Churches and Business

A recent survey indicates very plainly that the year 1954 is likely to see all records broken for the building of churches in the United States. According to reliable authorities the people of this nation will spend in the neighborhood of $500,000,000 for new churches this year. That will surpass all previous records.

It is interesting to note that the building of churches in this country has been going forward since the end of World War II at a rate never previously dreamed of. It may be America's answer to the forces of evil which seek to enslave the world, and use the closing of churches as a principal part of their plan.

These facts bring to memory a speech we heard shortly after the close of the last war, in which a preacher eloquently called the attention of business men to the fact that during the great depression of the thirties many thousands of banks folded up, went broke, and closed their doors, while not a single church of any denomination went bust or quit operating. An impressive thought.

Howard Curran, Santa Ana lumberman, and Mrs. Curran, spent the week of March 29 in San Francisco with their son, Mi,chael, who sailed April 1 for a two-year tour of duty with the United States ,A,ir Corp in Japan and Korea.

He said that before the depression came along to prove a lot of important things, business was inclined to look down on the clergy to a considerable extent, and was of the general opinion that what religion needed was better business management. He said the depression and its results changed all that, and that he wouldn't give a thin dime for the future of the United States if the churches were not on the job to work with business and furnish it uplift and guidance. He said the depression proved that it isn't more business in religion that is needed, but more religion in business.

And we have seldom seen any man get a more enthusiastic reception for his thoughts and words than that minister did. So it is the best of business to boost the building of churches; and the great number of churches that will be built this year will help business build its own faith, and thus make the country strong.

Leroy McCormick, Simpson Logging Co., San Francisco, and William Wickett, a Simpson salesman from the Chicago oftice, spent the last week of March at Simpson's Klarnath and Arcata mills.