ANNUAL CRUDE DEATH RATES PER 1,000 PERSONS LIVING, WORLD'S (Annual Summary, Registrar-General of England and Wales, 1912) XXXI. RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS H. K. CARROLL CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS BAPTIST sion, the two Baptist women's foreign The Northern Baptist Convention. center in Boston, the other with its missionary societies, one having its The annual meeting of this body, headquarters in Chicago, were united representing the Baptists in the north- and became the Woman's American ern states, convened on May 19 in De- Baptist Foreign Mission Society. The troit, and remained in session seven reported apportionment committee days. Over 1,600 delegates, besides that the campaign of the previous many visitors, were in attendance. The convention, which is incorporated, tional benevolences had resulted in year for $3,000,000 for all denominahas been in operation five years. It an increase of $250,000 in the income was projected for the purpose of uni- and recommended that the objective fying denominational forces and in- to be sought the present year be terests, and it is said to have ap- $5.20 per member. The convention proved itself as "a medium through reelected Henry Bond, Brattleboro, which the denomination can speak as Vt., as president and F. Wayland a unit and express its sentiment and desire." It has no legislative authority and may not in any way interfere in the control of the individual churches, which have complete autonomy and manage their own affairs in accordance with the spirit and plan of Baptist fraternity, coöperating freely with one another in all matters of denominational concern. The purpose of the convention is to secure coöperation and efficiency in the work of the missionary and benevolent societies. The convention and the societies have practically the same membership, and the societies have a set of by-laws in common. A finance committee appointed by the convention passes upon the estimates of the several societies and coördinates these into a unified budget, which represents the askings of the societies for the ensuing year. The convention at Detroit considered proposed amendments in its by-laws and adopted a plan for voting by states when desired. Measures to increase the influence of the state conventions were also recommended. During the ses Ayer, Camden, N. J., as corresponding secretary. A committee of seven was provided for, to serve two years, whose duty it shall be to consider the desirability and possibility of societies in one place and advise the centralizing all the denominational denomination what is the best course to pursue. The convention represents the Baptists in 34 states, with more than 12,000 churches. Resolutions form, temperance, child labor, and recwere adopted concerning prison re ommending that a day be observed as annual denominational day in the month of March, to acquaint Baptists and others with Baptist history, principles, and achievements. The Southern Baptist Convention.The Baptists in the South have held an annual convention, with representatives from the various states in that section, for nearly 60 years. The convention of May, 1913, in St. Louis, Mo., was the fifty-eighth. Rev. E. C Dargan was reëlected president and Drs. Burrows and Gregory, secretaries. The reports of the various denominational boards showed an advance, ex cept that of foreign missions, in the land, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, income of which a decrease of $40,000 Rumania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and had occurred, increasing the debt to Switzerland. Russia reported 43,955 $76,000. A warm discussion arose Baptists. In August it was anover a petition from the General As-nounced that the Government of Russociation of Kentucky, asking the con- sia might, through the Holy Synod vention to consider the matter of of the Russian Church, proclaim the withdrawing from the International Baptists "as a sect especially harmful Committee's Sunday School lessons, to the state." This would carry with and providing denominational lessons. it deprivation of the right of public This was strongly opposed and it was worship and of the privilege of regisurged that Baptists are under every tration. The threatened action was obligation to coöperate with other supposed to be due to the refusal of Christian denominations. It was Baptist citizens to take the military pointed out that the International oath. It will be remembered that the Lesson Committee simply selects the Baptist World Alliance in Philadeltexts and each denomination prepares phia in 1911 raised $70,000 for a its own lessons. Baptist educational institution in St. Petersburg, and much was said concerning persecution of Baptists in previous years (A. Y. B., 1911, p. 741; 1912, p. 728). The Free Baptists.