INTERCHURCH WORLD MOVEMENT OF NORTH AMERICA * : ; ur;r?a\ §j WORLD SURVEY CONFERENCE ATLANTIC CITY JANUARY 7 to 10, 1920 PRELIMINARY Statement and Budget for Europe PREPARED BY SURVEY DEPARTMENT-FOREIGN DIVISION T HIS Survey statement should be read in the light of the fact that it is preliminary only, and will be revised and enlarged as a result of the dis¬ cussions and recommendations of the World Survey Conference. The entire Survey as revised will early be brought together in two volumes, American and Foreign, to form the basis of the financial campaign to follow. The “Statistical Mirror” will make a third volume dealing with general church, missionary and stewardship data. INTERCHURCH WORLD MOVEMENT OF NORTH AMERICA WORLD SURVEY CONFERENCE ATLANTIC CITY JANUARY 7 to 10, 1920 PRELIMINARY Statement and Budget for Europe PREPARED BY SURVEY DEPARTMENT-FOREIGN DIVISION EUROPE The Flaming Crucible of Civilization E UROPE today lies in the chaos and aftermath of war. Both victors and vanquished are miserably impoverished; the flower of manhood lies buried; millions are facing starvation. The whole continent is in a state of seething social unrest brought about chiefly by the overthrow of long established governments, and the uncertainties attendant on the operation of a new regime, increased by the pressure of unprecedented taxation levied to meet the huge expense of war. The problem of reconciliation, not only between nations but also between classes whose struggles have left behind them such a wake of bitterness and misunderstanding, lies at the door of the church of God. The present hour offers an unprecedented opportunity to render a most unselfish and sacrificial service. The hope of the new Europe, spiritual as well as temporal, lies in America. It is, however, a paramount question what policy and program will be most acceptable to our brethren over there and what policy and program would best assist them in solving the tremendous problems facing them on every hand. While it has not been possible to furnish an entirely satisfactory answer to this question, it is believed that there is a very real and definite contribution which American religious forces can make to the development of evangelical religion in those countries where the liberties and institutions of America are unknown. But any policy or program of religious endeavor in Europe on the part of American Protestantism should receive very careful consideration. All plans should be based upon a recognition of the fact that Europe has been under direct Christian influence since the beginning of the present era, and that evangelical associations already exist in those lands whence many of us have come. In several countries there are a number of very strong national religious agencies working in a real evangelistic spirit; reaching all the different classes of their respective nations and conducting an excellent missionary work at home and abroad. An approach, therefore, of a kind properly employed in mission fields of the Far East might justly be resented. There is much missionizing to be done in Europe 4 The Flaming Crucible : EUROPE as there is in America, but the first obligation of American Christians is to help their brethren who have been tried as by fire. The whole attitude should be one of helpfulness, an attitude in which established institutions shall be respected and every effort made to strengthen indigenous work of an evangelical type. Cooperation with and vitalization of forces already existing, not propaganda, should be the watchword. In the non-Protestant countries there is observable a cordial attitude toward the fundamentals of the Christian faith, but at the same time a spirit of antipathy for denominationalism as such. A united Protestantism can win the day for Christ. It is not necessary that any denomination should submerge its individuality in the work undertaken, but it is clear that strong cooperative efforts are certain to bring the most satisfactory results. If the question be asked, why Europe is included in the foreign division of the survey there is only one answer: because Europe is geographically foreign to the United States. This section of the world has been studied in the same manner and is here presented for the same reasons that the United States and Africa appear. On account of the war it has been more difficult to secure satisfactory returns from Europe than from China or other distant sections. The following statement is as complete as present available data makes possible and is necessarily tentative. The total area of the twenty-two countries included in this statement (which excludes Great Britain and Ireland, but includes Siberia) is 10,342,290 square miles; three and one-half times the area of the United States; with a population of 473,000,000, four and three-tenths times that of the United States. Considered religiously, the populations of Europe are distributed among the Roman Catholic Church; Greek Orthodox and other Eastern churches; Protestant state churches (now in process of disestablishment in central and eastern Europe); Protestant