Religion: Spiritual Recovery

Every March the Presbyterian Church conducts its money-raising Every Member Canvass. Last March was an unfortunate one for the Presbyterians; the week they campaigned was the Week the Banks Closed. The Canvass undershot its mark, $50,000,000 for missions and home expenses, by $8,000,000. Last week the Presbyterians launched a supplementary canvass. They called it a “Spiritual Recovery Crusade.” They began organizing the nation’s 10,000 Presbyterian ministers to “Do Our Part” in a great drive which will culminate with special church services everywhere Oct. 29. Said Dr. Herman Carl Weber, statistician and Every Member executive of his church: “A supplementary canvass for your church is your expected contribution to National Recovery.”

Dr. Weber reported that receipts for Presbyterian benevolences have dropped to $5,768,304 (43.9% below 1929); congregational expenses to $26,750,132 (25.5%); special receipts such as for church building to $3,809,586 (73.7%). Dr. Weber also told Presbyterians last week what some other Protestants are doing:

Northern Baptists, 20% to 25% poorer than last year, are launching a “Live It Through” program, also to culminate Oct. 29.

United Presbyterians, 10% behind, are hoping for increased giving through a “Christmas White Gift Offering” and a special Easter offering. Southern Baptists are $5,500,000 in debt. They are organizing a “Baptists Hundred Thousand Club”—100,000 members who will give $1 extra a month to liquidate the debt in five years. Congregational & Christian Churches, about 33% behind, will specialize in parochial visiting, coin banks and a church Guest Book. Lutherans, receiving “slightly” less than last year, will canvass in November when will come the 450th anniversary of Martin Luther’s birth.