The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-16
CHURCH DISCOVERS NEW WEAP-
ON FOR BATTLES FOR CIVIC
RIGHTEOUSNESS ESS-FEDERATIONS
ENLIST MINUTE MEN" IN DE
FENSE OF MORALITY IN CITY
LIFE AND GOVERNMENT.
By w. T. Ellis.

(By w. T. Ellisl
When the commission on InterchGrch
Federations was organized two years
ago at a notable conference of church
leaders in Atlantic City, the dream of
it's promoters was the creation I'm every
city and community Of America IN of-
fective agency for the spread of Chris.
tian ideals in civil life.
At a congress in Pittsburgh October
l to 4, the commission will take in.
ventory Of the progress of the move
mcnt and measure to what extent the
dream Of two years ago has heen real
lied
1t was the aim OF the Atlantic City
conference 10 coordinate in every city
those moral forces which struggle fol-
civic betterment and which frequentl$
fail in their purpose because their eff
forts are spasmodic and disconnected
The commission took as its model the
Mems Federations formed In Two Cl
three cities, where noteworthy results
had been accomplished.
To encourage similar organizations in
other communities, TO unite churchmer
of all beliefs, to combine the varied ac
tivities of the brotherhoods. the Younl
Mems Christian Associations, the mems
Bible classes into effective bodies OF
minute men, moral vigilance commit
tees, was the avowed purpose of the
commission
Within these two years, the fedora.
tion idea has spread to scores Of cities
and the commission fulfilling one Of tn,
original aims of the Federal Council o
Churches with which it is affiliated: il
is linking together the churches for &C
ton along lines i'm which the churcne,
have too long been inactive. II is wax
ing up the slumbering strength of tn,
church amid conditions condoned on tx
nored because the church has not real
lied this strength. 1t is making Tn,
church and her allies factors in deniu
cratic government.
Conventions are not the forte. no
have constituted the principal actiyitic
of the commission on lnterchurch Fed
erations. The commission was not OF
ganized to arrange symposiums and t,
pass resolutions. The Pittsburg cor
gress in October is to be more i'm the ma
ture Of a review OF two years endeay
ors, to hear reports from the fedora
tions which have been organized. L
take stock Of accomplishments and fai
ures, ito standardize the methods O
Christian cooperation in the service O
the community and the state"
There may be brought to the after
tion of the congress, for example. tn
recent efforts of the Mems Federation q
Louisville, KY to enforce a moral clear
up in that city. The story is typical q
the tasks and problems which thes
federations are ordained TO solve.
In the autumn Of 1915. vice commi,
sion appointed by Mayor Bushemeye
made report on conditions in Louii
vile, and supplemented its findings b
a series of recommendations Anon
these We're the recommendations tina
the city's restricted vice zone be abo
ished within two years, that the inmate
of the houses OF vice be prohibited fror
moving 10 other sections Of the city. Q,
cept that they abandoned their bushes
Of sin; that all these houses be closed d
midnight and that the sale OF liquC
therein be prohibited
The commissions recommendatior
gained the approval OF the citizens ge
orally and the Endorsement OF May
Buschemeyer, Nho pledged himself
mayor, to see that they were carrie