free churches; American and other foreign denominations, and free- thinking masses. An excellent work is also being carried on in many of the European countries by such undenominational religious forces as the Young Men’s Christian Association, the Young Women’s Christian Association, Bible and tract societies, the World Sunday School Association, and similar bodies. It should be borne in mind that the missionary data of Europe cannot be read and interpreted in the same manner as other foreign statistics. In Europe so much of the work is self-supporting, or nearly so, that the participation of American bodies frequently is little more than fraternal counsel and encouragement with limited financial cooperation. EUROPE: The Northern Countries 5 I. NORTHERN COUNTRIES HE northern countries of Norway and Sweden, Denmark and Finland constitute a group of European peoples quite distinct from any other of the groups we will consider. Their areas and populations are as follows: Area in Northern Countries Square Miles Population Norway.124,642 2,632,010 Sweden.173,035 5,800,847 Denmark.. 15,582 2,940,979 Finland.125,689 3,300,650 NORWAY, SWEDEN AND DENMARK T HESE countries are socially and econom¬ ically intact, virile and energetic; offering religious freedom to all. Contiguous to a dis¬ traught Russia and a Germany seeking new ideals, they offer a splendid base for helpful approach to these countries. Archbishop Soderblom has said: “In Sweden we have the church; in Norway, Christians; in Denmark, the community.” As in the case of Finland, the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church carries on, and the American Baptist Foreign Missions Society financially sustains, evangelical work in these three countries. The figures for the respective kingdoms are as follows: Norway: Ninety-eight churches; 155 preachers; 39 Sunday schools; 13,593 scholars. Sweden: Eight hundred nineteen churches; 1,268 preach¬ ers; 72,873 members; 1,501 Sunday schools; 87,697 scholars. Denmark: One hundred and seventy-five churches and meeting places; 8,347 members; 148 preachers; 150 Sunday schools; 10,528 scholars. FINLAND INLAND is the only country in the north¬ ern group suffering through the World War. In fear of another bloody struggle she needs strong moral support. All citizens enjoy full freedom of religious belief. No legal restrictions in respect to free evangelistic work, Bible dis¬ tribution and other activities of evangelical, Lutheran or any other churches evincing a missionary spirit, are imposed. The Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church conducts, and the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society supports, work in the country. There are 126 churches and meeting places; 120 preachers; 4,765 members; 139 Sunday schools, and 6,548 scholars. II. WESTERN AND SOUTHERN COUNTRIES T HIS group comprises the Latin-speaking peoples of Europe, except Switzerland, and includes also Holland. Of these countries, Holland in the north, and Spain in the south, alone escaped the calamities and devastation of war. France, Belgium and Italy constituted the battle-grounds in western Europe during the World War, and challenge America’s ministry of sacrificial love in the great work of restoration and rehabilitation. These countries, their areas and populations, are as follows: Western and Area in Southern Countries Square Miles Population Holland. . 12,582 6,724,663 Belgium. . 11,375 7,571,387 France. .207,054 39,602,258 Alsace-Lorraine. . 5,605 1,874,014 Spain. .194,763 19,950,817 Portugal. . 35,490 5,957,985 Italy. .110,632 36,120,118 HOLLAND T HIS ancient asylum for the world’s op¬ pressed still maintains her tradition as “the cradle of liberty.” The home of free speech and free press, the Dutch insist on having any and all subjects equally and freely discussed. As an impartial refuge, Holland has, in turn, af¬ forded shelter to the Pilgrim Fathers, Jews, Huguenots, Socialists, Bolshevists and — the Kaiser. During the period of the war she fed more than 1,500,000 Belgian refugees. BELGIUM I ED by her democratic king,* Belgium is ris- j ing heroically out of the ashes of her ruin, and proving herself as great in economic re¬ organization as in war. 6 The Western Countries : EUROPE FRANCE A S IN no other country of Europe there is „ the great opportunity of helpful coopera¬ tion offered to the Protestant forces of America. French Protestantism, small but strong, senses its new opportunity in national evangelism and stands before newly opened doors in colonial missions. Realizing that evangelical France has enormous vitality, American Protestant workers should cooperate in entire harmony with her program; establish headquarters for all Protestant agen¬ cies; and preferably use the channel of approach already made by the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America with the French Protestant Federation. The American Baptist Foreign Mission Society and the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church prosecute work in France through the agency of 71 churches and meeting places; 104 preachers; 2,659 members; 