-The thirty-fifth triennial session of the General Conference of this body was held in Ocean Park, Me., in July. The Conference approved the steps thus far taken for union with the Northern Baptist Convention; but the conference will continue its legal existence and meet every fourth year hereafter. Of denominational funds $147,587 has been transferred from the treasury of the Conference to the treasuries of the Home and Foreign Mission Societies of the Northern Baptist Convention. Dr. Joseph Mauck was reëlected president. Statistics of the Denomination.Statistics covering both the Northern and Southern Baptist Conventions, the National Baptist (Colored), and, in part, the Free Baptists, the union of many congregations having been effected, show that at the end of 1912 there were 5,529,573 members, indicating an increase of 75,375 during the year. There were 50,188 churches, an increase of 408, and 36,027 ordained ministers, an increase of 852. The contributions for church expenses were $20,561,041, an increase of $508,578. Including benevolences and all purposes the income of the year reached an aggregate of $27,078.231. Second European Baptist Congress. This body, representing more than six hundred thousand Baptists in the various countries of Europe, held its second session in Stockholm, Sweden, July 19-24. Nearly 1,100 delegates were present from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hol CONGREGATIONALIST The National Congregational Council.-This body has been meeting triennialy since it was organized a generation ago. It has had, however, no administrative or executive functions of importance until the present time. Convinced that the Council as representative of all the churches of the denomination should have a vote in directing denominational work, the Council of 1910 appointed a committee to prepare a constitution for consideration and adoption. This report, presented unanimously, first to the denomination at large and then to the National Council at its regular triennial meeting in October, 1913, in Kansas City, Mo., is commonly spok en of as the "new polity," although it makes no change in the system as applied to local churches, which it confirms in their autonomy and "freedom from all ecclesiastical control." Under the moderatorship of Dr. Charles R. Brown, of Yale University, the Council took up the report and after a discussion of three hours, in which a few amendments were pro. posed and rejected, adopted it with only one dissenting vote. The new constitution affirms the allegiance of the churches to the faith of the fathers as expressed in the historic creeds of the communion and their loyalty to the basic principles Statistics of the Denomination.— The number of delegates attending, including those of societies and educational institutions, was 543, the largest in the history of the Council. Of these 217 were from west of the Mississippi and 326 from the east. The statistical report showed 743,026 members at the close of 1912, an increase of 4,285; 6,064 churches, a gain of 16; 717,230 Sunday school members; and 124,654 in young people's societies. The total amount contributed to benevolences was $2.363,584 and to home expenditures, $9,307,618. of our polity. It sets forth a suc- of the Brotherhood, was authorized cinct statement of belief in non-theo- with an executive secretary and a logical terms, recognizing the Father- budget. The Council also passed resohood of God, the Sonship and Lord- lutions protesting against negro segship of Christ the Saviour, and the regation and discrimination in the revealing, renewing, and comforting Government service. power of the Holy Spirit. It holds to the Gospel for all mankind and promises to work and pray for "the transformation of the world into the kingdom of God." The constitution provides for one society, the American Board, to conduct the foreign mission work of the denomination; and for the continuance of the existing home organizations, the Congregational Home Missionary and American Missionary, the Church Building, Education, Sunday School, Publishing, and Ministerial Relief societies. The members of the Council are constituted members of these societies, each of which chooses a certain number in addition as corporate members. Commission on Missions, to consist of 14 members elected by the Council and one each by the several societies, is provided for, its office being to "prevent duplication of missionary activities, to effect all possible economies in administration. and to seek to correlate the work of the several societies so as to secure the maximum of efficiency and the minimum of expense." The Council is to meet every two, instead of every three, years, and a provisional committee is to represent it ad interim. The moderator is to have representative, but not authoritative functions, and the secretary is to have certain prescribed duties and is to be available for advice and help in matters of polity and constructive organization. A DISCIPLES OF CHRIST The New Constitution.-This denomination has been discussing with sharp division of sentiment the new constitution, adopted in 1912 by the Louisville convention for the "unifica tion of their various missionary, educational, and benevolent organizations and a more general fellowship of the churches" (A. Y. B., 1912, p. 729). This constitution provided for a representative convention in place of the annual gathering in which all ministers and members of the denomination who wished to attend had place. This departure from what was regarded as a precedent hallowed by long usage was deprecated, and opposition to it did not subside after its adoption. The General Convention.