The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-02-05
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
THE INTERCHURCH MOVEMENT.


the Interchurch Movement. From the
town and county there were less than
a dozen present.
But what is this Interchurch Move
ment plan that is being doomed over
the country now? 1t is an after-the-
war product. A few men organized
themselves into this so-ealled move
ment, ostensibly to convert the world
or teach the churches how to do their
work 1t really assumes to direct the
churches, at least pretends to do what
the churches are not doing. The fact
is, this movement is not reaching out
for the evangelization of the world
one whit more than the churches. 1t
is only multiplying machinery and
spending money on its own expert
ments that might and should go for
the worlds evangelization.
/ know this will rouse the righte-
Gus Indignation of some enthusiastic
Inter-churchers, still the fact remains
that it is not needed. 1t is easy for
enthusiasts or disgruntled churchmen
to organize and foist some new move
ment with catchy name upon the
world, and it will find plenty of fol-
lowers among tender consciences who
fear to speak their mind lest they
hinder the work of Christ, so they
throw out their money literally. We
hear a good deal about the big con-
vention at Atlantic City and emphasis
is laid upon the great representation
from the different churches, and then
the word goes out that these denom-
nations are behind the movement For
instance, it was claimed that there
were two hundred representatives of
the Presbyterian church present. Who
selected these two hundred? Did the
Presbyterian church? 1t did not. They
were selected by the movement itself.
Some of these were in the employ of
the Interchurch Movement. Many of
them were representatives of the
boards who were there to get infor-
nation. Not over a dozen of the two
hundred spoke, and the majority did
not demand an unqualified endorse
ment of the movement. Not one of
them was appointed by church court.
The only responsibility the Presbyte-
rian church has for it, is the action of
the executive committee appropriating
100000 for expenses of survey. The
movement is an expensive luxury,
ephemeral at best, and with no real
need for its existence. Up to January
it had borrowed over $2,000,000 for
expenses. How does it expect to pay
this money back? Was this survey
worth 100000 to the Presbyterian
church? Was it worth $750,000 to the
Methodist Episcopal church, which
was generously handed over as the
first installment of the 100000 and
more loaned them?
The NJ. f. church raised its great
sum of money without the aid of the
Interchurch Movement. So did the
Christian church its six millions and
more; so did the Presbyterian church;
the Episcopalians without their help.
All our denominations have been car
rying on their missionary and evan
gelistic work for years without its
aid, and should they now work under
the direction of this new organization
that has sprung up like Jonah's gourd
and will probably disappear the same
way, though it assumes authority over
the churches. What right has the ex-
ecutive committee or authorities of
any church to take the money given
for missions and divert it to this new
move to meet its self-imposed liabili-
ties. 1t is exertavagant in its expen-
ses. 1t is ready to drain men of large
means, yet has its bucket hung on
the spigot of the denominations to
catch all they can. As an illustration
of what | mean.
They have effected an organization
in our county-in fact in every county
in this and every other state is to be
organized. Among other things this
machine must have five different COM
mittees. The chairman of each of
them is to have 800 year for expen-
ses, that is for writing, etc. Then,
too, conventions must be held and
travelling expenses of delegates must
be paid out of the fund. Big dinners
must be provided for delegates and
that is paid by the Movement.
Who paid for the dinner given the
delegates at Oakland? The Inter-
church Movement. Where do they get
their money? They have borrowed
over two millions already. They get
it from church and individuals to pay
big salaries for its employees and to
boost the organization. 1t will not
take many years for the bubble to
burst.
/ know the leaders claim the move
ment was born of the Holy Spirit and
their persistence and solemnity silence
many tender consciences. But there
are some who recognize their right
and duty according to the authority
of John: "Do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits to see if they come
from God; for many false prophets
have emerged in the world, and these
connot resist the idea that this great