El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-06-26
"The Pagan Land
A Word for the Religious Life Of
Texns.

! Reprinted from the Philadelphia Bulletin
/ CIR-Speaking with authority, viz
- knowledge Of the religious con-
/ ditions existing over the $4,000
] square miles OF Texas, impeach the
l testimony OF Dr. William c. .Sturgis
! educational secretary OF the P Z
I church, in a meeting OF the Church
] Service league in Philadelphia
| Wednesday. referring to the south
Z west states as pagan land"
Texas IS the mighty empire OF land
| in the southwest. For Il years / have
I Travelled continuously over its 245
counties, and there is one town Of
Z 500 or over where in delivering adj
Z dresses I did not find assembled ev-
fore, when I say I know Texas,
mean that I know its people end they
also know me. The southwest pagan
land"2 forsooth; a pagan is one minus
conception OF Jehovah's law as a civ
liking influence Texas has a pop
person, who knows that state. TO pro-
duce 1000 people within its borders
who do not believe in this existence Of
the God whom cody Americans hon
or as Jehovah.
II church attendance Is a criterion
Of goodness. I know OF no community
" here the people have no public place
populated sections, public worship is
not practiced at least once a month.
Pagans. hey2 by their fruits you
viii know the brand of religion. You
can ride from Texarkana 10 FL Paso,
500 miles across the state, leaving
your valuables in one car while you
visit In another, and find them intact
on reaching your destination You can
leave your home unlocked and your
IN
town without fear OF a house thief.
In Its pioneer days Texas received
as residents a large congregation
from without, whose names changed
en- route because they were fugitives
from justice Pagan" Texas convert
ed these folks TO paths OF honesty.
and their descendants ara glad their
fathers acted wisely.
In Texas every mals pagan" no
matter how rich or poor. exhibits his
religion OF courtesy. BY giving Up his
seat in crowded public conveyance
TO any lady who otherwise would
have 10 stand.
You can always spot a Texas pa
gan on northern electric OF steam
car BY this religious attribute
In pagan" Texas It Is common
practice for banks TO advance money
and extend credit merely on face.
Texas pagans' must have heard
something about the brotherhood OF
man for well neighbor visits sick
neighbor and the Texas woman who
has not the reputation OF a Dorcas, is
a rarity. In Texas one Of the first
questions asked after heartily vel
coming a stranger is. What church
do you belong to-
The Episcopal church. with four d.
oceses. IS making greater communi-
cant gains in Texas in proportion to
population than New York and Penn
sylvania combined There Is more
diversified community social service
work carried on by religious and well
fare organizations, chambers OF COM
merce. rotary and kiwanis clubs in
Texas than in the New England states
combined Look up your statistics on
In pagan" Texas during the late
war its people never lowered the flag
Tor traitor to kiss. He was hauled
Up to It. That's why the word PRO
German" became obsolete. and the
pagan Texas youths clad In khaki
sang Onward, Christian Soldiers" as
they VIGOROUSLY routed the Huns on
French battlefields.
The pagan" daughters OF Texas
are beautiful in old age because they
begin thinking sweet kind thoughts
In early childhood.
Thank you" please" 7 beg your
pardon" and all gentle expressions
are not considered profane or OBJ
scene language in Texas.
Come down TO the pagan" south
west, brother Sturgis. we viii in
prayer forgive you for violating the
ninth commandment: rest awhile
amongst US. and when you 90 back
10 New York your friends will saw
surely he has tarried in Jerusalem and |
enjoyed the environment Of that up
per chamber" and this pentecostaI
viii enable you TO get great
or spiritual results outside OF the
pagan" southwest. R. 3. Elmore.
Division Campaign Director Inter |
church World Movement, Norristown. |
Pa