Deming graphic., 1920-04-06
THE INTERCHURcH
WORLD MOVEMENT


Much Is being said and written abOu
this movement at the present time ant
we desire TO make statement con
cerning its plan and purpose 10 thai
the people as whole may have M
adequate idea of its meaning. Tho
definition of the movement may best
he given In the words of the founders
Purpose: First, to undertake sci
entific survey OF the worlds needs
from the standpoint Of the response.
Ibility OF evangelical Christianity.
Second, TO project a cooperative
community and world program to meet
the needs shown by the survey.
Third, to discover and develop the
resources Of life. money and prayer re.
quired by the program fixed.
The above definition concisely sets
forth everything embraced In the pro-
gram OF this great movement which is
destined, il successfully carried out, to
levoluti0nlze the work OF the Protest
ant denominations i'm America. The
war has created condition Of affairs
that challenge the church as never be-
fore In It's history, perhaps, and since
II was n unity Of purpose and effort
that made successful the forces Of wer,
thoughtful men everywhere are asking
why the forces OF Christianity cannot
he so co-Ordinated that they may be
able TO work as irresistably and ef-
fectively as the wartime organiza-
tions. The movement alphabetically
Il la.tat. s.E( l..
union nor do they propose 10 destroy
the autonomy OF any existing denomi-
nation. but the purpose Is 10 prevent
overlapping and the useless expendi-
ture of men and money when the work
can he done more effectively by using
all the best plans of all the churches
who are cooperating and leaving off
those plans that were only successfully
operated under conditions altogether |
unlike those that confront the world |
today. The movement does not stab |
lish any nav doctrines or ideas. II
does seek 10 reach the places that have |
bec, largely left without church influ-
ences and so far as possible TO elimi-
nate the overcrowded church condi-
tions that exist in some communities.
The sane business man has often had
,ause to wonder why the churches were
50 blindly and stupidity endeavoring TO
AIRY on their work without adequate
provision OF buildings and men who are
equipped for the work so much needed,
md since all were striving to the same
nd why some plan OF effective union
md harmony OF purpose could not be
Effected that would in no wise inter-
ere with the personal or private be-
iefs of the individual and at the same
ime give conference and strength to
he work Of the community. II there
hould be any man so unwise as TO be-
ieve that the time will ever come
When the world will come to accept his
wn peculiar ideas and tenets, he had
IS well disabuse his mind of that at
nee. for that can never be. No think
ng church man but deplores the con-
uslon arising at this point and has
oped that the time would come when
ONE solution Of this problem could be
made without interfering with any Of
he vital things that the individual has
eld In high esteem. If the interchurch
GOrld movement can solve this one
uestion. then its work will have been
ighly successful even though it should
all in all other plans that II may have
to promulgate At the