New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-08

Church That Is in New York" depart
mcnt has been created, and that weekly
discussions Of the church's various
problems are presented
Church Must Have Purpose.
Supremacy essential for fulfilling the
church's appointed place It appears. rs
a religiouSly directed and an abiding
purpose. II has been CONSCIOUSNESS
Of the necessity for having a well de-
fined purpose lu mind when ha,
brought to successful fruition all oi
the great historic and epoch mhhlng
propagandas IN the progress o. me
world ID has been tho sense o. the
need for q definite purpose when mas
given birth 70 the greatest system OF
philosophy and thought known 10 the
world. and that has produced the great
est OF the worlds poets. historians
statesmen and warriors. II IS also thl'
permesting and engrossng conscious
ness Of an impelling purpose whlch mas
blessed humanity with the command
ing and benehcent influence OF the men
and women who have been devoted TO
the mission OF extending the ministries
Of the church 20 all peoples. Neither
j. there 10 be found anything anywhere
iu the church's life to-day which makes
the task of the ministry and church OIL
iicials more easily accomplished than
that .hey are governed by no other
purpose thtu the one which mas pro
iectcd the lie OF the CHRIS; INTO ana
across the centuries the purpose o.
ministering TO every individual IRE lh
giving ~ true understanding of IT'S
capacity for knowing God and the value
Of the prvi cges OF living near Him.
EGcicncy l. Needed.
Believing that tho church in no other
city hos more purposefu! oihclal
leadership than may be found ln the
church circles u New York city ana
seeking 10 be Of .cryice 20 those VINO
arc seeking WAYS md means OF put
ting their capaciti". 20 the largest and
most practical service. ] present mere
plea for the reaiin. by them o. a
book recently published by Revell
GO. and written by = church efficiency
expert. Albert +. McGHrrah. entitled
a Modern Church Program. Many
determined and well founded purposes
have stopped short because there wss
not programme a. hand by when
they could be put INTO practice. 10
purpose is practicable without "ell
thought OUT and mcanngful plan OF
procedure The rolo~salnesS al the
cburch's task ir New YORK. and the
multitude Of conflicting forces make
IL oven more necessary that the church
here should have @ modern. efficient
programme than % would be anywhere
else.
The author Of this BOOK points out
that the annual additions 20 the churcn
Fave increased without precedent m
Al. Mafb | n n
pal Church. he says. reports AN aver
are net gain of 1851 600 IN tho last two
wears. which is nearly q 200 per cent
net gain over IT'S average gam during
tho wears from 1909 go 1912. Other
churches. he asserts. have shared this
.amc prosperity.
In the face of these immense gains
the local church. Nh NcGarrah says, Is
tho place where most difficulties are
experienced I'm marshallug the forces
which are ready 70 be added 20 the
church when the church Is ready.
Brains and Vitality Win Fight.
Tho church" Mr. NcGarrah says.
"uus' remember chat % D. not dreams
and emotions. but equipment and
brains. not theology but vitality. not
large numbers. nut the skill with
which viii win her victories
A modern church programme. 10 rs
urged. must be far-sighted. compre-
hensirc. VOL balanced. flexible and ca
pablo of interdeuominational adapta-
ton. "It must look far ahead or lt Is
disloya 10 The God who Is the source
Of al business sense and the originator
% "a efficiency IDEAS and methods, and
who wants them used 10 promote peace
and life rather than death and destruc-
ton. r. must include evangelism, mis-
sicns. education. community welfare
and human bettermeut. II must recog-
nize that God Is the creator Of all men
and that lie rs concerned for all OF
these. Il must recognize that man IS
prominently spiritual. and that while
his body mind and home are 70 be re-
deemed the development Of his spirit
nal powers is the supreme end Of all
these. and that all things are of value
only as aids to TINS end. u must i'm
cludo. dominate. coordinate and give
largest efficiency 10 the policy and pro
gramme Of each Of ITS departments and
societies. II must be flexible In an
incoherent and changing age 10 must
be capable Of adaptation 70 any com
munity or situation and OF constant
ffdGIlr1ntI1 70 tNhItIUE A"NA4tiNl4N
and needs II must be capable OF in
tordenominational adaptation. The
church in every city or community is
unity. Team work will multiply re-
suits and power. Army divisions can
not cooperate properly with other di-
visions unless their policy and pro
cramme are similar. Church organiza-
ton and methods must cease 10 be pre-
dominantly denomirational and must
become rather predominantly commu-
nifty Each church will gain greatly
when % general programme is followed
simultaneously by all the churches IN
the same newspaper district
The plans which the author Of "A
Modern Church Program outlines
may not be- adapted 10 every individual
church. but the book will enhearten
and encourage those who are seeking
way out Of many accumulated diff
Ulties TO make their own programme
more easily. and will be suggestive Of
many other and perhaps more workable
schedules Of efficiency.