle in turn. and
pointed out tnit whereas each had from
one 10 -FOUR missions In Omaha twenty
years ago, some haven't any now.
Some church started mission or SUN
day school in every new addition 20 the
city twenty-five years ago. but They
don't do It any longer.
To Much society.
More distractions In modern life, too
much society, entertainment. business |
and automobiles were blamed by various |
for the prevailing conditions. |
when the subject was thrown open to |
general discussion.
1T is. appalling how ignorant some
leading churchmen are concerning the To-
cal mission work of their own church"
Mr. Wallace declared. Some don't even
known that their church has "A mission
branch in Omaha.
One young man l talked with said
hat limousines and a high class tEou
would be necessary to get members OF
mis- church to attend and take an interest
N the services at his church's local mis-
sion. He said the members were doing
we'll to attend tneIr oSa church, let alone
with a mission
A campaign for 1900 more members OF
Omaha churches by Easter was outlined
~ Rev. w. o. Jones. pastor OF the United
Brethren church. He is chairman Of the
-eligious work committed of the Omaha
Church Federation. an organization of
minister's and laymen which Is promoting
he campaign to win one to win 1900 be-
ore Easter" All the Protestant churches
ire cooperating.
The Ministerial union extended an in
-itation to the Nebraska Sunday School
association to hold its fiftieth or jubilee
in 1917. George r. Llndley, a
ayman. presented the matter
At the January meeting OF the minis
ers Bishop Frank NJ Bristol of the
church will speak on Foreign
Missions and the World War"