Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-17
PLEA FOR CHURCH UNITY.
Rev. Dr.. Shields Able Address At the
Columbian University.
Congress Of Religions - Some
Methods to BE Pursued

OF the Columbian University was crowded
with an audience Of people that represent
ed all the various UNCONVENTIONAL creees
OF the city that compose the Protestant
church. On the platform were seated four
ministers Of as many different denomina-
tons. In the audience were scores of min
listers and laymen by the hundred, all of
whom are interested in the subject OF
church unity, and were attracted by .
lecture on the subject delivered by one OF
The leading theological thinkers and writ
ers.
The lecturer was Rev. Charles W. Shields,
ID. D.. who holds the chair of the har-
mony OF science and revealed religion at
princeton University. He spoke on the
possibilities and hopes of ultimate church
unity as distinct from church union, TO
De based on the idea of a historic episco-
pate and the four articles OF the Chicago
Lambeth proposals. DR.. Shields is a Pres
byterian Of course but he might have been
Catholic or a Baptist SO far as his ad-
dress was concerned. SO free was It from
narrow-mindedness or bias. 1t was a hope
full address. though he himself said in the
beginning that he could hardly expect TO
carry all his hearers to the same conclu-
sions that he would reach.
Rev. DR.. Butler opened the meeting with
an earnest prayer for a blessing on the
Idea that would be urged by the speaker.
Judge strong's Introduction.
Justice Strong Of the Supreme Court pre-
sided at the meeting. and In introducing
the speaker OF the afternoon told Of what
had been done by committees appointed TO
| pave the way for a fuller and more COM
plete union of all denominations
Dr. Shields paper was a carefully pre-
pared discussion of the question, and show
ed a great deal of study and consideration
on his part In beginning his address DR..
Shields said that perhaps the most i'm
portant feature Of the worlds fair was Inc
great congress of religions, but whether its
teachings should pass away like the tower
| OF Babel or remain In strength as pente-
costal blessing would depend upon the
uses that are made OF them. The prin-
cipal lesson to be learned from the con-
gress was not the supremacy OF Christian
ity-that had all been demonstrated before
but the necessity for church unity.
Church unity, he said. must be distin-
guished from church union. which is but .
grouping together Of possibly inharmonious
| elements. 1t must also be kept aloof from
the idea Of church uniformity. In its best
idea there may be variety In unity as well
as unity In variety. Church unity would
not ignore our common religious beliefs.
but would simply muster together the
forces Of our common faith DIR. Shields
thought that the time OF need for denomi-
national differences was past There is no
/
alist battles that may not be granted to
him In this system. Church unity In not
anti-denorninational. but super-denomina-
tional.
The speaker recapitulated the various
difficulties that are said to beset the path
OF a more complete unity. and showed that
none were insurmountable. The principal
difficulty. he considered. lies not In the atti-
| tude Of the churches. but OF governments
and society.
Then, again. it had been said that unity
| might be desirable. but was not feasible.
This, he thought, was mistake, for In this
republican government Of ours there is an
example of lone from many" Why. then,
| could not the religious people OF the world
come together quite as well. Looking back
over the history of the church In the past
he could not but think that what had been
might yet be again. All the conditions were
never before favorable now to the
| realization Of the idea of one catholic and
| apostolic church. Politically We are pow
in the same boat with S.000.00o Of Roman
Catholics. and sooner or later must
unite with them against mutiny and ship
| wreck. in other words, sectarianism and
tnfidelity."
Churches Have More in Common.
DR.. Shields went on to show how Il 10
| that all the churches are having more and
more in common. and said that IL was quite
possible that the left wing Of Professionalism
| and the right wing OF Catholicism may yet
| swing toward the center. Unity to be prac-
ticable and desirable must represent the
| concensus OF all existing churches in doc
| trine. ritual and polity. II all denomina-
| ticns were seeking for the great essentials
that they have in common. leaving out the
non-essentials Of dogma, they could not do
better than to adopt the four principles laid
| down in the Chicago-Lambeth proposals.
The historic episcopacy is not the sole pos
| session of the church known as the Pro-
| testant Episcopal Church. but would yet be
represented in our midst II that church
| should cease to exist, and Dr. Shields dis
cIssed at length the question of the ex-
tent to which other denominations might
! adopt the principle. In speaking of the
propriety of taking the four articles Of the
| Lambeth proposals as a common meeting
ground for all. he said that the value OF the
first three was SO evident to need no
| demonstration, but the unifying value OF
the historic episcopale was not so generally
admitted. After considering all the pros
and cons with some care, however, he MAIN
tained that with all the facts that we have
! In view II is impossible to think OF unity
| that does not rest upon this idea For ex-
ample. orthodoxy and liberty can exist In
presbytery only under the mild rule OF the
historic episcopate.
Processes to BE Pursued.
As for the process to be uprsued in Sc
| curing church unity he would favor that
| Of reunion with organic growth I'm prefer
| ence to consolidation confederation. Dr.
| Shields closed his part Of the discussion
with a sketch of ideal unity based upon the
Lambeth proposals The way to complete
unity may be long and rough. but all the
| signs pointing in that direction. and
| he saw much to hope for the future. This
| Is not the polemic age, but the INnic age
| In the development OF Christianity. The
growth of ecclesiastical tendencies means
only the growth Of church unity. He clos
| ed with the statement that what all de-
nominations needed most of all was to get
better acquainted with each other.
| Discussed by Clergymen.
| At the conclusion of DIR. Shields address.
| which was received with continued APP
plause. an opportunity was given TO those
In the audience to discuss it. Rev. Charles
| A. Stakely OF the First Baptist Church
was called upon. He said that while he