Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1921-05-21
CHURCH TAKES
INVENTORY OF
MORAL NEEDS
Presbyterians Hear Reports
On Religious Outlook
OF Land

NiNONA l-AhF. lnd. MAY III or
ruptfng movies. easy divorce helpful
prohibition. moral gaines through we
mans suffrage and detrimental results
to christianity rs an outgrowth of the
world war. are features of the report ~
the special committee on christian life
and work. submitted today 10 the Presby
terian General Assembly here. The re-
port is signed by Rev. Hugh II. McCauley
u. D.. of Paterson. y. j.
IF the nation should fail" saws the
committee. "a faithful church would sur
we but If the church failed the nation
would fail also"
Summarizing the results of n ques
tionaire addressed Ia stated clerks thru
out the country. the committee finds:
''Alany home ties were broken by ths
war. Many drifted away from church
New standards uf behavior are set mp
Temptations swarm around the young
The crowds thrang the corrupting NOV
les. Foreign propaganda is strong max
I'm us suspicious nf our allies Divorce
II easy and increasing. Crimes of vio
ience are multiplied The church has her
troubles. Even the lords Supper reaches
only 20 percent IF church members IN
MANY quarters the prayer nset.ng Is
neglected the Sunday service is failing
Hni family Worship and even religion
fading from TIE home
''But on the other tand tho tide seems
70 be rising. Converts are heing added
In large numbers. Our net decrease ~
2STl5 in 1919 was changed into net
Increase Of 34.OT2 in 1920
The committee urges the church r.
try 20 save the unity If the home. aud
holds thar family Worship alone viii save
the homes in Amerira. IL pleads for the
pTomoften of the unity of the churches
and says: let all the churches Of Jesus.
Prince Of Peace work aud pray that
Gods blessing may be on every man.
Christian Mohanmesian or Jew. who
will do ANYTHING " heal fhis onen sore or
fhe world and prevent war
SDerial emDhaSis ~ expressed on atIn
movie situation" The committed finds,
While recognizing the value 81 many
or the better films. vet these in n great
degree make for evil. and our young Deo
pc are being seriously harmed by them
Our communities are going amusement
mad over movie scenes that derr the
Decalogue.
TIE committee laments the poor church
attendance and urges special efforts to
rrach the masses and bring them into
ehurrh. The committee comments that
two out Of every three members received
fhr"ueh the front door on confession are
thrown out of the hack door by snspen-
SION. III urges better conservation ~
church members.
The relation of the church to ex ser
vsra men Is stuffed. The committee saws.
"1he hearts of these men were exalted
10 high level ~ service and spiritnaI
spnrecfati"n during their military ac
tivities. We should not regard II a. re-
markable or disheartening II there shouId
appear 70 he something If recession
from those heights of unselfish zeal and
racrificiai service or from the unusually
clear appreciation of religions valnes. Il
some ~ the regional results of the
committees survey arc EXPRESSED IN
brief thnS:
'a"ama Few narents faithful - IN
fanf baptism. Little community work.
baltimore Prayer meetings a shame
fni failure family Worship n thing If the
pasf.
Illinois Steady decline IN Sunday
school membership.
Kansas Church membership NJ stand
sf'h. One-third "f churches varant If
fecf of the war on churches unfavor,i,Ic
kentuckv Retier family worship apd
horne training.
Nirhi"an Record gains in member.
shin and contributions.
AHssissippi - Little community worl,
Offerings increase
Missouri Few family altars. Good
yorng peoples work.
Montana PRAYER nnefinss diS,nna,r
fns Sunday schools flourish.
New I"rsey- Congregations much dis.
f"-hed hv strain ~ war conditions IN,
W 'espread Indications Of Improvement
ard upward trend.
Ohio SUNDAY school decline arrested
pflahoma - Wa results detrimen.o
c-"rr increase IN giving.
r~"gon War Influences drnrassin,
a"s deadenfng
'ennsvivania - War influences detrI-
r-""fai Mon returning from service have
fe"srted fhe ~hnr,h that toiled ~ lope
a. bad for their every comfort in cnmn
s-d field
Tenne~s~- - loss in SUNDAY school
ne~-herShnn.
West Ni-@inia - Substantial ea.n !,
membership AMI gifts.
"'s""ns' 20 rnmn'"n'tv service ca
pher. I.arPenaiPnevolences.