Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-02-27
CHURCHES TO UNITE
IN GREAT MOVEMENT
MUCH INTEREST BEING MANI
FESTED IN CENTENARY
MOVEMENT


MOVEMENT
One of the great lessons which
have come from the world war has
been that of becoming accustomed to
thinking in large terms and figures.
A few years ago the smallness OF
thing was somewhat attractive, but
now we think either in large terms
or not at all We view things much
after the fashion expressed by con-
yersation between two weary willies.
Ploddin' Pete asked SlowshOe Sam:
"What would we do if we had mil
NOM" Sam replied, "Ye're piker!
No one starts today without Dill
Hon."
To work in unity is another lesson
derived. The Methodist Episcopal
church started a joint drive for $780,
100000 to be divided equally be-
tween the home and foreign mission
boards and 1t was but short time
antil twenty-six other Protestant de-
nominations followed and now the
twenty-seven are united in q huge
drive for $500, 100000. With five
years in which to do it and 25,OOO,-
600 people to put it over mo mans
land is entirely eliminated.
The churches of the Methodist
EpiscopaI connection are divided into
areas. conferences, charges and with
In the charges, units of thirty or less,
each with a leader. 1t Is proposed
that the campaign will result in such
an awakening for the church that the
financial objective, while necessary.
.uilI no suhordinate
The home mission phase OF the
Centenary" for such il is called,
will in no means prove the least i'm
oortant. DR.. S. Earl Taylor has the
following to say regarding the work
among the so called inferior class,
the laboring class and the Indians,
segroes, Mexicans. Alaskans and
similar groups in this country:
"The biggest piece OF missionary
york possible would be for the peo-
pie in every Christian church to
start tomorrow and be friendly. cor
dial and helpful to the immigrants
living at their doors. This would
mean decent houses and more
schools for them, and it would mean
a moral education which so far they
have not yet received. They are
brought In touch with the worst side
of American life, and that Is the side
that is uppermost in letters to theiI
friends and in conversation when
they return home. The failure so to
apply Christianity is almost fatal
The cost to the allies Of the detection
of Russia is incalculable. That de-
lection is due to many causes. but tt
none more than to the stories OF ex
ploitation told by returned Russian
immigrants from America. lnteu
sive home mission work on Manhat
tan Island, south of Fourteenth St.
would have more than paid for itsell
ut this juncture.
"There is every indication Nat the
iaboring classes of the world are Il
be very much more influential toda,
than they have been up to now. ant
the gravest question today is wheth
er their leadership shall be sane. in
elusive, and religious. or whether Il
shall be characterized by narrowness
eccentricity. and contempt for the
church. In America alone do yot
find free church. supported only ny
the voluntary contributions of people
who like that sort OF thing. II
fact, il is a most significant tribute
to the vitality and power of Chris
tianity that there have been started
and are now being maintained in the
United States more than $4,000
churches. not one OF which receive:
any subsidy from the state. The re
Iigious leadership of the world a
the present moment rests unQuestion
ably with the United States.
"In smaller but in somewhat
moro concrete fashion, specific home
missionary activity has information
al implications. Money spent OF
italian work in the United States
bears a very intimate relationship tC
that spent by the foreign board il
ltaiv. Money spent for the benefit
OF Mexican refugees makes more val
uahle every dollar sent TO Mexico ~
tho foreign hoard. The thousand:
OF dollars used for oriental work OF
the Pacific coast and Hawaii are
profoundly helpful to the work IL
China. Japan. Korea, and the Phil
ippines. II is a mistake to tall
about America for Christ II is al
so q mistake to talk about the world
when in the thought that word does
not include America. So far as We
can see the world cannot be saved
apart from America"
DR.. Taylor's survey takes into &C
count too the industrial problem anc
its relation TO the church:
"Even before the war IL was he
coming apparent that industrial un'
rest in this country was increasing al
an alarming rate. The American
Federation OF Labor has over two
million members. chiefly skilled me
chanics. and men allied to definite
trades. OF the unorganized thirty
odd million workers majority are
not eligible to the American Fedora
ton OF Labor because they are un-
skilled or migratory workers. SDo-
radio attemnts OF the I. w. w. sug-
gest that the tendency Of these un.
skilled workers is toward radical
methods o. foreign syndicalism
rather than toward the more conserv.
alive methods worked out by trade.
unionists.
''The war has considerably intensi-
fed industrial unrest. Government
control of the big industries In the
emergency Of war has raised. among
many working groups. the question
OF making government and munich
pal ownership permanent.
Transcription of mems lives for
the service OF the state OF necessity
suggests that the conscriDtion OF
wealth might Re O close parallel The
adequate food. clothing, medical
care, education. ana training which
the state provided its armies OF
young men in preparation for send
ing them to the battlefelds OF Eu-
rope suggest to the radical-minded
an ideal for similarly adequate
preparation OF each succeeding gen.
Grafton for the demands OF ordinary
Hfa The nritiqh labor Marty Ia