The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-03
Has Spent It's Force

Fifteen to 20 foremost leaders III churches, all principal bodies, have just Teen seen and declare their belief that the adverse effect of the war in Eu- rope upon churches in America has spent its force and that from the be- ginning of 1915 onward things are to improve. In consequence nearly all bodies are putting forth campaigns, for a time held back. From now or re- ligious activity is to be everywhere apparent. so these leaders say
 Right at the head of the activity is to be the fight against milltarism. Church leaders are opposed, they say, to larger coast defenses. the building of more battleships, the increase Of American armies. They are getting ready to demand that the gospel in its literal form be put to the test. Noth- ing short of this will do. Organization is now going on.
 Temperance boards, the Christian Fndeavor and similar agencies declare they are warranted in pushing plans, war or no war. A saloonless nation by 1920 is the goal With 1t is to come prohibition of the manufacture of in- toxicants. Churches are taking hold. Christian laymen are taking hold Such campaign against saloons as has never yet been put up Is the programme for 1915.
 The sending of vast sums of money for European relief, while not opposed by church leaders, is to be met with the assertion that work for which America is responsible must not bs neglected. The drain upon the churches has been heavy because after paying nearly all of the $40o. 100000 a year that 1t costs to maintain the churches, all names, the people in churches and syna gogues contribute 70 to so per cent of all benevolence. This Is the case ~yk t,t.t tr1 ne hA populatio Examination of any pub lished lists of names of war relief, or of any charity, will disclose this pro- portion, or a larger one.
 Concluding also that the first III ef- fects of the war have been discount ed. Jews of America are putting for Orthodox and Reform Judaism are uniting as they have never before CO., operated since there were Jews in America. The two campaigns are the relief of conditions in Palestine. and the possible relief of those in Rus sia. Financial relief Is the first con sideration in the former and political in the latter To some extent Jews hope to include those in Hungary. Jews are alert and awake as never before.
 Apart from supporting Pope Bene- dict XIV in all of his plans looking to European peace, Roman Catholics in America are entering on campaigns early in this year 1915 to relieve the financial stress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. heretofore supported in largest measure by France. and in securing justice for ala Ieged wrongs to Catholics in Mexico On the latter subject they are more vigorous. than on the former. It is the question before Catholics of the Uni ted States at the moment.
 As never heretofore and because of the war: religious bodies are co oper- ating There is a measure of unity never before known. Unity plans a1e at a sfandstill and are to remain SO rntil the war is over. yet unity itself Is here. There is interchange of views between leaders to an extent hardly realized bv those unfamiliar with con- ditions. The year 1915 seems. st is onen'ng. to bs In a way to mark an rpoch