Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
GAIN IN CHURCH
AFF|L|AT|ON CITED
Increase of 1000, 900 Since
1926 Reported at Re-
Iigious Conference.

Catholics, ProteStants and Jews,
uniting at conference session of the
National Committee for Religion and
Welfare Recovery, today heard reports
that church membership in this coun-
try. May l, showed total of 81. 400, 900.
q gain of more than 100000 since
1925.
DR.. George L. Kieffer of New York,
president of the American Association
of Church Statisticians, presented a
hopeful picture of church growth
which showed membership in religious
bodies is growing faster than the pop
ulation of the country.
In 1926, he said. 46,6 per cent of
the United States population was
found in the total membership of all
religious bodies. but this had increased
by 1885 to 1925 per cent.
Head Opens Conference.
In his keynote address opening the
conference. Walter w. Head. chair
man of the national committee, called
upon the chruchmen of America TO
return to confidence in spiritual and
moral values.
Financial and social recovery is of
prime importance" he said. The re-
turn of millions of unemployed to the
fields of industry. agriculture and COM
n1erce is essential to social stability.
But We believe that there is something
more fundamental than the mere re-
turn to material prosperity. There
are moral and spiritual values that
far transcend silver and gold. Char
acter is more important than wealth"
Leading churchmen participated in
the conference sessions. The morn
ing was given over to reports from
committees, while special problems
were under consideration by speakers
during the afternoon session.
The outstanding work done already
here to bring Catholics. ProteStants
and Jews together was to be outlined
at the luncheon session by three
speakers. Dr. Arson Phelps Stokes.
canon of Washington Cathedral: Rev
John Cartwright. pastor of the Church
of the Immaculate Conception. and
DR.. Abram Simon, rabbi of Washing
ton Hebrew Congregation.
Secretary of Commerce Roper will
be the principal speaker tonight. his
topic being Americas Real Recov-
cry" Others on the program include
Bishop James E. Freeman and Father
Cartwright.
Afternoon Speakers.
Speakers this afternoon included
Dr. Ralph w. Sockman. pastor of
Christ Church. New York City: DR..
William E. Lampe. secretary of the
Joint Boards of the Reformed and
Evangelical Churches: Mrs Jesse
Bader, chairman of the Women's Ad-
visory Committee, Religion and We'll
fare Recovery. and Bishop Edwin
H. Hughes. bishop of the Methodist
Episcopal Church here.
A preliminary conference at the
Cosmos Club yesterday was addressed
by Charles v. Vickrey of New York.
executive secretary of the National
Committee for Religion and Welfare
Recovery: DR.. Charles S. Macfar-
land of New York. general secretary
emeritus of the Federal Council Of
Churches of Christ in America DR..
Christian F. Reisner. pastor of Broad
way Temple. New York; while other
religious leaders at this preliminary
function included DR.. D. L. Darby,
secretary of the Washington Fedora
ton of Churches: Bishop Edwin H.
Hughes of the Methodist Church; DR..
Harry E. Woolever, editor of the
Methodist Press; DR.. Boyd Carpenter
of Georgetown University and others.