El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-01

in the history Of religion in
- America. the year 1915, is at
an end. The war in Europe mas pro-
foundry affected religious conditions in
the United states. but conditions here.
apart from the war, have affected these
conditions more a year Of unusual
hardship for churches, 1915 was year
OF the most extraordinary progress
they have realized in a generation IN
usual features Of the year were new
emphasis upon work within the United
States without let up OF effort ABROAD,
big strides forward IN the matter OF
membership; vast sums OF money con-
tributed both TO churches and to re
lief; the making for and sale Of Bibles
to Europe and other Bible markets
usually supplied from England; the
cutting off OF the supply OF cnurcn
music from Germany and most or
Europe and the quick response Dy
American composers. who came Tor
ward with new music quite up TO the
European standard, and the uprising
OF men. shown cOnspicuously among
Professionals in work for missions
among Catholics for lay cooperation in
behalf Of many forms Of progress; ana
among Jews in a great growth OF
Zionfsm. Religious leaders hope Amer
lea may find in 1916 such year as was
1915. but they fear they may not DO
so.
Whether it be the war and the sac
rifice or whatever the cause, cnurch
membership in the United states IN the
year 1915 grew apace- KeHaDle us
ures are not available in full before
February. and are published by the
Federal Council Of Churches FIG uLss
are on hand, however. for most OF the
principal bodies and show increase o.
$4,000 in a total for nine large po9les
of 80 100000, out Of a grand total last
year of 3S,725, 600. Indications are thal
when data is all in the Christian mem
bership will show approximate! an
even 100000 II IL does not quite
! reach that figure II VIII De near 70
il provided the smaller BODIES nave
made progress equal to the large ones
| Presbvterians North gained IN 1919
! somewhat more than 55.UuU, the lars
est in their history. Methodist North
7 gained IO4 OOO Disciples almost 5O,OOU'
/ Baptists Of the whole country l42,VVV'
I Lutherans $4,000. Episcopalians Zb,vVu,
Roman Catholics. population ana not
Z mere enrolled numbers, z4z,uOV; mes
/ are figures above the norman IN al
/ most all cases, and indicate an even
40 900 O0O. il would seem, when the lull
! data is at hand
I Activity of Men Responsible
/ bfg factor in these grOWths, on the
| Protestant side at least, is the new
/ activity OF men Delegates TO Lay
| mems Missionary Movement conven-
I tons in Is cities. 1915 as compared
I with 1903 showed an increase OF oS49-
l That is 1909 figures stood al 1S,lVv'
\ and 1915 at somewhat more than zz-Uvv
! Laymen's Institutes for the trainlng
! of volunteer lay workers were started
( in several bodies in 1915 wholly ne"
| development
In Law effort. almost wholly by men
| the year 1915 saw perfected in several
I Protestant bodies well defined and wei
1 backed plans for the Introduction into
! MANAGEMENT Of the temporal AFFAIRS
/ of churches something OF the same
! scientific management that IS going
| into Industrial commercial and gov
| ornamental affairs. The recognition
| that laymen have proper part tha'
| church plants can be made more pro
/ ductive and that money trlDution:
! can be made to accomplish more, Woulc
alone make 1913 memorable N OHIis'
| tian affairs.
! In no respect was the year 1915 more
/ peculiar, as regards things religious
than in books. and the making o.
them. The public has SO long acens
| toned itself to books by ministers
that its temper at the end OF 1919 Il
| to rush for books that are writer
! BY laymen. Especially is this so 1
| the laymen are known George Wnar
! ton Pepper, the Philadelphia lawyer
| who figures in the present Episcopa
/ church. Panama congress controversy
was the first laymen ever 10 be InElt
| ed by Yale university to give the Ly
man Beecher lectures
| chiefly by ministers. on the subJec
Of world peace. and especially from tn
| point Of view OF Christianity. ma
large sales Curiously. those sales al
! most wholly ceased during the secon
J half of the year. Whether the reasol
/ is that the American public does no
I want peace. or does not think the MN
( listers can furnish way to peace, no
body seems able 10 say
Bible Sales Largest in History.
4 IL q 9 Hn L
history Of the world American BID
makers are for the first time, in par
because Of the war. selling Bibles i
England, and in South Africa, here
tofore supplied by England and Scot
land. American and British and For
I eign Bible societies distributed tn
largest numbers Of Bibles in 1915 the
ever did in a single year. Christina
carols. and church anthems, usual
( England. almost wholly ceased in 1Sl'
but American composers came forward
caught and market. and seem destine
to hold Dealers even sent music {
I markets heretofore dependent who'll
upon the European output.
Financially 1915 started and contin
ued for several months such stringencl
and such lack OF employment. tina
thousands Of projects requiring mon
ey. new buildings. new missions, need
ed endowment. were postponed Mon
ey TO go into new churches durln
1915 was hardly half the usual sun
: But the year changed when war;
, weather came. and 1915 was the great
| est financial year the churches G
! ! America ever knew. The high waite
| marks in home and foreign gifts Wer
reached. and almost all religious bodie