Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-22
Interchurch Movement.

Interchurch Movement.
the big things that is on the way.
Next fall there will be drive for
the interchurches and citizens will
again be asked to ''go over the top"
Perhaps they will go over rather will
ingly, too. for this drive should pro-
who live in far lands will be aided as
consequence, but so will the heath
en- who live in nearby streets. Even
some of those who give their money
One never can tell.
The interchurch movement is just
an amplif1cation of the war chest move
mnt which the people in western cities
used so successfully during the war.
Money given for all the churches will
will not be pestered to give to this
little cause and that little cause. Fur
thermore, the dollars given will be used
productivity instead of in wasteful
competition.
I'VE have made a survey of the
churchman, land we know just how
the money can best be used"
Will Work Together.
In one county-or in one country
efficient organization. Very well. The
interchurches will stop trying to race
the Methodists and will help the
Methodists gather them in. The new
theory is that it makes very little diff
ference who saves soul. so long as
even go farther. They plan to make
the bodies healthy and happy and
comfortable even before they look after
the souls.
Better preachers are needed in the
rural districts. Not better men NOR
ally. but better fitted to lead their
people. In some country districts the
preacher is doctor and lawyer and
friend~ and counselor. and between
times he farms to make a living. That
will be changed. The old men will be
aided and as they drop out younger
men who are better equipped win be
sent to fill their places. In some of
the city districts the population is al
most entirely foreign born. The duty
they owe their bodies has kept them
from worrying about their souls.
Will Preach Americanization.
In these districts the people are to
be Americanized. Not preached at or
to, but helped to keep clean and keep
informed and kept fed. In lower
New York Hadley's Church of All
NatlonS Is 10 DC eApdhueu Wy sne
Methodists. just to use this work as
an example. There are to be sepa-
rate chapels for the folk Of different
tongues, with ministers who can
speak their own language. There will
also be rest rooms and reading rooms
and baths and lectures and smoking
rooms.
It seems almost impossible that
the Methodists could consent to have
smoking rooms in their churches. But
the Methodists have just purchased
the old Union Church, on 18th street
just west Of Broadway, and 1t IS to
be turned into church, open at all
hours, for those who need 1t. There
are to be billiard tables there and
smoking rooms and perhaps gym
nasium and baths. A new church is
to be built in the heart of the huge
colored settlement on Lenox avenue
too It will be a community house,
rather than a church. Every helpful
impulse will radiate from it. Those
who will shall become Christians.
Those who will not shall at least be
made better citizens.
Big Pageant for New York.
The Methodist Church has already
raised a fund Of $165,000.000 to use
in its home and foreign mission work.
The Rockefeller Foundation is a piker
beside it. The church has just closed
a centenary exposition at Columbus,
Ohio, in which the largest pageant
ever given was offered to Methodists
from all over the world. The church
lost half a million dollars on 1t, be
the sum more or less, but no matter.
The advertising was worth 1T. That
same pageant is to be brought In to
New York. probably to be housed in
Madison Square Garden, and chorus
of $500 will be gathered to do the
singing.
Already plans for carrying gospel
and soap and help and happiness to
every country in the world are being
formulated by the men who are lead
ing the interchurch idea. Petty RI
vaIries are to be done away with, so
far as imperfect human nature will
permit, and all are to get together for
the big job. An effective organization
is being built up and in a very little
aila the Xheels will he turning.