The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-01
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

The campaign for the greatest public asking in the history of the world Is TOW in full swing and marching on to victory.
 Thirty denominations are cooperating in the Interchurch World Movement, seeking a budget of $336, ,77,572 for a program of world evangelism. The can vass was set in motion last Sunday and will end next Sunday.
 Not since war days have enthusiasm and support been given In such full meas now being given to the united financial campaign, for wherever the programme and appeal are presented they win unani- nous approval
 There is no such words as fail for the Irterchurch World Movement" said John D. Rockefeller. basing his belief on the following five major points:
 Its value in teaching the benefit of CO., operation and exchanging of views; it's principle of modern day efficiency; it's teaching Of real economy and elimina- tioa of wasteful methods; it's securing of the interest of unattached churchmen, and, fifth, it's tremendous power through the united sympathy and interest of 15,- 0J00O0 American men and women dedi- cated to it's high purpose.
 And so determined is he that the ef- fort to raise the millions needed shall not fail, he is leaving nothing undone, and is on the stump hurrying from city to city with a team of nationally prominent men, speaking in behalf of the simulta- neous financial campaign in which the Interchurch Movement hopes to do it's work in the rehabilitation and redemp- ton of mankind as measured by the vision of united Professionalism. The movement was born out of a de- sire for service to create a sentiment in favor of greater cooperative efforts for the extension of Christianity and earnest aCvocacy of more effective measures of Christian education so as to assure re- ligious training to children everywhere, for in spite of the fact that the evan- gelical denominations of the United States never in their history had so much vital ity and never were working so zealously for the purification and elevation of pub lie opinion as now, still there was the silent conviction that the divided churches were not measuring up to the needs.
 The> World Survey Conference was therefore called to face the facts of the world situation revealed by the inter- church surveys, and after a full and free discussion of the data furnished. it was the unanimous opinion of the delegates that back of all the present unrest of the nations was a consuming need for an eyangel!stic and educational campaign in which Christian faith and practice should have the right of way in harmonizing racial antagonisms by showing the teach ings of the Master.
 Everything which prayer and ceaseless labor could do went into the preparation for the gigantic task which is now re- ceiving it's acid test at the hands Of the numerous denominations. This week of
 intense campaigning is the chureh's op- portunity to show forth unmistakably that the exaltation of Jesus Christ is the supreme need immeasurably more urgent than any political or industrial question, for unless His Spirit gets hold of men to be translated into Twentieth Century living there is little hope for a better day.
 We are always talking about ''big busi- ness," but after all the Fathers business is the biggest of all, and I believe that the nation is more in mood now than ever before in it's history to recognize that, after an the church Is engaged in big business. Now, in spite of the short comings and the many criticisms show cred upon it, we must all recognize that the church is a going concern of tremen- dous proportions when we take into &C., count the amount of money invested in 1t and the number of men, women and chil- dren enrolled as members.
 do not believe that the Interchurch Move vement is blow at denocninational integrity but that it is an effort Tor the evangelical churches among the Protest ants to pool their information, their ex- perience. their needs, their hopes. their leadership, and to make available for all whatever each has learned and tested. It's to be religious clearing house ,n which the various churches can bank their spiritual assets and distribute them without waste in time, effort and money. The rightful freedom of each denomina- ton to determine the measure of it's participation in the financial drive is fully recognized.
 The Interchurch World Movement is a group, representing some thirty denom- nations, and a large number Of denom- irrational organizations, home and foreign mission publications. education and the like which have been brought together voluntarily in this movement for the pur- pose of cooperating in the >performance Of the task of the church.
 There has been fear expressed in some quarters that the Interchurch Movement was something above and beyond the churches. Get that thought out of your minds men. for the Interchurch Move ment is the creature and the servant of to