Babson on Cobwebs

The Moderator of the National Council of Christian & Congregational Churches, spry, bearded old Statistician Roger Ward Babson, two months ago received a troubled letter from Rev. Theodore C. Hume of Chicago and 14 other Congregational ministers. Mr. Hume and his colleagues wanted to know if Mr. Babson had told his businessmen subscribers, in a special letter of his Babson's Reports, that U. S. churches have accumulated "useless customs and cobwebs"? Had he further remarked that the German Government in emphasizing a creed based on "four simple but vital foundations" (Faith, Blood, Sacrifice, Love) "may be taking a forward step which our churches should have taken long ago"?

When Congregationalist Babson wrote Congregationalist Hume a genial, rambling affirmation of these opinions, both letters were published last month by the alert Congregationalist Advance. Babsonisms on Cobwebs:

"Young people seem to be especially disturbed by reference to the Virgin Birth, Physical Resurrection of the Body, the Apostles' Creed, etc.

"The preaching of the next generation will be done by comparatively few able men through the radio, talking movies, and other even more revolutionary inventions."

Last week the editors of the Advance announced that they had asked Mr. Babson for permission to reprint the special letter in question, received in reply an unexpectedly sour Babsonism. The Reports reminded the Moderator, were a "confidential service," and already "some subscriber had broken faith and violated his contract in making public these statements."

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