Evening star., 1897-12-03
CHURCH FEDERATION.
An Eminent English Clergyman Here
to Advocate 1t. Ifr

Rev. c. A. Berry DID,, of Wolverhamp-
ton, England, pastor Of the Queen Street
congregation there, is stopping at the Ar
!inSton Hotel. DR.. Berry is chairman of
the Congregational Unicn of England and
Wales. He is the minister who was called
to take the place of Rev. Henry Ward
Reet Or, as pastor of Plymouth congrega-
ton, Brooklyn. when the latter died, abou.
ten years ago. DR.. Berrys presence in this
country Is due TO an invitation extended by
Plymouth Church to attend the sem-cen-
tennial of that congregation, which took
place November Z, and the friends of the
church federation asked him to remain
over after the centennial and explain the
plans of the church federation. This has
beer done in New York. Mont Clair, N j.,
Chicago and Boston. Speaking of this fed
Grafton. DR.. Berry said:
The movement is one which has no in
tention of disturbing dencminational dis
tinction and autonomy. 1t seeks to fed
crate all evangelical churches for home
mission purposes, and for the evangelical
tion of large cities. The movement has
already been begun here in America in
New York and Chicago. When this extend
ed progress had been made the friends OF
International arbitration asked me to in
troduce that question in my speeches.
have no intention of suggesting to the
senators or other law makers what cour Sc
to pursue in order to bring about this mat
ter I am simply to tell what the feeling
is in my country. l consented to do this,
and hope to talk about this in Washing
ton as l have done in ether cities 1 know
nothing about governmon or politicians
| simply know the feelings of the people
in England on the subject of international
arbitration, and want to tell of this feel-
ing. 1t is unanimous there for it.
"A meeting will be held in Dr. Newman's S
church Monday night when I shall WAX
an Ia1 A
can Christians From Their elbow o.. -
tians inEngland.' l have yet to meet the first
American citizen of any culture or intel
lectuality who Is opposed to this arbitra-
tion. l spoke on this subject in fremont
Temple, Boston, last Monday. AS report ed
by the Boston papers, it was a most re-
markable scene, the applause lasting as
long as physical endurance could stand it,"
Dr. Berry stated that the tendency in
England is greatly toward the dissolution
of church and state, and that it will un-
doubtedly come In, a few years. being pro-
NOTED by the church people themselves. as
1t Is thought much better results will fol-
low by divorcing the two.
He says that naturally the non-confor-
mists would much rather see 1t brought
about by those concerned than from snv
outside influence. His church at Wolyer-
hampton his ayGOpgregation of about 800.
Connected with, it are eight branch church
es In the immediate district of Wolyer-
hampton; LThre6 as; assistants to DR.. Berry
are Heeue4I ipii eiAiS "ork ana thirty six
laymen are, required.
The visiting .clergymen expressed regret
that President Mckinley had been called
home by the serious illness Of his mother.
He stated that he desired very much to
meet the chief sexecutive and talk with
him. He ,wou,a simply bring about the
question of. International arbitration IN a
Dr.. Berry has Seen in this country q mum.
ber of times befsre. He is enti, ASH, on
the subjectoof International arbi,ration.