70 Sunday schools; 1,852 scholars; and 3 mis¬ sionaries. SPAIN O N PAPER, Spain is the present-day stronghold of Roman Catholicism; yet in reality, the great majority of the people are frankly indifferent to all religion. Except for ministrations at infant-baptism, marriage and death, 75 per cent, of the Spanish nation are out of touch with the Roman Catholic Church. Children attending Catholic schools learn scarcely anything beyond a few prayers. Inner religious life is entirely lacking. Protestant secondary schools are sorely needed, and there is presented here an open door for aggressive evangelism. The American Board and the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society are maintaining work in Spain through 17 churches and meeting places; 337 members; 13 Sunday schools; 800 scholars; 5 missionaries, and 17 preachers. The American Board conducts educational work with 5 teachers. The Board of Foreign Missions of the Meth¬ odist Episcopal Church is about to enter this needful and promising field. PORTUGAL N PORTUGAL where the predominant faith is Roman Catholic, there is a Protestant community of about five thousand, in a popula¬ tion of nearly six million. The republican government has separated the Church from the State and all forms of wor¬ ship are tolerated. All Protestant work in Portugal is assisted, either from England or Brazil. There is a great lack of material resources and Protestant sec¬ ondary schools are sorely in need of help. ITALY F THE evangelicals in Italy, about 22,500 belong to the Waldensian Church; 10,000 to other evangelical Italian churches; and 30,000 to foreign Protestant bodies. While the nominal state religion is Roman Catholic, freedom of worship is granted to all recognized religions. The Pope has permitted the gospels and epistles to be read at mass in the vernacular instead of in Latin. During the war Protestant agencies distributed the New Testament in large numbers, thereby creating a great demand for more. About one and one-half millions of people in Italy are non-professing or religiously unclassi¬ fied, furnishing opportunities for extended evangelism. There is also both need and place here for Protestant secondary schools. The Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church conducts work in Italy through 21 churches; 78 preachers; 4,132 mem¬ bers; 51 Sunday schools; 2,811 scholars; and 9 missionaries. Educational work is also carried on by 35 teachers. III. CENTRAL COUNTRIES HREE countries constitute the central European group. With their areas and populations, they are as follows: Area in Central Countries Square Miles Population Germany.203,176 63,051,979 Austria. 40,127 9,320,546 Switzerland. 15,976 3,937,000 VITALITY OF THE PROTESTANT CHURCH IN FRANCE MINISTERS, EVANGELISTS AND FOREIGN MISSIONARIES FRANCE Ministers and Evangelists in France (1918) 883 Foreign Missionaries (1918) 185 MINISTERS AND EVANGELISTS IN PRANCE 82.5% FOREIGN MISSIONARIES 175% UNITED STATES Ministers and Evangelists in United States (1916 167,500 Foreign Missionaries (1916) 9.645 CHURCH INCOME FRANCE Foreign Missions (1914) • $192,180 Home Missions (1914) $111,300 Other Receipts (1914) $866.500 $1,169,980 HOME MISSIONS 9 5% FOREIGN MISSIONS 16 5% OTHER RECEIPTS 74% UNITED STATES Foreign Missions (1918) • $ 20.775.321 Home Missions (1918) $ 13,181.397 Other Receipts (1918) • $215.875,000 Inter church hbr/cf Movement of North America $249,831,718 G D 260 broken lines represent old boundaries Bed lines represent Aw boundaries, some * of which are ayVet undetermined/ r ^leptiblic of Esthooia, / jMyonia/and Courland / 2 Republic of Lithuania / . 3 League-Pf, Nations / (Memel District) / 4 East Prussia ' v \_ / 5 LeagueofNations(©anzig) 6 Poland 7 \ 7 For Plebiscite / 8/ “ / “ / ' \ 9 Csecho-Slovakijl j 10 Republic of Austria /C. 11 Hungary / A 12 Roumania jCO 43 Republic of Ukraine 14Rep ublicof White Russia7^7y 15 TaurideJcepublic 16 Kubahd/epublic 17 League/bPN^tions — 18 To Greece 7 19 Italian Mandate 20 Jugoslavia 21 League of Nations 1 '''\ 22 Trentino (to Italy) / 23 Alsace-Lorraine (toEhmce) 24 League of Nations/(Sarre / ' ■ Basin i / 23 Occupied by Arniy S M a '” e * r - i District ceded |JSS„S S »/Belgiu m 29 For Plebiscite / / 30 Finland '7 7 31 Armenia / '\^ / 32 French Mandate / 33 Palestine / (British '^'--7 34 Mesopotamia f Mandates / \\N D ROU U M A N T C A B UL Greenwich 3| 10 The Central Countries : EUROPE SWITZERLAND URING the days of theWorldWarSwitzer- land became the clearing-house of Eu¬ rope, a center for the exchange of prisoners and communications, and an asylum for refugees and war-broken women and children. For her nation-wide unselfishness, she deserves the highest admiration and praise. Orphanages and rest-homes are constantly increasing in the picturesque Swiss valleys, for the use and relief of war-stricken people. It should be specially noted, too, that in addition, the municipal governments of Switzerland are compelled to grant aid to one-third of their own people. The population is nearly four million, about one-third of whom are Roman Catholic and two-thirds are Protestant. Of