Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-05-19
CHRISTIANITY IS
 0NLY BOND NUT
 SNAPPED BY WAR
Presbyterians Have Optim- istic Views as to Effects
 of Conflict.

Atlantic City, N. J., May 1S.-The general assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States began it's 138th annual meeting on the steel pier here today with a program which will continue through until Friday, May 26. 1t Is one of the important church gatherings of the year and the reports that have been prepared by various committees for consideration during the week reflect some of the new ticularly some of the effects which the great war in Europe has had on church work.
 These reports, compiled in book of 200 pages, which were placed in the hands of the delegates to the assemb- ly here today, include some optimis- tic views as to the effects which the war is having and will continue to have on religion. The executive com mission of the Alliance of the Re- formed Churches Throughout the World reports: "Instead of showing the failure of Christianity, this war has revealed the strength of Christianity, for Christi anity has been the only bond that has not snapped because of this war. Out of the present conditions in Europe three facts are emerging that bear on the religious situation. The first is that religion over there has become largely Philanthropy. The people have passed from faith to works. All the countries are full of charitable efforts to relieve poverty and suffering. r
 "The second peculiarity is evangeli- zation The 24,O00,O ,O00 men of the diff ferent armies afford grand oppor- tunity for the spread of the gospel. The 2,400, ,OO0aa prisoners in Germany; most of whom are Russians, open a great field for the evangehzation of Russia. In the camps, insthe hospitals, in the prison camps, is an open door of hope, tremendous and mighty that will affect every church in Europe. Piety Mere Personal.
 "The third feature is personalness, that is piety more than ever has be- come a personal thing. The war is making Europe learn that religion is a personal matter rather than form al one. The lines between denomina- tions are largely broken down in armies and camps. Faith Is being purified, sham and unreality are burn ing out Men are thinking straight and centering themselves on Jesus Christ. These characteristics are not going to pass .- entirely away for Europe has been too deeply stirred. She is never going back to what she ] was before the war"
 i After the war, the report points out, there may be a great call for Ameri cans to take up the continuance of English church work on the continent 1 of Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria, where prejudice may l initiate against Britishers resuming their activities.
 l The divorce evil in America receives
 considerable attention by the special committee on Christian life and work which points out, that the estimated average of divorces has reached the alarming ratio of about one to every 12 marriages" showing that is worse than that of any other civilized nation" "We must organize" the committee says, "as never. before, a nation wide campaign of education In behalf of the welfare of the family, and the home concerning the sacred1 ness of marriage and the, evils of di-I yorce." The same cop1lnittee dis-i cusses the use of the Bibl4 in the publ I lie schools and the church is urged to- work toward creating public sentl-I ment that will favor and even demandl such a course.
 In discussing the observance of the Sabbath another committee submits a lengthy report covering many phases of the problem and deplores among other, things that "in our national, capital there are social functions of every description on the Lords day" Y
 Victories for Sabbath Observance. ] | The committee reports number ofi victories in the movement for Qbserv- ance of the Sabbath, among them the Sunday closing of the saloons in Chi cago for the first time in more than forty years. The committee is also gratified at the stand many employers have taken in regard to Sunday work, and it notes that even in England the authorities have found it advisable to ban Sunday work, even in the munl- tion factories. 1 One of the most important of the
 reports is that by the committee on church cooperation and union which
 among other things favor the con ! tinuance of the negotiations for the union of all the churches of the Pres, byterian household in the United States, and also conferences with the Church of the Disciples of Christ with a view to closer relations. ln the mat ter of evangelization, the question is
 also raised whether the hour has not
 arrived for "the inauguration and pro ] motion of a countrywide movement of 1 evangelistic endeavor of such a char. acter as will meet with the approval and appreciation of the united minis l try of our land.
 The assembly's approval is also to
 be asked of the steps thus far taken | in the movement for the worlds con- ference on faith and order proposed
 by the Protestant Episcopal church. I IDAHO DEM. CONVENTION.