The Washington times., 1920-06-12
LAUDS WORLD
CHURCH MOVE
Rev. John r. Edwards Do.
nounces False Reports and
Announces Huge Success.

Declaring that false reports Of
sardins the Intsrchurch World Move
ment. Rev. DR.. John n. Edwards, dis
triet superintendent Of the Washing
ton district Methodist Episcopal
churches. and chairman OF the sxe-
cutiye committee OF the Interchurch
World Movement. today launched .
vigorous defense OF the whole work.
THE movement as a whole" said
Dr. Edwards. "is q tremendous sue
cess, and IL has done more to further
the cause OF the Master than men can
estlmAte. Its one failure was that IL
neglected to provide q method TO re-
pay the cost OF the survey. the educa-
tional work. the Advertising. and the
financial csmpaign-all Of which were
done for the denominations. Alva w.
Taylor says: 1t succeeded except at q
single point 1t has helped everyone
but Itself"
Indorsed ~ Highest.
DIR. Edwards states that the move
ment Is going on with renewed vigor.
and that the representatives. OF the
eighty-three cooperating boards met
Immediately at the close OF the cam
psign and agreed unanimously that 1t
must be continued. The highest ec-
clesisstical bodies Of all the de-
nominations which have convened
since the campaign, he declares, have
indorsed the movement and voted to
continue their cooperation In II.
Declaring that the movement was
conceived in prayer and that it's
leaders have carried II on in that
spirit" DR.. Edwards points out that
the interchurch movement is a method
of cooperation, and II is not an over
body, administers no funds. sends no
missionaries to the held, involves no
change OF policy or creed on the part
OF any individual or religious group
cooperating.
1.-The movement as q whole" he
says. 10 a treme ndous success. 1t has
done more to further the cause OF
the Master than men can estimate.
"The interchurch has developed .
con SC iousness of statesmanship aad .
new missionary strategy. II has
abolished the old plan OF approprH
ating for Christ's work each year the
amount received during the preceding
year. 1t has led the boards to sur
vey the needs OF the world and TO
seek men ana ih0hty " "NNh s"O
needs.
Has Aroused Interest.
Interest has been aroused among
unchurciied people. among young men
and women OF the highest type. to
consider giving themselves to Chris
tian service. and among Christians in
Asia to undertake a challenging pro-
gram of advance.
"The sum Of $3.50 100000 was
pledged in the financial campaign to
the cooperating denominations. II
was a tremendous victory. multiply
ing former receipts from two to fivs
fold
"AN working budgets have been
carefully determined by the financial.
executive and general committees.
They have been tested and approved
by an outside Board OF Review and
all expenditures have been kept with
in the budget items. Salaries paid
were generally the same as the indi-
viduals received before entering in
terchurch work. The lease OF the
Greenhut building saved high ofhcs
rents and II is being sublet with
proft. The cost Of the financial CAM
paign was only per cent OF the re-
turns. Most big campaigns cost
Der cent The whole cost In all de-
partments for the past seventeen
months was only per cent OF the
returns. All interchurch expense has
been q careful investment.
"A method of financing the move
ment has been devised with a view
to protecting the local church from
any additional appeal. Friends OF
Christian cooperation. who under
stand the value OF the work done
and appreciate the need for its con-
tinuation, men and women who can
give without diminishing their regu-
lar contributions through the usual
channels. such friends, II is expected.
will see that the obligations are met
and the work carried on. This will be
done without a general canvass and
without publicity.