Evening star., 1923-04-20
EDITORIAL DIGEST

enormous church constituencies that
the forces which put the amendment
through were found"
The complete statistics give the
lie" to beliefs that the people Of this
more irreligious and that the churches
were losing their hold on the popula-
tlon." says the New London Day, and
they indicate that the people OF the
United States are by no means SO
generally opposed to religion as some
people think. OF course. many of
those who are counted in the poll are
not particularly active in the denom-
nations to which they are credited
which may cause those who are in
terested in religious matters to spec
ulate on what would happen in the
United States II every person who is
counted is religious should live up TO
the best teaching OF the church with
which he is affiliated" There Is alb
solutely no question that I'VE are
making progress along religious
''the religious hunger which has
gripped the masses of mankind all
through the ages of human expert
ence is as far from being appeased as
ever" To which the New York Times
adds that "the people seek religion.
not as narcotic. but as nourishing
food. Science. with all it's ministries.
can itself give no advice as to the
eternal purpose Of existence. except
to assure us that II has been an in
creasing purpose as traced by micro
scope and telescope through the ages.
and. moreover. that 1t has not walked
with aimless feet" Which leads the
Columbus Dispatch to point out
whatever may he the shortcomings
of the religion of any and all of us.
it certainly cannot be said that we
are Enthusiastically an anti-reli-
gious. or even non-religious people"
There is a distinct possibility that
"a great religious revival is dawn
ing in America the Jersey City Jour
nal suggests. and this renewed in
terest Is coming steadily-not in the
sudden fash that might quickly die
out. If it develops. and there Ia no
reason to believe that it will not, it
may assume proportions that will be
ican Christianity" There should also
be in this exhibit "a great deal that
makes for the peace Of mind of those
who have been harboring a fear that
the country is fast heading toward
moral. spiritual and religious bank
world war" says the Minneapolis
Tribune. in recalling the so-called
waves Of crime. disrespect for the
laws and the like. "A notable aspect
tinues. "is the fact that so many
grown men. hitherto without church
affiliation. have gone into the churches
as members. Business men Of large
affairs all over the country have been
seriously impressed that an urgent
need Of the day is a renaissance Of
the religious spirit. They have acted
on their convictions Of becoming
church members. thus setting exam
pies for others still outside the fold
of the religious organization. Never
theless the figures are a surprise. the
Muncie Star feels. because 1.-The rural
churches. especially, were believed to
have suffered from lack of interest
and inability to get regular pastors
willing to minister to the flock at
such a small remuneration and under
conditions which often prove discour-
aging. But some rural churches are
served by laymen. The growing ac-
tivity on the part of lay members is
one of the significant developments of
the year. Many denominations have
recognized the need of paying their
ministers a living wage, and also of
providing for them after their years
Of usefulness in the pulpit have ex-
pired, and that is largely responsible
for the increase in the number Of
those making the ministry their life