New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-26
CuI-RCH FEDERATION N NETWORK
DR. BERRY's ALLEGED STATEMENT AS no THE
EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONTRovERTED.

CHURCH FEDERATION ~ NETWORK
DR. BERRY's ALLEGED STATEMENT AS no THE
EPISCOPAL CHURCH coNTRovERTEp.
It. Tn. Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: on the surface Of The Church Economists"
ouotation OF the Views upon Church federation Of
the Rev DIT Berry. OF England. which you cite
I'm YOUR able editorial OF yesterday, there are evil
dences either that he IL lnaceurately quoted By
1.-THE Economist" or that his opinions rest upon an
Inadequate basis OF knowledge. Or. Berry Is 80
well balanced a man that ! cannot think The
Economist" interview represents HIS entire or en-
during Judgment OF the methods OF the Federation
OF Churches and Christian Workers in New York
city
DR. Berry says o. the English Federation move
ment: I'VE do not desire TO destroy denomination
alism but .cctarlnnism We desire TO create har-
monious inter-deno nominate onalism II would n"'
DO 10 attempt TO amalgamaie denominations or
churches To every man his choice. but LEI inter-
est IN the church OF That choice DE determined hy
the movement toward federation" In other words.
DIT Berry advocates federation, not as a resOlveni
Of denomnatlonalisn. but MS n means Of making
denominatlonalism a more effective Instrument OF
the extension OF the Kingdom OF God
The practical benefits OF the English Federation
movement. cited b Dr. Berry. two: The arous-
ing OF the missionary spirit and the formation
OF a mighty power 20 affect National questions"
Rearing I'm mind the above statements II seems
imposslJic to believe that Or. Berry has said
"N4w-York City's Federation OF Churches II handi-
canned by the presence in them OF the Protestant
Episcopal Church. The American Church though
possessing infinitely broader characteristics than
the Anglican communion. Is SIN unwilling 10 en-
brace the idea Of Church federation. though IN
Ncw-York CITY. and no doubt out West. It has
Joined federations. Eplscopalians unite with other
churches as individuals, socially This being tho
case the Ncw-York Federation exists on "A social
no, an evangelical. religious basis"
II should be remembered by all who inter
ested that the Neg-York Federation limits It's
work and purposes to this city Its methods.
moreover are determined by the conditions and
needs Of this city. II exists 10 bring the organ
lied intelligence and love Of the churches 10 bear
upon the material, social. economic. civic and
spiritual interests OF the family life OF our city and
through INSTRUMENTATION conference and CO.
OPERATION to meet It's every religious and moral
need" In the face OF assent TO this constitutional
statement by many OF the most prominent Epis-
copallans OF the city Il is exceedingly wide OF the
mark TO say that "the NewYork Federation OF
Churches exists purely upon a social basis. In
the face OF actual conditions I'm this city, moreover.
It IL impossible 10 discover how the cited and
valued accomplishments Of the English Federation
here be parallecd without the cooperation or
the Protestant Episcopal Church
Statistics show that the Protestant Episcopal
Church is the first In the city In the value OF Its
church property. and first among Protestant bodies
In the number OF its communicates and any one
who knows the religious work Of Ncw-York at the
present moment is well aware that the Protestant
Episcopal Church Is by means last In works Of
faith and love To exclude the Protestant Episcopal
communion from an attempt. through iner-denom-
national cooperation to meet every religious and
moral need" OF the family life in our city would
be "A policy 20 short-sshtcd that DR. Berry must
himself perceive the fact in the light OF the above
Figures New-York's Federation is not .'ha ndi-
capped by the presence OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church 1t would be Mephiboshetk without lt-lame
Ncw-York's Federation differs entirely from the
union between Church and State. \ contest Ike
that between the "Progrcssives" and "Moderates'
I'm London concerning school questions described In
your Issue OF yesterday. H. impossible here. Re-
iigous instruction in America is voluntary, loving
This very fact con,pcls any American federation In
cities to include the Protestant Episcopal Church
check religious education in schools from develop
INK into sacerdotalism." In New-York In the
absence OF religious instruction OF any kind in our
public schools all evangelical forces must be united
TO bring all families of the city into with re-
ligous reaching. England's Federation of Churches
excludes the Anglican communion In order To duOte
DR. Berry, to affect National questions" New
York'- Federation includes every religious organiza
ton which Will come into Il, In order 10 affect the
National question OF the religious instruction Of the
childhood OF the city. That Is not cared for by the
State; ii can be cared for, believe, only by n
co-operant policy on the part OF the churches of
the city. In the XIXth Assembly District, recently
investigated by the Federation we found % per cent
OF public school and % per OF the same age
out OF Sunday school; GS per cent from three 10
the same age out OF sunday school one might as
wei try to hold down the rising tide with a cork
as 10 solve the problems confronting the Protestant
Ism OF New-York without the cooperation of the
Protestant Episcopal Church;
DR.. Berry cites the development Of missionary
activity benefit OF the English Federation and
me following sentences, excerpt from letter OF