Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-03-11

n m ANY have undertaken to tell as what
MI the boys will do with the churches
AVA when they return from France; of
how different they will be from anything
which they have been heretofore, and of how
they will revolutionize religion and demand
a new sort of church.
1t is worthy of notice that most of these
prophets Of radicalism are men who have for
years been deprecating all religion except that
of themselves and decrying all other churches
but their own Perhaps the inspiration of
their prophesyings is the wish Of their hearts.
1t is pertinent to inquire if our soldier
boys have commissioned these men to repre-
sent them. Some of us who have been preach
ing at the camps constantly have received no
intimations, or other evidences, that the boys
want any new faith radically different from
that of their devout mothers and fathers. On
the contrary, we have found them very much
the same boys that they were at home, and
letters from those in France tell us of their
deepened faith in religion of the fathers and
of their desire to worship again in the be-
loved churches from which they went out and
in which hang many service flags on which
are numerous bright stars indicating their
connection with the service in which they
gave borne themselves so CALAMITY.
One of the most fantastic predictions which
has been published is by notable lecturer
and preacher of Brooklyn, who outlines Gin
a syndicated article including his picture) a
scheme to substitute the churches with Glib
erty Halls in all towns of three thousand to
five thousand inhabitants. He represents
''the plan as already taking shape" as fol-
lows:
ALREADY men who have been abroad,
and who have discussed these matters
with soldiers and officers, have begun to
whip the plan into shape. At first blush
it may seem revolutionary, but in real
ity it is constructive, and is the next
step made inevitable by the events of
the war. The public men, representing
all sections of our country, who have
charge of the winter lyceum course and
summer chautauquas, and the art sOcie
ties, are working on a central building
to be called a Liberty Hall, to be built
in every town in the United States This
hall is to be the spiritual and intellectual
center of the community it's artistic and
social life; for adults, what the high
school is to children and youth. In the
summer time the lectures and musicales
incident to the town chautauqua, that
hitherto have involved heavy expense,
can hereafter be held in the Liberty Hall,
while the winters lectures on politics,
literature, travel, reform, be of a
higher grade with less expense, because
a room is provided. Ministers who are
unwilling any longer to work with a lit
tie section of the community can resign
to go into education, and leave the min
lister who has the genius of instruction.;
and the one who has the gift of educa-
ton and reform, and loves people, can
become the great heart of the entire
community. The plan will halve the ex-
penses and double the efficiency of the
Christian forces. Having experienced no
revival in the trenches, the soldiers are
returning home with new grip upon
Cod, His justice and His love, new
devotion to their country, and solemn
determination to improve our politics,
halve our ignorance, Doubt our virtues
and help to manufacture souls of good
quality in their own home town. There