the total, 2,500,000 speak German, 800,000 French, 300,000 Italian. The work of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church and that of the Missionary Society of the Evangelical Associa¬ tion of North America in Switzerland are repre¬ sented by 135 churches; 116 preachers; 18,125 members; 265 Sunday schools; and 23,272 scholars. Through the International Com¬ mittee, the Student Department of the Young Men’s Christian Association is conducting work among foreign students in Switzerland. The Swiss missionary societies are much in need of help, due to great losses sustained during the war. AUSTRIA N ALL national characteristics Austria is a close parallel to Germany. Vienna, its beautiful and populous capital, should become the center of evangelical and evangelistic ac¬ tivity. Before the break-up of the Austrian Empire, the work of the Board of Foreign Mis¬ sions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and that of the American Board in Austria-Hungary, stood as follows: 90 churches; 36 preachers; 3,063 members; 78 schools; 1,379 scholars. A promising Christian movement among stu¬ dents called the Christocratic Student Move¬ ment is operating in several centers in Austria, Czecho-Slovakia, Croatia, and Poland. GERMANY T HE great need in Germany is the stabiliza¬ tion of government and industry. Fallen from the pinnacle of power, which she attained by her amazing military autocracy, Germany is today trying to find her place again in the family of nations. The present government is democratically constituted, and is, apparently, making a vigorous effort to vindicate and main¬ tain itself, through these days of trial. Germany’s isolation in war-days, induced ter¬ rible crises in food, clothing and hospital sup¬ plies. The effect of this shortage was felt chiefly among the women and children of industrial centers, cities, and in some instances, of whole provinces. The American Relief Administration is now helping the children. Social and philanthropic agencies of several other countries are joining in this work of relief. Under the new regime, the state church is being disestablished. This separation leaves religious education in the hands of the church, and gives the Sunday school a greatly enlarged field. In addition to the former state church, several evangelical and evangelistic movements are working in Germany, as are the Roman Catholics and Jews. The Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, and the Missionary Society of the Evangelical Association of North America, maintain activi¬ ties in Germany, through 1,211 churches and meeting places; 1,324 preachers; 91,190 mem¬ bers; 1,104 Sunday schools; 66,262 scholars. IV. EASTERN COUNTRIES N THIS group, we are met, on the one hand, by the stirring spectacle of a people attaining a national resurrection, as in the instance of Czecho-Slovakia, of Poland, of Hungary. On the other hand, we are confronted by the World War’s direst and most appalling after- math, as exhibited in the sufferings of Poland and Hungary, and the colossal chaos in Russia. Here, as in the central countries of Europe, the loss of life on account of lack of food, clothing and fuel, during the current winter, will run EUROPE : The Eastern Countries 11 into many hundreds of thousands, unless sub¬ stantial relief be granted by America. Area in Eastern Countries Square Miles Population Czecho-Slovakia. .. .. 60,000 13,000,000 Russia. . .1,500,000 125,000,000 Poland. . . . . 120,000 36,234,727 Hungary. Siberia and Baltic Provinces: . . . .109,188 18,264,533 Esthonia, Lithuania, Latvia (Livonia Courland).... ..5,000,000 166,658,000 CZECHOSLOVAKIA F IFTY years before the days of Martin Luther, the ancestors of the people forming this pioneer of the new European republics, enjoyed religious liberty, and were 90 per cent. Protestant. Then came the Thirty Years War and, with it, three hundred years of oppression, now happily at an end. Here is a great field for Bible distribution. The Young Men’s Christian Association is asking for 200,000 New Testaments for 1920. Here is need of a Christian publishing house, and a training school for Bible men, preachers and Young Men’s Christian Association secretaries. Through the minister of national defense, the latter organization has applied to put in opera¬ tion a full Army program of spiritual, mental and physical work. It has also established itself in four civilian centers. A union movement between Protestant bodies is now under way. Some of the great needs of Czecho-Slovakia are: Christian leaders; a training faculty in connection with Prague University; establish¬ ment of a Christian literature publishing house; the possible expansion of the present plant of the American Board at Prague. This board has a work in Czecho-Slovakia, but the statistics are still included in those of Austria-Hungary. RUSSIA ODAY the former empire of the Czars is in a state of chaos. The soviet govern¬ ment has separated the Church from the State and the school from the Church. The former state church is decentralized and democratized. All church properties, together with