King's Business - 1923-09

981

HE KING'S BUSINESS

on the same basis exactly. But the most creditable record does not lie even with the Methodists; it belongs to the Disciples, among whom one in every nine members pays money for a church paper, and (best of all) to the Evan– gelical people, where the total church membership is less than six times the combined subscription lists of church journals. The worst off are the papers representing Episcopalianism, which command the patronage of only one In forty-four among the members of their churches.-Sel. The Red Crusade The activities of Bolshevism will be centered in the campaign for what is called scientific materialism as against the Christian church. The Communists figure that they can preach atheism where they will not be permitted to urge the downfall of governments. When the moment comes they can: line the atheists up for the Commune and kill two birds with one stone. They hope to rid the world of God and gov– ernment at one fell swoop. -L. A. Times. ii A Millionaire Church There are several churches in the country that are not worrying about paying the preacher. The richest one in the world is the Trinity organization in New York, which has a billion-dollar graveyard. The annual statement of the church, which has just been given out, shows that the income for 1923 was a trifiing matter of $1,250,000. Of this $230 was pew rent, so it· may be seen that the church does not rely upon its seats for its revenue. In fact Trinity took in over $1,100,000 fro~ the rental of buildings and lands own– ed by the body. The church gave $80,000 to the pastor and his assist– ants. Religious property is exempt from taxation, but Trinity pays nearly $300,000 a year in taxes on its business holdings. The assests of the church are nearly $15,00 0,000 and there are up– wards of 10,000 communicants in the parish. There are five services a day and the mother church is open all the time. Trinity is not merely a wealthy church, but is one of many everyday activities of human interest. -L. A. Times.

n Fosdick has been ministering there. he people know what the message of at puplpit is, and they know it is not hat the Philadelphia overture repre– nted it to be. They may not be able pass judgment on its conformity to e Westminster theological standards, ut whoever reads his Bible knows, he has listened to Dr. Fosdick's voice r followed his pen without prejudice, at this man preaches the Bible. To iscuss the status of Dr. Fosdick on he ministerial staff of First church is easonable; even Dr. Alexander admit– ed on the floor of Assembly that his elation there is, ecclesiastically speak– g, anomalous. But repudiating his reaching in that place is a quite dif– erent matter; it is banning by church at what the Spirit of God has openly cknowledged and blessed. And that s a shame from which the Presbyterian hurch must be effectually delivered efore those can rest to whom biblical and Presbyterian) liberty of prophe– ying is precious. Moreover, it is necessary to attend o that other serious matter of distorted terpretation of "the word of God and ur standards." The formula of "five oints" reiterated by the Indianapolis ssembly must be put in true balance. doctrinal statement which lays a ore st1·enuous emphasis on the virgin irth than on the incarnation certainly oes not represent Presbyterian think– ng. The Westminster Confession is ntirely sensible on this point, and any eaffirmation should be conformed to ts language and tone.-The Continent Here the Continent is right. It will ot rest here. The Presbyterians are ometimes a little sleepy, but when ey wake up-look out! ow Many Take Church Papers? Editor Wareing of the Western hristian Advocate, has delved deep in– o church newspaper statistics. He nds that in his own church-the Meth– odist Episcopal-one member in every ourteen subscribes to a denomina– ional weekly paper. In the Southern ethodist fellowship the ratio is one oint better-one in thirteen. But esbyterians are eith er poorer readers else they don't like r eligious week– es, for the proportion among them (taking north and south together) is e in seventeen. The Lutherans are

Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker