The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-11
Churches Continue in Midsummer
Their Broad Plans for New Advances

be spoken by one who carries an ordin-
alton parchment in his frock coat or by
one who wears the clothes Of business
and speaks with no authority save the
inherent weight Of his earnest words"
the call of the recruiting officer is
thus presented by the editor of the
Christian Advocate CNew York;:
OF the 10000 students in the United
Kingdom so per cent have answered
the call, Your king and country need
you" They are in training, in the
field. or on the casualty lists. One
half the students of Canada are fight
ing for the empire. The six Protest
ant theological schools of Hungary
are empty and virtually every the
ologue" wears the uniform of Francis
Joseph. The Christian Student Move
ment of Germany distributed 10000
Christmas booklets to students under
arms. A Christian worker seeking
men in the Latin Quarter of Paris, a
center of $4,000 student residents,
could find but four who had not gone
to the front.
1t has always been so in this coun-
try when the call of patriotism was
sounded. The campus was not behind
the factory, shop and farm in giving
its best. Some have even been drawn
into the present conflict by their SYM
pathies, or by the bugle call to ac-
ton. Something there is in the breast
of the college student which seems
to require war or its moral equiva-
lent to arouse it's energies. A great
and compelling ideal, equal at least
to those for which, rightly or wrong
ly, the students of Europe are giving
their lives, is needed to kindle youth
full ardor, to call for sacrificial devo-
tion. 1t is one of the lessons of the
war that 1t reveals the responsiveness
of youth to such an appeal. 1t is for
the church to learn that lesson, and
apply it to its task of enlisting young
conquest of mankind for Christ.
"On every hand" says DIR. John R.
Mott, I'VE are being reminded tina,
there are in the students of this gen.
GRAFTON capacities for adventure. for
for suffering, for lead
ership and for unselfish achievement
which, if released and if related to
the program of Christ, would insure
the dominating of the university world
with the ideals. principles and spirit
of Jesus and the sending forth from
these centers of privilege and leader
ship influences sufficient to vitalize
and transform the life of nations"
He exhorts all Christian leaders VINO
have access to student audiences this
summer to address their appeals to
the sacrificial in men and seek to
summon them to deeds worthy of
these tragic and momentous times
and of a religion whose glory is the
cross"
The new plan of religious educa-
ton of children, a modification of
that at Gary, Ind, is regarded by
educators. both religious and secular,
as the most far-reaching and epoch
making since public schools them
selves were established. Ministers and
public school teachers are foregoing
their vacations to study the new plan.
Some officials in cities and churches
are staying at home to prepare for
of the new plans in
September. Members of school boards
who have wrestled in the past with
part time pupils and with lack of
money for buildings and salaries. are
not less jubilant than officers of
churches. And the latter are gratified
Is never before.
New York has gone farthest among
arge cities thus far to adopt the plan.
There fourteen schools have been or
iered to be open for the Gary plan,
beginning with September. and ST.
500, 900 is to be expended in further
ance of the plan instead of being ex-
pended in the usual ways Protestant
and Catholic bodies are cooperating
on committees, which committees
have been named in a number Of
titles. Together they are dividing up
territory, and bending all possible eff
iorts to provide buildings that equal
hose of the public school, and trained
Even superintendent
have been engaged in a few cities,
md a new grade of educational Of
icial. superintendent of religious edu-
,ation, maintained by the churches, is
being established.
The question has arisen in lay
minds whether children, going to
Bible schools three or four times a
week. on week days, would also be
to go on Sundays, and
whether the change does not involve
he further existence of the Sunday
schools. The reply of church leaders
s to the effect that now for the first
ime the Sunday school will be for
dS IL
never been when its time Has been
aiken for educational work.
The Grace Methodist Church of
lew York, of which Rev. Christian F.
Reisner is pastor, has just closed a
whirlwind campaign in which they
lave succeeded in raising $4,000 in
he face of the present financial con-
litions. Twenty-three thousand dol
airs was used in paying off an old
lebt, and 100000 will be used to en-
low a work among the immigrants of
he city. This church has 1,400 mem
,ers.
The president of the General Synod
II Lutheran Churches, DR.. ]. A. Sing
master. says of the recent convention of
hat body at Akron, Ohio:
The reports made to the convention
~ its various committees indicate
'rogress in almost every department
Il the church. In the number of mem
,ers, in the amount Of it's benevolent
'fferings, in the character Of its edi-
Ices, in the operations of its boards
md in many other ways, there has
zen great gain and improvement. The