those of all religious societies, are nationalized, while anti¬ religious propagandists have full freedom of utterance. Operations of the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches are unfet¬ tered in so far as the same “do not disturb the public order and are not accompanied by at¬ tempts upon the rights of the citizens of the Soviet Republic.” Here are great problems and outstanding oppor¬ tunities : The inauguration of immediate efficient relief is indicated in those parts of Russia where the population is starving, and epidemics are daily carrying off thousands of men, women and particularly children. The establishment of helpful contact between Western and Russian-Eastern Christianity is suggested. Appeals have been made by the Patriarch of the Russian Church for united prayer and assistance for Russia. Inquiries as to methods of work, have come from Russia to the World Sunday School Association and other agencies. Russia presents a. great field for community service, including industrial operations. The founding of a strong Christian university devoid of any denominational or sectarian color is a real need. The great lack of Christian literature should be met. One of the few blessings of the war was the way in which the printed page found its way among the illiterate soldiers. A tremend¬ ous desire for Christian literature was thus awakened. Russia offers a vast field for undenominational evangelism and this opportunity for a united Christianity must not be lost. The American Baptists and Methodists maintain work in Russia through 658 churches; 29,525 members; 371 Sunday schools; 17,009 scholars; one missionary and 164 preachers. All the figures relating to Russia were compiled before the World War, and no later data is yet available. Even the statistics as to area and population will undoubtedly be radically changed in the final European settlement. 12 The Balkans : EUROPE POLAND HE shuttleboard of the Old World is Poland. More than 2,100,000 diseased, emaciated, and crippled victims of the world war have passed and repassed into their own countries through her territories. This weary pilgrimage is still in progress, and the need of emergency relief in food, fuel, clothing and hospital supplies, is no where so pressing as in Poland. The country is predominantly Roman Catholic, but there are about two million Evangelical Lutherans and ten thousand Calvinists in New Poland. Lay and clerical leaders of Protestant Poland speak openly of a union of the Lutheran and Calvinistic bodies in order to create a national, evangelical church. Illiteracy (62 per cent, in Russian Poland), de¬ fective education, bad roads and the scarcity of railroads, are all serious obstacles to Poland’s progress. In cities like Lodz, where low wages, terribly long hours and child labor generally obtain, there is imperative necessity for the creation and operation of drastic measures of uplift and reform. The International Committee of the Young Men’s Christian Association is at work in twenty centers, and is invited to open nine more. The establishment of an adequately equipped publishing house, to meet the need for Bibles, tracts and other Christian literature, is also very necessary. HUNGARY ERE as in Poland an emergency relief is an unequivocal necessity. The Hungar¬ ian Reformed Church, with its 2,500,000 mem¬ bers, is threatened with the break-up of its territorial unity by the Czecho and Serbian invasion. Other Protestant churches in Tran¬ sylvania (East Hungary), 1,500,000 strong, are similarly threatened. It should be strongly urged that these churches be preserved in their spiritual and intellectual life and, regardless of any territorial changes, safeguarded in the full exercise of their religious liberty. A great opportunity for helpful cooperation in Protestant programs of work is plainly indi¬ cated. Under the Bolshevist rule most con¬ gregations kept their churches but lost all their property, such as manses, schools, and other properties devoted to charitable purposes. Funds and endowments were confiscated. Ministers were forced to join soviets and trade- unions and take up secular labor in order to earn a living for themselves and their families. All income for church purposes is now on a basis of voluntary contribution. Even in normal times, so swift and radical a change would have demanded great forethought and organization to bring matters to a successful issue. But as things are today, the task is one of almost insuperable difficulty. V. THE BALKAN GROUP ERE will be found one of the most in¬ teresting sections of all Europe. The land and people compel attention. The wounds of the Balkan peoples can only be healed by the Great Physician. Area in The Balkan Group Square Miles Bulgaria. 37,000 Greece. 42,000* Albania. . . . (boundaries not yet defined) Jugo-Slavia.100,000* Rumania. 