New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-22

largest support also come from the
church. There is scarcely q church
in the land where preparing sup
plies for the Red Cross is not
one of its weekday activities,
regular as divine worship. We doubt
not the churCh's accent of social ser
vice in recent years has paved the way
for undertaking and supporting SO
generously these humane war activi-
ties. Our people have required no urg-
ing. Seeing the needs has sufficed to
call out the supplies.
We do moi undertake in this report
to describe all the churchs war ac-
tivities. but a few additional facts are
worthy of mention. Church edi6ces
in many communities have been the
Tallying points for great patriotic
meetings. Christian ministers have
been chosen by the government as
spokesman to give it's plans week by
week to the people. Preachers in
almost every community have become
members of war boards Four-Minute
speakers, Liberty Loan and Red Cross
advocates while hundreds Of pastors
have been called to be chaplains and
Y. M. &. A secretaries. All this is a
tract acknowledges Of the influence
of the church in all community life.
Church Part in characterization.
In this time of national peril
Americas strength is In unity, 1t is
generally recognized that this unity
must be continued and cncoura ged.
The federal govcrnn ent is preparing
TO deal vigorously with the press of
foreign language. The teaching Of
foreign language in public interncd-
late schools is being discontinued. Many
foreign-speaking churches are extend
ing the use Of our language in their
services, especially in the Sunday
school eW commend this tendency as
a recognition of the necessity of aC-
CELEBRATED AmeriCanization. The church
must not tarry until it shall be con-
strained to action by outside patriotic
opinion. We believe the time has come
to consider whether all our conference
boundaries should not be determined
be locality and not by language. From
some countries there has been little
emigration for twenty five years, SO
that the continued use of their lam
guago is often tradition more than
4 necessity. Thereby is created an iso-
public opinion that is unfair to our
people who are thus deprived. We
hail cur foreign born ministers who
are aiding devotedly in the naturali-
cation of people to whose hearts they
have an entrance as have no others
We commend to those preparing for
our ministry the acquisition Of hi
lingual ability. that they may be able |
to present the Gospel to peoples in |
their native speech and thus aid to- |
ward their Am erica nization.
We arc glad 10 see service flags |
generally displayed in the churches, |
and well-dovised plans for keeping In |
sympathetic touch with the men who |
have Joined the colors. A Chicago |
pastor tells Of a boy looking up into |
the sky where the evening star ap- |
peared to overshadow all the other |
stars. and saying TO his father, |
"Daddy, God has hung out his service |
flag. He must have son in the |
war; From the way many young |
fellows have found themselves since |
existing. and from the ideals es-
pouscd. We feel Gods son is in the |
war. And Bishop Edwin Hughes has |
We'll said, we are the agents Of God. |
and we are charged with the duty Of !
keeping sons of our homes in tho |
w
War Helps Christianity.
Certain lines of Christian activity |
have been quickencd by the exigen- /;
cies of the war. which are most |
gratifying. Prohibition has gone for |
ward by leaps and bounds, with a |
saloonless nation almost in sight. !
Church federation has also been |
helped in recent months The large !
drafts upon our pulpts for war ser !!
vice. and the scarcity of fuel have !
compelled new adjustments in the |
conduct of divine worship in many To- |
calities This has had colnpensations, /
causing the christian forces to present |
united front, appearing co-operat- |
ing instead of competing forces, and |
thereby giving the church a, larger |
influence Such united activities have |
also affected the message of the /
church, making it more truly catholic |
placing emphasis on the great Chris |
tan verities and yitalities Of our COM
mon faith
Tho same tendency chara cterizes the |
prea ching message at army canton |
ments. and this practice must be MAIN |
tanned after the war, If we are to hold !,
our grip on the men, and give them |
real leadership in the work of the |
kingdom
It is too early to say much as to !
what the church will or must do after |
the war. But We may we'll consider |
q significant statement by BiN1op !
Mcconnell. If we base our Judgment |
by what happened after the Civil :
war the thinking Of the United |
States for the next twenty five years
will be shaped by the men who come |
lar from the b11t of |
the presidents from 1865 to 1890 |
Nore men who had = WI record A |