The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-12-07
CHURCHES MUST
FACE new NEEDS
Present National Situation
Demands Change
MEET THE CHALLENGE
Address BY Secretary Presbyterian
Board National Missions In
Cleveland Today
[AssocIated press Dispatch

ASS0claLeQ Press DiSpdtCnJ
Cleveland, December 4..--Callins
upon all the churches of America to
answer the present national chal-
Ilenge, DIR. John Mcdowell, of New
Board of National Missions, outlined
York. secretary Of the Presbyterian
a program OF five essential duties, IN
addressing the National Presbyter-
ian Conference here this afternoon.
He said that the churches must
enlarge their conception of the
task, and must enlarge their pro-
gram, their organization, their re-
sources and their spirit. He gave
three successful baseball rules as
adaptable for the church: play to-
gether, play to win, make sacrifice
hits whenever necessary.
1.-The present national situation,
said DR.. Mcdowell, sis direct, de-
finite and unacceptable challenge to
every institution in our land to en-
large and adjust itself to the new
needs and new opportunities Of
these after-war days. Business, in
dustry, education and government
are all earnestly endeavoring to
meet this challenge by deepening
their purpose, adjusting their pro-
gram and enlarging their resources.
1L6llklOu IAuoL IoJ 10 OLA OASSP-
lion. Il must not evade or ignore
this imperative challenge. To do so
would not only be the loss OF great
opportunity, but the loss Of its soul.
II religion is to answer this chal-
lenge the Christian churches OF AM
erica must take the direct and prt-
mary responsibility for the answer
No other organization Will do so; The
school will not; the public press
will not; the state will not. The
church is the body of Christ, and if
his body fails him in this hour OF
unparall sled opportunity. an ade-
Quate answer will not be given"
Task Of Missionaries
\ The American frontiers are not
alone the shifting frontiers OF the
sections of the great American cit
les, according to Rev. Fred East.
man of New York. director of edu-
cation for the Presbyterian Board
of National Missions, in an address
here today
at has been less than one hum
bred years." said Mr. Eastman,
since a school board in Ohio passed
this resolution addressed to some
young men: you are welcome to use
the school house 10 debate al, proper
questions in. But such things as
railroads and telegraphs are impos-
sible and rank infidelity There is
nothing in the word OF Cod ABOUT
them II Gcd had designed that mis-
intelligent creatures should travel
at the frightful speed OF fifteen
miles 2H hour By steam He Would
have foretold it by the mouth OF HIS
Holy prophets II is a device OF Sat-
an to casey the souls Of the iaitasi;l
down TO hell
"The railroads and telegraphs
came in spite CT the fears Of the
trembling saints of those days. And
largely because the railroads and
teIegraphs have come America or
today is altogether different coun-
try.
more than 100000 of immi-
grants have pounred into this coun-
try during the last century. The ma
jCrity of them have coloniZed around
great manufacturing centers of the
east and middle west and are today
moulding for better or worse he
social and spiritual life of this part
of America.
''The task of Presbyterian nation
al missionaries today is to go out up
on the social and spiritual frontiers
Of this nation the frontiers in the
west and the frontiers in the city,
immigrant, and Industrial sections
of the east, and to draw these mil
lions of new Americans together in
Christian fellowship"