-The secThe Council commended the efforts ond convention under the new constiof the Protestant Episcopal Church tution was held in Toronto, Canada, to secure a World Conference of Faith in October. The instrument was and Order, and adopted resolutions again approved; but the presiding offiapproving a campaign for national cer ruled that, though delegates duly prohibition, appointing a committee appointed had come, all present might for observance of the centenary of the vote on all questions. A committee American Bible Society in 1916, con- reported a resolution stating that the stituting committees on the moral new constitution does not contemand religious welfare of enlisted men plate a "species of ecclesiasticism conand on moral and religious education, trary to the history, spirit, and aims" commending the cause of international of the churches, disclaiming any depeace, and creating committees on sire or intention that the convention temperance, evangelism, and public should exercise any control over the worship. A Commission on Social local churches or mandatory authority Service, to take over the present work over congregations or denominational The General Conference.-The fourteenth biennial General Conference of Lutherans of Europe and America was held in Nurnberg, Germany, in September. Its purpose is to perpetuate a positive and constructive confessional theology and to maintain a bond of union between Lutherans of different nationalities. Prof. Ludwig Ihmeis of Leipzig was reëlected presi societies, and defining its powers as "purely advisory." This was adopted and gave satisfaction to the opposition. The convention, which was attended by some 3,000 persons, gave attention to missionary, educational, and other denominational interests, one session being devoted to Christian unity, for which the denomination has always stood. Statistics of the Denomination.— | dent, and Bishop Von Scheele of SweAccording to the statistics announced for 1912, the Disciples of Christ number 5,954 ministers, 9,818 churches, and 1,340,887 communicants. There is another body, known as the Churches of Christ, the result of a division some years ago, reporting about 156,000 in 1906. LUTHERAN den, vice-president. The Conference, consisting of more than 1,200 delegates, discussed confessional Lutheranism, the special problems confronting the Church, and methods and results. The sentiment expressed was that the Church must not be blamed for not holding intellectual eclectics, because she would have to sacrifice essentials in order to do so. Some of the religious movements outside the Church were held to be not genuine in religious character. Emphasis was general feeling that separation would be of benefit to the church, but no action in favor of disestablishment was suggested. The General Synod and the General Council. The General Synod and the General Council, representing the oldest and second oldest placed on the preaching of doctrine Lutheran general bodies in this without making dogmatics prominent, country, held their biennial sessions and the careful training of the young. in 1913, the former at Atchison, Kan., Foreign and home missions were fully the latter in Toledo, O. The General considered. It was agreed that Islam Synod decided as a part of the cele is not gaining, but rather losing wherbration for the four-hundredth anni- ever it has to face Christianity and versary of the Reformation in 1917 to western ideas. The question of raise a fund of $1,000,000 for educa- Church and State in Germany retional work. The General Council em-ceived some attention, and it was the phasized the importance of maintaining true confessional Lutheranism and adopted resolutions favoring arbitration between all Lutheran bodies on interferences or differences in practices between Lutheran synods. The purpose is to bring about a meeting of the chief officers of various Lutheran bodies in conference to inquire whether there is not some way to a better understanding and a closer approach. The General Council believes that it would be a worthy achievement "if the heads of all Lutheran bodies and independent synods could confer once a year to ascertain what coöperation or even fellowship, if any, might be possible between all without violation of doctrine. The Lutheran, an organ of the General Council, declares that body "will hail with satisfaction any movement which will tend to bring together all Lutherans in this country in a closer bond of true unity in the faith and in the sacraments." Statistics of Lutheran Bodies.-The General Synod reports nearly 317,000 communicants, with 1,367 ministers and 1,796 churches; the General Council 473,295 communicants, with 1,550 ministers and 2,347 churches; and the Synodical Conference 807,693 communicants, with 2,885 ministers and 3,569 churches. In the aggregate there are 9,038 ministers, 14,566 churches, and 2,353,702 communicants. In Canada immigration is adding large numbers to the Lutheran communion. increase since 1901 has been from 92,524 to 229,864. METHODIST The Proposed Union of the Methodist Protestant and United Brethren Churches.-In 1912 the General Conference of the former body authorized |