New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-09
CHRISTIAN COOPERATION.

The Congress of the Protestant Episcopal
Church to be held in Philadelphia this week
promises to be one of unusual Importance. This
will be the thirteenth annual session of this
unique debating society. An American repro
duotion of one of the modern institutions OF the
English Church, this body has been most use
full agency in enlargng the scope of Christian
work in the churches and in developing liberal
opinion All schools of thought have been
represented in the debates, yet the interests of
no group or clique within the communion have
been promoted. Discussion has brought ex-
tremists together, broadened their minds and
made them more tolerant. Questions of ritual,
dogma, practice and government have not been
settled, for the Congress is not legislative
body. On such matters clergy and laity have
compared views and agreed to differ. But on
all practical questions, such as missionary
growth. evangehzation in cities and work among
destitute and criminal classes, there has been
a close approach to unity of thought if not of
action.
Among the subjects to be discussed this week
at the Congress il one of vital interest and i'm
portance to the Protestant Episcopal Church.
This is the prsoticabihty of cooperation with
other Christian bodies in "rescue work." or the
evangelization of the discontented and vicious
classes in large centres of population. Twice
in the course of the history of this communion
plain duty has been neglected and grand
opportunity lost. in 1887, when a memorial
was presented by Methodist Bishop to Bishops
Seabury, White and Madison on the subject of
their reordinatiOn and admission to the Church,
little notice was taken of it. Again in 1853,
when the Muhlenberg memorial invited action
in the direction of a more comprehensive work
in the Church, nothing was done about 1t. These
were opportunities for Christian cooperation
which were FILTERED away -Four years ago the
House of Bishops, in answer to a numerously
signed petition on the subject of Church unity.
issued its declaration of principles. Broad
minded churchmen are asking themselves
whether anything is to be accomplished by that
famous declaration. Is the Church to stand
still for another century or is it to open way
for practical cooperation with other Christian
bodies in fields of labor in the cities where
workers are now divided and pulling against
one another?
This question is to be- discussed by the Rev.
Clarence Buel, of Maryland by Archdeaoon
Mackay Smith. of New York, and by the Rev.
DR.. Van de Water, of st. Andrews, Harlem,
whose energy and success as General Missioner
arm him with special power for considering it
in its practical bearings. II will be very
strange if this debate fails to impart power.
full impulse to the movement for Christian CO.
operation. In every large city the churches
and denominations are engaged more or less
effectively in the work OF evangelization of the
masses. The Protestant Episcopal Church is in
a position to show other religious bodies
that it also deeply interested In this work
and ready to make, not sacrifices of principle
but concessions of policy and practice in order
to promote oo-opesadon. Let beginning be
made n this class Of "rescue work" in the