El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-31
PLAN TlNAKE MECCA GREATEST
TOURIST POINT IN WHOLE WORLD
Wrestling of Ancient City From Turks Control to Be Fol
lowed After the War With Tremendous Changes in
Opinion of Churchmen Methodists to Work for
Union and Preparedness at Spring Meetings.

ZEN who are well informed about
M affairs Of religion throughout
\ : the world. interviewed since
Russia changed her form Of govern
ment, q British army took Bagdad and
arrived at the gates of Jerusalem. and
the United States and China lined up
in war with the entente allies, unite
IN saying that political governments,
even kings and emperOrs, VIII hardly
be more affected by the great war
than will the great religions Of the
world. These are six in number, II
the Eastern Orthodox be counted one,
and the nOn-Christian world be
grouped. the 3.ohammedan leading.
With the fall OF Mecca, the certain
change Of political control OF Jeru-
salem, and the possible driving OF the
Turk out Of Constantinople, tremendous
changes are ahead IN the non Christian
world, greater than ever before we're
dreamed Of, thinks Dr. John R. Mott
In India and China the changes are
hardly less significant. while there IS
& race on between Christians and Mo-
hammedans for the possession OF the
African SOudan.
Theirs are Is,5eo,O00 Jews. and they
are looking forward to American lead
ership and support TO better condt-
tions Of 5000. 600 OF them in Central
Europe. and possibly TO create Jewish
state in Palestine. IN any event II
seems certain that American money
and leadership Will change conditions
IN thu Holy Land, making Il habitahle
70 those who must live there, and for
those who would go there, the greatest
show place on earth British capitalists
have long wanted to modernize it, and
with the going Of the Turks control.
and the end Of the war. the world. viii
see. ii is believed, such travel TO Mecca
as will make Niagara Falls, London
and Paris combined seem Insignificant
UNION PREPAREDNESS
AND PENSIONS To BE DISCUSSED
District conferences representing
more than 5000. 900 Methodists North
and South are to be held this spring,
and before them are coming three lead
ing matters. One is the one Of union,
North and South Plans for union are
in hands of committees, and these
committees are employing the district
conferences to ascertain data required
and put through the educational work:
Most of the conferences. south and
north, are passing resolutions back
ing president Wilson and declaring for
preparedness and AmericaniSm- Fin
ally the matter of an adequate pension
system, not money alone but based
upon sound principles demanded by
the actuaries, is receiving marked at.
tention.
IN northern MeEnOQlSTn me transfer
OF ministers Of a grade able TO hold the
large city churches is reported TO be
serious. IN some cities, notably in New ,
York, where Methodism loses ground. !
there IS scarcity OF men, and bishops
are resorting to many expedients. In
New York no fewer than four OF the |
largest Methodist churches report criti- !
cal outlook, due IN part to changes in |
population, and IN part to causes which |
Methodist leaders Of the whole coun- !
try, bishops, ministers and laymen. are |
using the spring conferences TO dag
nose. END to remedy is possible.
Throughout the country Methodisn Is