The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-30
Ministerial Alliance, Reuie,U.
Finds Youth Past Jazz Stage;
Adds to Christianity Progress

this group OF churches and the
other largely sponsored by all the
churches, namely, the Rock Island
Rescue Mission, which has fed
hundreds of transients within the
year and given beds to thousands,
and the Rock Island Community
Fund, which centralizes our local
giving to welfare work, the mission
and other worthy organizations.
Then inside each of the churches
there are funds to take care of
needy members or any meeting
with misfortune, for assistance in.
bereavement, and care OF the sick.
+ The group of churches affiliated
through its ministry with the
Ministerial Alliance of Rock Island
serve the sick in st. Anthony's and
the other hospitals of the territory.
Harmonious cooperation is at work
in the care of the sick in St. An
thongs hospital. Through the al
lance one minister visits the in
stitution each week, calling on all
requiring his service and reporting
cases to the various clergy as there
is need, also keeping in touch with
the unrelated Protestant constitu-
ency in the hospital. The writer
would like to here express the ap-
probation of tie churches of the
agreeable and willing cooperation
| in this matter of the hospital au-
thorities.
Another mark of the generosity
for Christian causes is noted in the
fact that on Aug. Is the Centenary
Methodist church, situated at
TAirty-eighth street and Fourteenth
avenue, was dedicated. Other alter
atoms and repairs in the extension
fof buildings are reported.
The third common denomination
comes under the heading OF teach
ing function of the church" Chris
tian Endeavor, Westminster guild,
and Epworth league work has gone
on regularly. There is new move
ment noted in week day religious
instruction, in Bible classes taught
by the pastors composed of young
men and women in one group and
high school students and those Of
that age in another. Last summer
at least two churehes ran efficient
daily vacation Bible schools, which
carried in their programs musical
instruction, worship, memory work,
Bible teaching and stories, habit
talks, patriotism and service COM
bined with manual arts, teaching
making hammocks, baskets, aero
planes and many ether articles. =
Classes have been prepared for
communion wherein instruction
was given to young people in the
meaning, value and place of the
| sacraments of the church with the
duties of church membership. I'm
der this heading instruction has
been given in stewardship, by lee
lures and classes. missions have
been taught through the missionary
societies, and various other depart
ments of teaching have been given
in church polity, etc.
Teaching the Young.
| A community kindergarten has
] been maintained. giving the little
I children sense training and afford
ing them at least two years educa-
ton earlier than the public schools
receive them. thus adding better
opportunity for such children as
may be required to leave school at
an early period. While this work is
not religious it 10 part of the teach
ing function. The same>shing. is be-
ing done in q religious way in all
the Sunday schools in their kinder
garten4 It may be well to mention
here efficient service rendered By
agencies for and in the name OF
the church. such a. Sunday school
teachern' associations and the like.
This record Of activity. however.
does not carry with 1t in the judg-
ments Of the casual readers the
relative values OF these services. 1t
Is oaly recently that the business
world has discovered were It net
for the things the church stands
for In the community, progress
would be imp1osible. The church
stands for God and ali His at
tributes Of justice, mercy, and
There would b no sentiment to
there wefe no churches. Il Is the
source and standard e moral judy