The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-08-11

with war-tilled eyes, surprising con
ditions are seen.
Broadly stated, and in figur,
the attitude of the churches re
semble that of squad of noncom
rnissioned officers whom / watche
at one of the field training school
in France. The men were bein
drilled in night reconnaissance il
No Mans Land. So they set t
their tasks, of walking, cropping o
creeping toward hypothetical Ell
emy. These soldiers were an absurt
spectacle, as they went blindly about
feeling their way, in broad daylight
especially if the distant observe
had not been informed of the darl
glasses they wore. Only the faint
est shade of vision was accorded
them: they were supposedly il
No Mans Land, on life-or-deatl
mission with the senses Of hearin}
and touch as their chief reliance.
That seems to be the plight OF tn,
American churches. They are still
blindfolded to all that is so clea,
to the men who have studied re
ligious conditions abroad. They ar,
cropping eagerly, and they are sincere
learners. But they are in the dark
and in No Mans Land.
To the Credit of the Churches.
Everywhere | have gone in Amer
lea, since returning from France
|, have found the churches eager tc
fulfill their misSioni in this world
emergency. A great mood of patri-
otic desire and purpose pervadc-
them. They have flung service flags
to the breeze, and planted the Ma
tional colore alongside of the Bible
i'll the pulpit. Their boys have been
inspired to enlist; for the slackers
are not in the churches. Red Cross
activities are common in most con-
gregations. Tcstaments to the NUM-
Der of more than million have
been given to the soldiers and sail
ors. Thousands of men and women
have been sent abroad in Y. M. c.
A. work, and in the chaplaincy.
In respect to chaplains, the denom-
nations have been done notably
we'll
sPulpits, with scarcely an eXcep-
tion, have sounded clear note
upon the war and the world crisis.
The flaming patriotism Of the
church Protestant and Catholic
has been one of the greatest assets
Of the nation in the present crisis.
The noon-tide prayer minute,
when the Angelus, or Victory
bells, sound from church steeples,
has been widely adopted by separate
communities. Special services for
the soldiers and sailors on the part
of congregations fayorably situated
supplement- the gifts which have
poured without stint from the cof
fers of the churches and their mem
bers. Never before was there such !
a spirit of generosity in the land.
In a word, there is nothing tia
they know how to do which ts,
churches OF America have not frec'5 |
offered on the altar Of patriotism
The sentiment has, been sublim,
and the service has been supert
Only praise can be given 10 the
great rank and file OF Christian
ministers and church WORKERS in
America. Their attitude has been
nobly Here am |: send me-
Missing tie Bigness of 1t.
Still, it must be confessed that
the churches as a whole, and in
their large relationship, have worn
the black glasses OF failure to com
prchend the vastness OF the reli-
gious implications OF this war.
They do not see at all in the
large. what it means to them and
to the world. No leadership has
yet arisen to speak clearly. strongly
and even Stcrnly upon the radical
results to religion OF the world up-
heaval. Realistically the think
ing is still parochia.
Congregations and denominations
continue to carry on is II The crisis i
made no serious difference in their
outlook or forms OF activity. True,
there has been a vigorous effort to
strengthen the stakes and cords OF
existing organizations. d. if sus-
picious OF an approaching storm, I
there has been a hurried mcnding
Of roofs. and a buttres>iuc OF walls
md laying in OF stores cf financial
supplies against a time of stress.
Nobody seems to be thinking in
erms of a general religious moii-
zation, and Of new units md new
There is no effort VS.
bic anywhere to retrench, reorgan-
&c, eliminate and adapt
All the hugh accretion of sub
idary and incidental organizations
which has grown up about the
hurches and denominations at an
nnual expense Of millions OF dol
lrs. and with employed staifs total
ing thousands. plan ior business
$ usual" These little brothers OF
he church are as insistent as ever
a their claims. 1
Cheating the Scrap Heap.
The idea has not yet occurred to
rpbody with power to render 1t