El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-12

cent OF the gifts to war, to relief in
Europe, to charities. This is not more
1 claim Examine any list OF givers'
and it will be found that four In five,
often nine in ten. can be traced to
/ the membership rolls Of church or
| synagog. In 1917 America over
/ topped every year and every coun-
I try, and saw a wholly changed con-
ception Of the American people on
the subject Of giving.
Unusual Demand for Literature.
In the United States 1917 saw a
most unusual demand for religious
! literature. Bible sales exceeded all
previous years by 100000. Prayer
books sold in great numbers-far be-
yond ordinary years, while the pub
] LEGATION societies Of the various Prot
estant bodies broke IN 1917 all ear
lier records. The demand was not
merely that soldiers might be sup
piled, but came from the American
public. One book on prayer sold
2T5,0Oo copies By reason Of war 1917
witnessed such reading Of religious
literature as American people never
read before.
Mezbership Report Not Ready.
Complete figures of church mem
bership growth for 1917 will not be
ready before February but enough IS
known of 1917 TO say that the
growth was normal, II not beyond In
war times II happens that new relig-
ions spring up, at least they do in all
English speaking countries Eng
land had its new crop in 1875 Can.
ada and Australia in 1916, and the
United States in 1917. About 200 new
cults were announced here. an4 It Is
known that some more are in the ma
ternfty wards for 1915, or wherever
II Is that new religious cults are
born The e02eri snce is. however.
that the old and strong religious
bodies grow steadily year by year,
and thai the new ones flourish and
fade. Roughly speaking. the situation
at the end Of 1917, in continental
United States, is 100000 in actual
church membership, with growth
that each year is slightly ahead OF
the population growth for that year.
Practically all Of the well known
bodies are enjoying these STEADY
growths in numbers.
Z. of c. in War Service.
The great thing IN the CATHOLIC
church in the United States IN 1917
related to the war. It was that OF
the rise of the Knights Of Columbus
into national war service, and the
founding, Of the Chaplain's Aid asso-
citation, whose name explains its mis-
sion. Catholic mem Dership grew as
in former years. Church building fell
off, but Cathollsc, like others, are out
10 win the war, and building can
walt. The splendid leadership OF
cardinal Gibbons, now the Oldest
member save one in the college OF
cardinals OF his church. was exer-
cised constantly throughout the year.
and needed by many men and women
bevond the communicate list OF the
Catholic church. Cooperation In the
naming of new chaplains was gem
eral. and Of course loyal and some
advances were made toward church
unity.
Christian and Jew alike regard the
end Of Moselm rule IN Jerusalem ane
Palestine. and the substitution OF
British rule, as the greatest single
result of the war thus far, and to no
people does the new political control
mean more than to the Jews Ana 70
no Jews does II mean z higher calI
to service than to American Jews The
features Of Jewish life In America
in 1917 were the raising OF S25,oOO,eVO
for relief of Jews IN Europe, besides
other war funds, and the contribution
of Christians to these funds, ana OF
Jews 70 Christian funds. Remarkable
also were the negotiations regarding
the Jewish congress, long a source OF
disagreement, bitter II honest, ana
the rinal postponement Of that con-
gress.
America last year refrained from new
projects requiring large sums 81
money for equipment In ordinary
years S45. 900 to s6o.0Oo.oo goes
into new churches and parish ouild-
ings. but in 1917 the sum was Slightly
under $4,000, 600. The reason was, OF
course. the call for money for the war
and for relief OF suffering.
Great Methodist Campaign Launched
Christian missions In America were
= ~ Fha RELIEF OF MIS-
sfons supported by England, and the
wear saw American missionary money
going to the causes Of keeping awe
some Catholic missionaries heretofore
supported by France, and some PROT
estant ones stranded In CHINA tor la .S.s
of support from Germany During the
wear Methodists Of the north launched
a campaign. to cover five years. ana
get II possible $50. 900. half for
home and half for foreign missions;
It is the biggest program ever ADOPTED
by q missionary society ana enoorsSu
By a responsible religious BODY IN
America or any other country. Mis-
sionary societies are going through q
tremendous strain, with war compeIi-
zion for money. and the conviction Is
the strain has not yet reached us
most severe stage. rev socleties
the most part 1917 saw normal mis-
sionary sea son, with sz1so00.oo0 rom
America for foreign work. and s4s'-
100000 for home.
A Feature Of the Year.
A marked feature Of 1917 was the
expression OF social serTies. Only
part Of which WAS In behaI OF WSI
causes The old evangelism of the
Spanish war. which would converI
Soldiers to the exclusion Of almost all
other religious effort, gave place 70 a
social service that believes IN evan
s-elisrn- hut also believes in other
things. Large increases we're made IN
number of chaplains. American
churches thus far have given the
highest expression OF service mHcn
made in any country at war. It mas
not been equaled in England, when
alone could equal it Big social ef-
forts in other lines during the year
nrobibition amendment to the consti-
fution backed by the temperance