53,489 f *Estimated. fPre-war figures. THE BALKAN PEOPLES ALKAN peace means European peace; Balkan war means world war! Nature has rarely created a more fortunate region than the southeastern corner of Europe, known as the Balkan Peninsula. But man has converted this spot into the valley of the shadow of death. For twenty-five centuries it has been a battle¬ field, ravaged and plundered by most of the great nations and Turkey. Generations have suffered oppression, watched others enjoy the fruits of their labors, and engaged in bitter fratricidal combat. The twentieth century did not alleviate con¬ ditions. Great powers still covet the Balkan Peninsula and the local races still fight for por- Population 4,500,000 5,000,000* 1,500,000* 12,000,000* 7,508,000f EUROPE: The Balkans 13 tions of it. But the situation is not hopeless. The peoples of the Balkans can and must become brothers. Over 80 per cent, of the people own and till their own fields, and are frugal, industrious, sober, hardy and virile. Each race consists of a homogeneous social group without radical class distinctions. The Balkan governments are modern, democratic, and based on universal male suffrage. No 'flagrant economic abuses exist. Land, the principal source of wealth, is equitably divided. Poverty of an extreme kind is unknown. The proletariat is very small. There are no slums. Most of the people belong to the Eastern Catholic Church, and many to the Roman Catholic. More than a million are Moslems. A very few are Protestants. The educated classes are atheistic. The laborers are hostile to religion. The Balkan peoples can only be united in one great federation, if it is based on Christian brotherhood. The problem is one of helpful fellowship, and the challenge is not to diplomacy or force, but to Christ’s church. BULGARIA ULGARIA is the heart of the Balkans. This heart must be won for Christianity. For more than sixty years the Congregational and Methodist boards have fought a good fight in Bulgaria. They have achieved meagre statistical results, but have exercised an enor¬ mous influence. In Bulgaria there are usually about 20 missionaries; 90 native preachers and teachers, 77 places for regular worship, 36 churches, over 2,000 church members, three high schools, not much inferior to American institutions, with 350 students, and a printing establishment. The American Bible Society and the British and Foreign Bible Society have been working for many years in Bulgaria and have succeeded in giving a very wide circulation to a modern translation of the Bible. The Bulgarian Government is democratic, Of the total population of Bulgaria, 11 per cent, consists of Turks, and 9 per cent, of Gipsies. Jews, Armenians, Greeks, Rumanians and others. All these races are treated with ex¬ emplary fairness. Jews are as much at home as in New York. Turks sit in parliament. Foreign races have their own schools, and teach their own languages. COMPLETE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY O F ALL the Balkan states, Bulgaria has been the only one to grant full religious liberty. The national religion, more political than spiritual, is an independent form of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It cannot be replaced, but it must be galvanized by a virile Christian spirit. Streams of this invigorating, life-giving spirit can be poured into Bulgaria through several channels. Evangelistic work in Bulgaria must be strength¬ ened. Ten new missionary families should reenforce a staff seriously depleted by death and the hardships of war. The salaries of the native pastors must be greatly increased, and at least six new churches built at once. The enthusi¬ asm, devotion, and lofty spiritual life of Bul¬ garian Protestants exert a tremendous in¬ fluence on the national church. HUNGRY FOR EDUCATION T HE Bulgarian Intelligentsia is openly atheistic. There is a crying need for a purifying literature such as American students possess. Bulgaria spends twice as much per capita for education as any of her neighbors, and main¬ tains a university, several pedagogical, agri¬ cultural and business colleges, 50 gymnasia, 300 progymnasia, and 5,000 primary schools. But these are channels for knowledge instead of faith, enlightenment in place of vision. The existing American schools, inadequately sup¬ ported and poorly placed, should locate in Sofia on sites promised by the government, with two separate modern plants for boys and girls, costing not less than $100,000 each. Philanthropic and community work, with an initial cost of at least $100,000, must be started in cities and villages. Darkness broods over the Balkans. A torch has been lighted in Bulgaria, which the American Christians must convert into a veritable sun. 14 The Balkans : EUROPE JUGO-SLAVIA OR JUGO-SLAVIA we here include Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, part of Banat, and adjacent territory under dispute. There is a Balkan proverb,—“It is better to look from the mountain than from the dun¬ geon.” Since the World War the little Balkan states have emerged from centuries of oppression and fratricidal war, to the independence that has long been the spirit of each nationality. The South Slavs have attempted a Balkan brotherhood which only Christianity can ce¬ ment. Thus the new fertile, strategically placed state of Jugo-Slavia may become an important European power. It