Weekly journal-miner., 1918-09-25
CHURCH UNITY IS URGED BY
 REV. EATEN
MORE EFFECTIVE SERVICE COULD BE RENDERED COMMUNITY BY ANAL GAMATING OF SEVERAL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS
(From Sundays Dailv)
Editor Journal-Miner:-


 church situation in Prescott. While exception might be taken to one or two rather extreme statements, as a whole, it is true to facts and in line with the progressive material and moral spirit of our times. Whatever reasons may have seemed to demand the organizing of so many Protestant churches in the past, it IS certain that no good reason exists for the contin- uance of divided forces now.
 The "Win the War" spirit is con- tributing very largely toward unity of effort in all spheres of our nation al life. From the Atlantic to the Pacific our churches are considering the necessity of uniting or federatine for the period of the war as means of material conservation and moral effectiveness. The necessity of con- serving fuel and other supplies in or der to release all possible resources for the supreme purpose Of winning the war is being emphasized by the government and recognized by all sections of our country. The com- bining of services through the winter in South Dakota resulted last year in a saving of 50 per cent of the coal normally burned in the churches of that state The fuel administrator of New Jersey has just requested that this plan be followed by the churches of that state the coming winter. Other states will undoubted lv fall in line. Why not Arizona: Also, why not apply the same rule to theatres, pool halls, etc, which arc even less essential to community wei fare than a multiplicity of churchese
 Aside from the necessities of the national situation in this emergency, directly to the best interests of the churches themselves. More effect i've service could be rendered by T united Protestant church in any small community and at less eXpendi- ture of money and effort. The waste of missionary funds in maintaining so many churches is an absolute crime financially, and piece of un- mitigated stupidity religiously. They are largely expended not for the glory of God and the advancement ot the Kingdom, but to maintain sell fish denominational pride and glor- ify the achievements of some self ccmtcred state or district superlntend- cnt of missions who thinks he must make a showing. The showing" he makes is death to really effective Christianity in thousandsof communi- tics. Missionary contributions are sacred trust funds. Ii any ordinary business man entrusted with such funds used them as unwisely and recklcssly as do our churches, they would be subject themselves to prosecution for misrepresentation of trust funds" How long, O Lord, how Iong!'
 From the standpoint of moral pow CT and spiritual effectiveness the Tn. dictment Is even worse. Measured by the standards of going concern in the business world, We haven't single church in the city of Prescott that can show even a creditablc meas urc of service to the community, much less that full measure of devotion which should characterize the christianity of the sacrificing Christ. And Prescott is simply fair repre- sentative of church conditions all over this country. Because we are placing the emphasis on building up scctarian divisions of the Body or Christ" instead of laboring as spiritual unit to build the Kingdom of God. our churches are today morally. spiritually, financially and influcntially bankrupt and ready to go into the hands of a receiver. Unable because of this condition to command the s)ect of the public. they are an impotent or at least negligible factor in the community life where they should be the vital and moulding Dowcr in every movement for moral bettermcnt. Five Protestant churcn buildings in Prescott and no \. M. C. X to conserve her moral manhood. Five Protestant churches and no place open for the men from Whip. r1c Barracks to spend a clean and Dlcasant afternoon or evening m Prescott! Why blame them Ii they resort to scmi-qucstionablc places and methods for recreation, when the organization that should and couid .,-o--:dc proper means and methods cf measure and recreation is too im- mersed in selfish struggle to main- tain it's unnecessary and harmful d. visions. to manifest anything more than mere superficial and scnti- mental concern about the really im- pcrativc business of the Kingdom or God in Prescott. Were these churches or some of them to unite or federate for scryicc it would release for com munitv work in the line of Y. M- L.. A. and Y. W. (. \. activities build inps that would be fairly adequate to the needs until the winning of the war made it possible to secure the funds for the erection of the splendid building Prescott should have. The community would willingly provide the necessary money to maintain this greatly needed service.
 There arc only imaginary difficult ics in the way. No ono church needs 10 lose it's identity of membership or benevolent contributions. They simply tcderate m the matter ot local expenses, combine their services for a stated period and present a