Religion: Riotous Living

“The great losses and ‘hard times’ which have come upon the Southern Baptists by reason of the present prolonged depression have not stopped them from wasting their substance in riotous living. The Southern Baptists waste sufficient money, along five or six lines of extravagant living every year, to finance the whole program of Southern Baptist work.”

So reports the Southern Baptist Handbook for 1932, published last week. Listed as money misspent: $46,200,000 a year on tobacco; $26,000,000 on cinema; $21,580,000 on automobile outings; $35,000,000 on soft drinks and chewing gum; more than $43,000,000 on cosmetics. The Southern Baptist Church needs $40,000,000. “Look about you. . . . quitYOUR WHINING!” cries the Handbook.