should eventually include Bulgaria, and embrace not less than 18,000,000 virile and industrious people. Jugo-Slavia is not merely a resurrected nation; the union of the southern Slavs is an attempt to solve a world problem. DISRUPTIVE ELEMENTS HE peoples of this new confederation of states are mostly peasants. A large part of them are illiterate and backward. Almost all are conservative and inexperienced in the art of self-government. Two parts of the new federa¬ tion, Montenegro and Serbia, have been in¬ dependent states for almost a century, while all the other parts have been under the oppression of the Austrian Hapsburgs. There is a common language with varying dialects, and two completely different sets of written characters, Roman and Russian. Each race has its own traditions, aspirations, political tendencies and local jealousies. Eastern Ortho¬ dox and Roman Catholic are the two distinct forms of Christianity found in the new union. A CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD HESE differences do not create insuper¬ able difficulties, nor are they as radical or vital as those which existed among the thirteen North American Colonies. They emphasize the imperative need of real Christian brotherhood for the diverse racial elements. Protestant communities already exist in two parts of Jugo-Slavia: a number of ancient Protestant congregations in Slovenia, and a small group of new converts in Macedonia, where the American Board of Commissioners has been working for many years. These groups lie in opposite corners of the kingdom, but they must increase and extend their activity until they meet in Belgrade and bind the new nation into a Christian brotherhood. At present there are only two missionaries in Jugo-Slavia, both of whom are in Macedonia. LITERARY NEEDS L ITERARY centers must be established in j the intellectual capitals of Serbia and Croatia. The Bible must be widely distributed. American schools must be started in Mace¬ donia, where one has already existed, as well as in old Serbia and Croatia. The field is large. The issue is momentous. The situation is critical. After centuries of conflict, a Balkan brotherhood exists. Let Christ’s spirit permeate it. Let Christianity solve the Balkan problem! RUMANIA UMANIA has completed her national unification. When the map of Europe is finally settled she will have almost doubled her area and population. Rumania’s agricultural and mineral resources assure her a great com¬ mercial future in the Balkans. The state religion is the Eastern Orthodox form of Christianity. Almost one-half of the people are illiterate. Before the war economic con¬ ditions were unsatisfactory. Much of the agricultural land belonged to rich landlords and was worked by tenants. The government has been hostile to the 250,000 Jews who live in Rumania, and has not been favorable to missionary activity. No Ameri¬ can denomination has carried on work there. But a marvelous day has come. Rumania has broken over the Carpathian Mountains, and passed from the Balkans, with their strife and turmoil, into Europe. She is promising her peoples a new social, intellectual and spiritual EUROPE: The Balkans 15 life. She is endeavoring to create not only a larger but a better Rumania. She needs American help in this task. American food and funds helped Rumania be¬ come a larger kingdom. American Christianity must help transform this new Rumania into a kingdom of God. ALBANIA HE Albanians are the most unfortunate of all the Balkan races. Situated in a moun¬ tainous district on the west side of the Balkan Peninsula, along the eastern coast of the Adri¬ atic Sea, the lack of roads renders the country inaccessible. In the past an abominable Turk¬ ish government prevented all development of natural resources. Poor and isolated, without schools or doctors, out of the path of progress and enlightenment, a prey to foreign oppression and fierce tribal feuds, the Albanians are in a deplorable con¬ dition. Over half of them are Mohammedans, and the rest Roman Catholics, except for a few members of the Greek Orthodox Church. For ten years the American Board has been working in Albania. Continued wars have thwarted achievement. At present there is an American school and one American family in southern Albania. Conditions are still so unsettled that the hour is not propitious for an immediate campaign. The missionary work which is already being carried on must be maintained, and as soon as conditions permit boys’ and girls’ schools must be built, hospitals erected, visiting nurses sent out, and extensive literary work and philan¬ thropic activities of many kinds undertaken. Albania needs everything and looks to America to aid her. GREECE G REECE has doubled in the last six years in area and population. She is destined to play a greater role in the Balkans. Mission¬ aries have twice attempted to work in Greece, but without success on account of local and official opposition. The very constitution for¬ bids the sale of the New Testament in the vernacular, but in spite of this the British and Foreign Bible Society has been distributing the