The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-02
IATER-CHuRCH WORLD
MOVEMENT IN AMERICA

New York. Aug. IA world wide
census of social. economic. moral. san
itary and religious conditions such as
never before attempted has been be-
gun by the Interchurch World Move
ment of North America, II was an
nounced here today.
1t will affect every man. woman and
child in the United States and less di-
rectly every person in foreign lands.
A vast volume of statistics, maps
and charts will be produced. Much of
the information obtained will be in
entirely new fields where My frag-
mentary and inadequate data has been
available.
The Interchurch Movement is a CO.
operative enterprise OF the evangelical
Protestant denominations of the United
States n Canada. 1t has powerful
support, as the various bodies which
have endorsed IT include members of
seventy-six denominations. For the
first time II brings into a common
effort the 5o.000.0o0 persons of North
America who support Protestant
churches either as members or as at
PENDANTS and contributors. The indi-
vidual churches involved number
about 200. 600.
While the object OF the Interchurch
Surveys, as they are officially called, is
to obtain exact Information of the
present state of Christianity and other
religions throughout the world, the
demonstrating is being watched with
keen interest by sociologists. trade ex-
perts. government officials, diplomat
lists and publicists.
1t Will give the world definite and
exact information about many sub
jects of vital Importance which have
been neglected by government census
takers.
! 50, To this task the general church
boards, such AS benevolent organiza-
,tions and home and foreign mission
societies, have contributed their lead.
ing experts. Experienced census IL
rectors. professors of statistics and
leaders in non-religious callings are
in charge of various branches. An eff
fort has been made to give each line
of investigation to the man most COM
petent to carry it out.
In addition to gathering all the new
facts that have a bearing on the sub
jects, the organization will bring to-
gether all the varied existing informal
ton in the possession of church bodies
and state and federal governments. BY
careful research it will estimate tho
present situation in every sphere hav-
ing to do with the mora and spiritual
life OF mankind.
The purpose of the surveys will be
to lay out a con prehensive national
and world program Of Christian effort.
Many hundreds Of millions OF dollars
are spent by agencies identified with
Christian work, but hitherto their ac-
~tivities have been scattered and there
has been much overlapping and dupli-
cation of effort.
Today, for the first time the churches
have resolved to march together. The
movement is largely an outgrowth of
the object lesson furnished by unified
allied control during the war. Inef-
fciency will be largely done away
with. lessons in methods Of work will
tie exchanged. and each individual
body will concentrate it's energy on
certain agreed areas to the end that
the general standard of civilization
may be raised along the lines laid
down by Jesus Christ.
Such division of labor has been
practiced successfully in many mis-
sion fields. The whole OF China and
many other n~on-Christian lands have
been divided up among the denomina-
tons with wonderfully increased re-
suits and a start has been made on
introducing the method into homo