The Washington herald., 1915-11-21
WHAT CHURCH PEOPLE
ARE. SAYING AND DOING

1 inent speakers will address the meet
ings, and President Wilson will adj
dress the council at a meeting in the
interest of rural churches on Friday
evening" December 10. 1t Is expected
that President Wilson will represent
the Presbyterian Church as a dele
gate.
The purpose Of the church congress 10
be held in Latin-America in February.
as presented by s. G. Inman. executive
secretary OF the committee on co-opera-
! ton, is now receiving the criticism OF
the religious press. Mr.. Inman declares
more accurate mutual knowledge OF the
history, resources, achievements and
ideals of the peoples 50 closely associated
in their business and social life.
Second, to reveal the fact that these
countries may mutually serve one an
other by contributing the best in their
civilizations to each others life.
Third, TO discover and devise means
TO correct such defects and weaknesses
in character as may be hindering the
growth of those nations.
Fourth, to unite in a common purpose
to strengthen the moral, social and re-
ligious forces that are now working for
the betternent of these countries, and to
create the desire for these things where
absent
Fifth, to discover the underlying prin-
ciples upon which true national prosper
ity and stability depend, and to consider
ways and means by which these prin-
ciples may be put in action and made
effective
The editor Of the Presbyterian CPhil-
adelphia) claims there has been dis
tinct recession from the first high claims
made for the congress. OF the program
outlined by Mr.. Inman, he says:
The purposes thus expressed are al
most purely political and economical
They stand in marked contrast with the
commission of our Lord: Go ye there
fore and teach all nations. baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching
them TO observe all things whatsoever
have commanded you"
When did the church receive orders to
instruct the nations in civil or economi-
cal affairs? To do so is to forsake the
commission. II the Gospel is preached,
the greatest service is rendered to all
forms OF national prosperity. The great
trouble with these Undertaking confer
ences is that they are led by men not
appointed by the church-men of such
diverging convictions that repression
and compromise in vital things is deemed
unavoidable. This has happened to this
congress. and little can be expected from
it. There is too much emphasis put upon
the wisdom of men and too little on the
wisdom Of God. This is manifest from
the suggestion of DR.. John r. Mott. Mr..
Inman says Of him:
He suggested that there would issue
vastly larger plans on behalf of Latin
America, a larger understanding Of its
people, a truer science of the expansion
of pure Christianity in the Latin-Ameri-
can world, a more commanding vision
and a deeper sense of responsibility. and,
finally, a far larger realization Of the su-
perhuman in this undertaking"
Where is the Gospel in this? Any Gull
tivated heather could say substantially
the same thing. Human words and hu-
man wisdom will never save Latin
America or other countries. To obey the
mission given by Jesus may mean sacri-
flee and suffering, but il will also mean
victory and salvation. The church great
~ needs to be aroused to her definite
message and the power of God The sub
stitute of the wisdom of man for the
wisdom of God is the greatest barrier to
modern missions.
The eleventh annual conference of the
Eastern Union of Student Volunteers,
comprising all the Summaries, colleges,
and preparatory schools of Eastern
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, will be
held in Gettysburg, Pa, from December
; to ). The conference will be under the
management of the college Y. NJ. c. A.
Entertainment for the delegates will be
provided by the students of college and
seminary and by the good people of the
town. About 400 delegates are expected
10 attend. but no school is limited TO any
number of delegates. All students are
welcome whether they are volunteers or
not. A certain afternoon will be set
aside for touring the battlefield. Many
persons think that the battlefield is per-
haps as large as a small farm and are
amazed when they are told that it COW
ers an area of approximately twenty
five miles and that 1t requires an entire
day to visit the principal points of in
terest
Among the speakers are DIR. L. B.
Wolf. secretary of Lutheran foreign
missionary board, with twenty-five
years experience as missionary to In
dia; Charles Hurley, general secretary
of Student Volunteer board; Mrs. Reed
Mcclure, former missionary to India:
Rev. J. P. Jones. Kennedy School Of
Missions, Hartford Seminary, with ,eN-
perience. as missionary to India; Rev. A.
r. Kepler. Presbyterian board, an ex-
perienced missionary; E. T. Cotton, Sec !
rotary OF a foreign missionary board.
Sir William NJ Ramsey, the explorer |
and archaeologist, has written to Rev.
DR.. S. Edward Young, pastor OF the Bed |
ford Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, n.
Y. announcing the postponement Of his |
visit to America until next spring. Sir |
william writes:
The serious nature of the situation |
made it impossible to go away at pres
ent. The patriot must stay and see 1t |
out; not go to be happy in America. II
was a great blow TO give up that Jour-
ney. but / hope that in April-May, 1915, |
it Will be lawful"
The further excavation of Antioch in
Pisidia. Western Asia, for which an ]
American lady has provided funds for
one years work, has been entirely aban- \
doned for the present, owing to Turkeys \
entrance into the war, the amount given
being now on deposit in New York City,
awaiting what Sir William believes will
beSthe most Illuminating archaeological
discoveries thus far made, from the
standards of New Testament history.
In one year more than 2is,ooo people out
Of the poiyglot community on the East
Side, New York City. which one church
after another has deserted, attended she
various meetings of the Labor Temple
On Fourteenth street, the home Of the
American International Church Preach
ing, Bible study and prayer services are
conducted each week in the English.
Italian. Russian and Ruth
enian languages. Last winter and
spring, when unemployment was so con-
slant, the Labor Temple, through its un-
bureau, found jobs each
g., Ttz..l