New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-29
a SCHEME OF CHURCH UNION.
11N1TAR1aNs AND UNIvERsALTsTs IN
HARMONY.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED FOR CLOSER WORKING
ARRANGEMENTS LERGYMEN WHO AP-

,ppAScrNrNTs-CL WHO AP-
PROVE TIE PLANTS LIMITATIONS.
uou,evor vide apart the other denominations OF the
Protestant faith may be. the Unitarian ana OnlVe
so1st churches are at present holding a dual love
,os, rho leaning Of the Universalist ana I'M
,oro, churches toward each other is Of long stanu
ing II was not until recently, however ,h'' ',''
sentiment for brotherhood crystallized. me S'eP
has been expected for twenty-five years but the
two denominations have been so deliberate about
u tina, the news OF the taking OF any rear a''''"
has come as a surprise to a good many
Tho first overture was made by the unitarahs
o, the National Conference OF Unitarian and other
Christian churches. held in Washington about TWO
veexs ago At that conference 1t was decided that
tho time had arrived for something 10 be done. ana
q committee Of five was appointed 10 extend greet
,nrs TO the Tniversast Church at the latters CON
vertion about to be held IN BOSTON and 70 arrange
# possble for a closer cooperation between the
two denominations. This committee included IN us
number the Rev Dr. Edward Everett Hale, Of Bos-
son and the Rev. Samuel \. Eliot. Of the same
city who Is the general superintendent Of the Uni
tartan Church.
The J'niversalists. at their National convention
held I'm Boston last week responded In Kind 10 the
friendly message from the Unitarians and appoint
ed a committee Of five Of which the Rev. DIT J.
NJ Atwood is the chairman. TO meet the InIta-
tarans These committees Will begin their joint
meetings soon possible.
MINISTER'S ARE GRATIFIED.
Various Unitarian and Universalist ministers OF
this city were asked for their opinions on the SUD-
feet by a Tribune reporter last week. ana an
united in expressing pleasure and Satisfaction
They also emphasized the fact that an organic
union OF the two churches was not what was III
tended as this would be Of great practical am
Guilty but merely closer cooperation In fields Oh
work The Rev. Thomas X. Sicer' pastor oil All
Souls Church. Unitarian. said
We could not Join together as one body without
having to surmount great many lnpo1d 4, and
Giles. Each church has It's established COHeecs, anu
seminares and there are many otner Nes't' ~ ~
terests which would be aieciel, ro Sd usage
Of special by the different state Leeslaluihgs<
ana # has been decided that a relationship which
Will be just close practically. although NJ, ia
galy Will further our common interests just as
The two churches are now almost identical in
ibcm gl vow "l know he sad Wen the Universaliste
believe that God is too good 10 damn men ana
the Untarians believe that men are too gool 10 10
damned" That Is tersc way OF saving tnat we
are almost identical in our beliefs Both Shurches
wrath; of Christ as helper and frena Iai ,Sd
nearly one that Unitarian and Cniversalist minis
and the the change is erected Win as much ease
ana smootnness as if they were of the same de-
This step might be looked upon as in part a sym
Dol Of the growth OF the Unitarian Cnurch., ne
lacking doctrines and beliefs to which they do not
hold The Church Is now In It's constructive period,
is made upon r. which Is fierce that a reply Is
absolutely necessary.
rNIvERsAIsT APPROVAL
Tho Rev W : Grove pastor Of the Church
Of the Eternal Hope Universal~t, had just re-
turned from tho Un.versalist Convention. IN hos-
ton when ne was seen and he expressed himsef
as highly pleased with the action taken to draw
4 hos
This is the natural and logical result Of the MS,
tory Of the two denominations They started iio,n
dnergt points but tn'y nave nTw I'M me eariy
TART Of this century as revo. nsainS' 's , rc
about the same time as revolt against the doc
trne OF endless purishmeqt OinerWlse nom
were orthodox. From that time tA" TWO hurrn'
have travelled around the circle Of rational ne
ology until about tWeniy-,yc y'arS ,,s@ n'{ f M
,,a9 yrovth Of sentiment I'm favor Of closer sola-
, io between the two demon nations few ultra
conservative niversalists and fcw r!tra-Tadicai
Tnitarians objected at first. but think that has
worn away SO completely that everything IS now
harmonious and in perfect readiness for the step
Of the committees First. there Will be absolutely
no friction hereafter in missionary work. and. sec
ond minister of one OF the two denominauons
will he enabled to go to the other hereafter on the
simple recommendation OF his own denomination.
to 90 through an ordination. but will be taken in
standing equal to thnt wnch ne he'a IL ~.
own Church. That 10 minister means great
CO-PAsTORs WHO ARE PLEASED.
The Rev. Robert Collyer and .he Rev Mlno' J.
Savage. pastors OF the Church OF the Messiah
O'nitarIan) were both heartily in favor Of the ac-
ton. Mr. Savage said.
II VIII work chiefly In this way. In small towns
of say 800 to inhabitants. which contain scat
terng number OF both Unitarian and lniNtrsaIlsi
families there Will be reasonable division or the
work That IS. won't 20 ahead and build hoih
| a Unitarian and Inversalist church in these
little towns ! speak OF. but. instead. one church
will be built for both sects. and II Will De ni-
tartan or t-niversalst according as the majority
OF the families are Unitarian or tniYersailst Ihat
will be a great help and saving Of money and labor.
The two denominations 50 nearly alike that the
members OF one can Just well become members
OF the other without hurt 20 their beliefs. So u
would be far better have well supported
church for both socts than two poverty stricken
churches in the same town for each sect.
There is enough saving OF souls 10 be done IN this
world ANYHOW and the more effective division Of
the work make the better for the world
MI Coycr spoke enthusiastically Of the OK
| pected closer relations between the two Churches.
| saying
| There is extremely little difference between the
Cnitarans and UniversOlists In their beliefs II is
| probable that the CniVersasts are just a little
more conservative that they handle the Bible with
| not quite free a hand do the Cnitarans But
| the feeling between the two Churches IS OF such