The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-01-29
EFFECT OF ALIENS
CONTINUED From Page One.)

| " tHe TOrh VI eVdn8ellsu. oooie'o
Archibald c. Cree continued his
study Of the country church problem,
combining himself to the question of
financing the work OF the church in
rural communities. Much information
and many practical suggestions were
furnished blythe speaker. The after
noon session closed with another OF
THE Rev. H. L. Martins "Quiet Talks
on 1.-THE Preachers Devotional Life in
Relation to His General Efficiency
The Alien invasion.
| AT the evening hour DR.. Cree spoke
by special request on "The Alien
Invasion: A Crisis in Christianity"
In this address he gave some stagger-
ing facts and figures on the immigra-
ton. question. p 1.-THE past century"
he said, ,"has been the age OF city
building" Comparing the statistics
of city population in 1900 with those
of 1900, he showed how this massing
OF people in over-crowded centers has
created three great problems-the
country problem, the city problem,
and the alien problem "As mighty
as are the first two, the greatest Of
ALL" he continued 'is the problem Of
the alien in our midst Is America
American? With population of o.,
100000 already there are but 10000
900 Of native whites, 100000 OF ne
groes, while the remainder are foeign-
ers or children Of foreign born par
ents. Is American Christian? On
the books Of the evangelical churches
of our country there are names of
22,0O0,000 on the books of the non
evangelical 100000. Thus there are
left unaccounted for 6O,00O,OOO who
are without any connection with the
organized work of Christianity-and
of these the great majority are for
eigners. Our nation is becoming
perfect mosaic. Forty-eight of our
great cities have more foreign-born
that native inhabitants. Four-fifths
of the population Of New York is
alien. In this same city there are more
than so publications printed in sep
arate and distinct languages. In Chi
cago there are spoken so different
tongues. While the problem is great
est North and East it is rapidly ex-
tending to the. South. In Texas alone
there are over 100000 foreigners.
Facing a Crisis.
What does all this mean? It means
that we are facing the supreme crisis
In American Christianity and Ameri-
can civilization. The final opening Of
the Panama Canal and the end of the
present European war will inevitably
Intensity the problem many times
over. Our task is first of all to reach
those who are alerady on our shores.
Every unevangelized foreigner in
is challenge to our
churches. 1t is as if the foreigner
were to say: you believe that YOU
have a religion that will redeem my
nation; very well; please try 1t on me
here at home" The speaker then
pictured what it weuld mean II even
10 per cent Of the foreigners who re-
urn to their native shores were to go
Jack evangelical, regenerate men and !
women, fred with zeal to win their
people to the Christ of the New TIES
ament. He also painted the dark |
picture of what it is going to mean to !
AMERICA, American civilization and |
if the course of neglect
II the opportunity that God has given
ID by bringing men Of every nation
md every tongue under Heaven to
'ur land is continued "If we do not
}hristianize the heather In our midst" !
lie said, they will surely heathenize
49,"