The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-24
FEDERATION OF CHURCHES.
Rev. w. w. Everts' Address at Min.
isters' Union.


isters' Union.
The st. Paul Minister'S union held its
first meeting yesterday at, the St. Paul Com
mons. The organization is formed for the
purpose of promoting an acqua ntance among
the many clergymen Ct he city. The dis
cussion of creeds and dogmas will be wholly
absent from the deliberations of the body,
Its principal aim being to promote healthy
feeling among the st. Paul dv.nes.
The meeting yesterday was not large be-
cause notice had not been widely sent abroad.
Rev. George E. Soper, pastor of the Plym-
outh Congregational church, president Of the
union, presided.
body by the pastors Of the various churches
and 1t was considered appropriate that he
should read the initial paper before that body.
Federation of Churches" He said in part:
Christian sects have organized for the
general purpose of either the defense of
/ Originating thus, their strength has been
largely spent in controversy. Concentrat-
Ing their attention upon some one truth or
some one right they have become mar
row.
A large proportion Of the 145 contendng
sects In this country represent the descend
an ants Of contendsng factions in Europe.
seventeen branches Of Methodfsts, an equal
number OF branches of Bap.ists Luther u.s.
etc. and who but Presbyterian, Methodist
Baptist, or Luz heran can exTlain the rea-
son for the great number Of branches Of
each Of these churches. It is no defense
to say that this is free country and that
the right of private Judgment cannot be
challenged. 1t is no justification to say
that it is better to have Jas free bodies than
fne huge t,s. Is no no
ligion az 1t is Of trade. Religion certainly
cannot recognize that motive now, seeing
that trade is abandoning it. The rule Of
trade nowadays is coming to the conclusion
that where combination is possible, COM
petition is impossible. The speaker want
ed to know if Christian men were shorter
think Of erecting new school house along
side Of one that was but half-flled yet a
new church will be built in the center Of
quarter full. The inevitable result is the
mpoverishment OF the community. Secre-
taries and superintendent of church organ
two belligerent fleets. 1t is folly to pre-
scribe a formula, like this. -four preachers
to a town Of 20 people,
To counteract the evils of sectarianism,
1t has been suggested that Christendom be
reunited This has been the dream of many
to establish basis for the reunion of Pro-
testants and Romanists. The old Catholic
movement in Germany in recent years pro-
posed plan of reuniting Catholics. Within
three years the pope has invited Protestants
back into the Roman fold.
Mr.. Everts thought many things tended
toward the realization OF the great aim
and cited numerous Observation-Disclosures So
cieties which are springing up. Home mis-
sionary societies are initiating foreign mis-
sionary societies and are agreeing not to
overlap each others work. In Maine no
church has been started since 1890 by any
one denomination without consulting the
other denominations. Old churches are re-
vived wherever it is possible, rather than to
start new ones. Among the Baptists, in
communities where different branches are
| thick, the sects have banded together ana
| will remedy the evil by non-interference
rather than by cooperation.
In Canada, Presbyterian and Methodist
churches were united in some localities in
| 1886. In St. Louis last year a movement was
| set on foot for the union of other churches.
! The speaker narrated other instances Of
| the growing sentiment in favor of church
union and took very hopeful view of the
| future. The differences between the churches
| he said were after all not so great, and
/ each church would have to advance but
| a little way to meet sister church on a
| common footing. Christian unity will have
! to come before church unity.