Scriptures in Greece for many years. At present the Greek people, the archbishops, and the government would welcome various kinds of American religious work. The Ameri¬ can Board already has a small work in Salonica, a district acquired by Greece six years ago. There are also several independent Protestant churches in Greece. The Young Men’s Chris¬ tian Association carries on a fruitful work there. Greece needs American schools in Athens and Salonica; at the latter place a boys’ school already exists. Christian literature, a wide distribution of the Bible, and philanthropic work are also essential to the development of this field. STATISTICS OF THE WORK OF AMERICAN DENOMINATIONAL AGENCIES (Compiled from latest reports available. For some countries only pre-war figures are available.) Churches and meeting places. . . 3,791 Church members. ...261,734 Sunday schools. . . . 3,917 Sunday school members. . . .235,296 Missionaries. 172 Pastors and teachers (national). . . . 3,992 Appropriation from America for one year. 5205,821.63 AMERICAN PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS AT WORK IN EUROPE Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Missionary Society of the Evangelical Associa¬ tion of North America; American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; American Baptist Foreign Mission Society; New Era Movement of the Presbyterians (war emergency only); American Friends Service Committee (war emergency only); Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention; 16 The Balkans : EUROPE Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society; Brethren Missionaries (Plymouth); General Mission Board of the Church of the Brethren; Foreign Christian Missionary Society; Missionary Board of the Church of God; Seventh Day Adventist Denomination; AMERICAN PROTESTANT INTER-DENOMINATIONAL AGENCIES AT WORK IN EUROPE American Bible Society; American and Foreign Christian Union; American Tract Society; World’s Christian Endeavor Union; Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America; Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions; World Sunday School Association; International Committee of the Young Men’s Christian Association; Overseas Committee of the National Board of the Young Women’s Christian Association. EMERGENCY RELIEF ITHOUT any unnecessary delay, the Protestant churches in the United States should aim to aid their European brethren of the evangelical faith, as the early Christians scattered throughout the gentile world, aided their brethren in Jerusalem. Conditions furnish a unique opportunity for the Protestant churches to demonstrate their desire for practical Christian unity. United effort should be made for all their after¬ war relief activities, for the benefit of all Protestant churches and their adherents in European countries. A joint commission, en¬ dowed with full powers, should be sent im¬ mediately to distribute all necessary relief, utilizing, where most expedient, the existing religious agencies and church channels. DEPUTATION FOR EUROPE 0 STUDY the important question of future policy of American denominational work in Europe, a deputation should be sent to Europe. This deputation should be made up of men of knowledge and understanding, possessing a true evangelical spirit, and of international standing and recognition. 1NTERCH0RCH WORLD MOVEMENT OF NORTH AMERICA ORGANIZATION OF THE SURVEY DEPARTMENT SECTIONS -Africa -China -India -Japanese Empire -Malaysia, Siam -lndo-China, Oceania -Philippine Islands -Latin America -Europe -Near East —Evangelistic —Educational —Medical —Social and Industrial —Literature —Field Occupancy —Field Conditions —Graphics —Statistics —Editorial —Research and Library —Cities —New York Metropolitan —Town and Country —Vvest Indies —Alaska —Hawaii — Migrant Groups DIVISIONS BRANCHES H Fields r~ FOREIGN - Mission Agencies F- Coordination SURVEY DEPARTMENT HOME MISSIONS r Fields Agencies - | Coordination Organization Relations ~ Tax-Supported Institutions AMERICAN EDUCATION Denominational and Independent Institution* Theological Seminaries i— | Secondary Schools ~j Coordination p—-Cities New York Metropolitan —Town and Country —Negro Americans New Americans Spanish-speaking Peoples Orientals in the U. S. —American Indian —Migrant Groups -Research and Library -Lantern Slides -Graphics -Publicity -Statistics -Industrial Relatione -Colleges -Universities —State Universitiee —Municipal Universitiee ‘ —State Agricultural Colleges —State Normal Schoole E Theological Seminaries College Biblical Departments Religious Training Schools - f Home" — { Local Church AMERICAN Religious Education — — { Community - TSpecial Groups" AMERICAN Hospitals and Homes -Comity and Cooperation -Field -Standards and Norms i—Architecture - 1 —Curriculum 1 —Teachers ] -Music -Pageantry -Non-church Organizations Special Fields 3 - \ Field Organization \ Denominational and • Interdenominational Agencies - Research and Instruction Coordination p-Editorfe! 4—Statistics and Tabulation I—Schedules AMERICAN MINISTERIAL SUPPORT AND RELIEF FQ Ministerial Support | Pensions and Relief 3