The Washington times., 1916-02-12
DYING
IN LAT|N-AMER|CA
Collapse Of Faith Said to Be I'm
pending In Report to Con-
gress on Religious Work.

PANAMA. Feb. ia comprehensive
survey of NIL Latin America for future
missionary work was made In ad-
dressed by speakers from both Latin
America and the United States at the
session of the Congress- on Religious
Work in Latin America, which had
under discussion the subject Survey
and Occupation"
The attitude of q majority OF the dele
gates was voiced by Or. Silas II.
Daughcrty OF Philadelphia, who de-
clared that In view Of the interest
taken In the United States In Latin.
American Affairs commercially, business
and religion should march hand-in-
hand. Out of this, he said. would arise
true Latip-Americanism which would
be helpful to both sections of the Vest
ern Hemisphere.
The Rev. DR.. II. C.. Tucker. OF New
York. made a strong plea for earnest
work among the Indians throughout tho
Americas. who. no said. had been de-
spoiled ruthlessly by their forefathers.
both Latin and AngIo-saxon.
In the report of the commission on
survey and occupation. complete COL
lapse OF the Christian faith IN Latin
America is declared to no impending.
The report declares that in all the
southern republics practically universal
unbelief exists as far as modern learn
Inc has proceeded. The commission as
serts that the people in each OF the sew
eral countries may be irodRhly divided
into four classes; A violent anti-cler-
ical party, many OF whom oppose re-
liRion In every form: the more or less
wcll-reasoned skeptics and atheists. who
look indulgently upon religion as harm
less for women and for the lower classes
but who are themselves Indifferent TO it's
claims: the dissatisfied. II not disillu-
stoned and groDinR. companies Of souls
who soon pass on to cynlcism and hard
ness OF heart:" those whose period of
doubt and breaking away is ahead of
them as they are overtaken by fres edu-
cation"
The report says that surprising num-
Der OF the women are beginning to share
the skepticism of their husbands and
that theosophv. spiritism. and similar
cults are RAPIDLY taking the place OF
ShliFtianity In numerous sections, In
BOLIVIA alone. 1t Is said. three-fourths OF
the members OF Congress- and OF the
well-to-do business men and nearly ali
or the government students are sworn
enemies OF the church, while similar
conditions prevail in practically ali the
sister republics ~
The commission finds that in recent
decades intemperance has Increased
enormously in Latin American countries
largely owing TO the introduction Of
whisky. In the larger cities the use OF
whisky by foreigners is declared to be
well-nigh universal and to have n most
pernicious effect. Chile Is declared to
be the chief victim of intemperance.
One traveller is quoted as saying that
there was more drunkenness in Chile
than IN any of twenty-five countries he
had visited.
Referring more specifically 10 the re-
lations between the United States and
Latln-America. the commission vlgor-
ously denounces the attitude Of many
Americans toward their southern
neighbors for their intolerance and ar
rogance.
In conclusion. the commission says
that the present plans and forces of
the Protestant Church In the Latin
American field are "pathetically made
quate." and that there Is urgent need
OF large and immediate reinforcement.
II urges the perfecting In some form
of a thoroughly representative central
agency to carry on the work OF
evangelization.