Evening star., 1925-05-31
RADIO GOSSIP AND NEWS

Out of the more than 80 religious
denominations represented in this
country, churches of 30 faiths own
and operate broadcasting stations,
through which the gospel is dissent
mated to their members and the pub
lie. Thus radio is making for greater
perspective of those who profess d
belief in God, and enlightening those
who fall to do SO. Practically every
other broadcaster in the country
transmits regularly or occasionally
from one or more churches.
All told, there are 62 churches
licensed to broadcast, as well as sew
eral stations operated privately by
ministers and divines, and some or
ganizations like the Y. M. &. A. This
is a very small percentage out of more
than 236, 900 churches located in the
United States, but is representative.
The broadcasting of religious talks
and doctrines takes place in 20 States,
benefiting church members who can
not attend, and also unattached indi.
viduals.
Numerically, the Baptists lead. oper-
ating II broadcasting stations. while
the Presbyterians follow with 8: the
Episcopalians and Methodists have 5
each, and the CongregationalistS
Christian and Methodist Episcopalians
each. The 13 other denominations
are represented on the air by ! or >
stations.
In some communities broadcasting
stations are operated for all or sew
eral churches, in rotation. The Chris
tian churches of Little Rock, Ark,
own stations KFMB. and the United
churches of Olympia, Wash, operate
KFRW. In St Louis many churches
broadcast through the Truth Center,
station KFWF. In Washington WCAP
transmits services for 13 churches,
including a Catholic and a Christian
Science Church, the sequence being
arranged by the Federation of
Churches.
Besides the churches proper, the
Bible Institute of Los Angeles broad
casts from KJS, and the Peoples Pull.
pit Association operates stations In
Brooklyn, n. Y, and Batavia. Ill. \.
NJ. C. A. stations are located in Vir-
ginia, Minnesota, and in Pawtucket'
r. /.
AS far as is recorded in the De-
partment of Commerce files, there ap-
pear to be no stations owned or op-
Grated by either the Catholics or the
Christian Scientists, although local
churches are known to have broad
cast their services through privately
owned stations In New York the
Paulist Fathers have applied for a
broadcasting license and await a
wave length.
For the first time in history mi
crophone was recently installed in st
Peters, at Rome, and the ceremonies
including a speech by the Pope, were
broadcast. Incidentally, by means OF
loud.speakers all the people in the
great edifice heard the ceremonies
distinctly probably for the first time
Almost all religious faiths are going
on the air. somewhere in the country
and if they continue to preach theii
doctrines fearlessly and in an un
biased manner, many listeners fee
that religion will come to have an I'm
portant part in every fans life. Ger
tainly sufficient creeds are offering
ceremonies so that every non-church
man can select one, If he desires.
This multiplicity of creeds available
to the fans makes 1t possible for
every one to secure at least a fair
idea of the elements of each religion
and should tend toward giving listen
ers a better understanding of religion
in general and eventually humanity
Thousands more attend services via
the air than go to church in person