The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-08
THE MISSIONARY CONFERENCE.

Opposition to II as Representing to tho
Pagan World the Disunity OF Christendom.
To THE Enron OF TEE SuN-Sr: Before
the close OF this month representatives. Of the
missionary forces OF Professionalism will as
ssmbls In New York to take part In what Is
called an "Ecumenical Conference" and II
seems necessary that ZONE Information should
he given to the public as 10 why. with two or
three exceptions. the clergy Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church will not take anyiactive part
hi this conference.
In the first place. II is not "Ecnmenical."
Neither the Roman nor the Greek. neither the
Syrian nor the Coptic. the Armenian nor the
HISTORIAN church. will be In any way repre-
sented. And It seems probable that. with the
exception OF Bishop McVickar OF Rhode Island.
no Bishop Of the Episcopal Church will be pres
emit. 1t r.. therefore. In no sense ecumenical.
but It will represent the divided forces Of those
floating fragments OF in'alllbility which are
found among the Protestant denominations
There will be q few churchmen there. who by
their ordination VOWS are pledged to the stand
ards OF the Book OF Common Prayer. There
will be some hundreds Of persons present who
not only ~repudiats the standards OF thai
book. but regard It as a rigmarole OF
IOInb ulll n III Vhhi' A'ViV "ht
be Q considerable number Of Methsdists
there who believe In the Episcopate, yet reject
altogether the idea OF apostolic continuity.
BY far the majority Of those who take part in
the conference will believe in the Scriptural
character OF infant baptism but there will be
a strong representation OF the Baptist COM
munity who absolutely ignore infant baptism
and who, in the missionary field. do not hesi-
/, Ill. - tIot 10 % ,na,rtrat DpAka-
bly, one-half OF the conference will consider
Holy Scripture as ~inerrant and OF God-sent In
SEPARATION. while tho other half will look upon
the Bible as In some way or other containing
the Word OF God. but after all a very fallibls
presentation OF the mind OF God. With refer
ence to church government the confer
ence will he hopelessly divided. A few
Episcopalians will stand for an Apostolic
episcopacv. a large umb Der OF Methodists will
maintain that episcopacy Ia simply expedient
the Presbyterians will stand for two orders and
not three. and there will be a decided ma
Iority in favor OF congregational organization
which will present TO the heather the Church,
not as an organized community. but as sc
many congregational societies. 1t is under.
stood. | believe. that Unitarians Will be ex-
Guided, but the conference will In no sense
ethTu lr n Dellel III ms llOlF lTlnlty anu III
the incarnation OF The Son Of God In fact
IT will differ very little from the Congress Of
Religions at Chicago.
It Is therefore a con yiction with a vast mum.
Der NJ even Protestant churchmen tina. the
conference will do very little for the union o.
Christendom. II 1t was a conference OF Method
ists discussing the various principles OF Meth
odism or the conversion Of the heather world
~ DA.AI -.
Episcopallans or Congregationalists assembled
together for the discussion OF methods OF mis-
sionary work according to their W idea o
things. il would command respect from ever
those who may have no sympathy whatevel
with the particular belief OF the sect 40 repre-
sented. But q conference which will act forth
the differences which exist in Protestant Chris
tianity can have only little influence on tbs
worldwide methods ci missionary work.
have myself attended and taken an active
part In three such Conference.-The Allahabad
Conference OF 1872. the Midway Conference
OF 1875. the Calcutta Conference Of 1882 anc
can therefore speak from personal expert
ence. The one dominant idea in these con
f~erences, as will be evident from tn,
published reports. was to gloriiy the worl
OF each particular mission. Al Allahabad
m eUOrt was HhVe " produce u resO'
luton to memorabilia the Government o
India TO close some OF the Government
works. so that they might not interfere
with the Industries OF certain missionary
enterprises In the country. Another effort wa
made to commit the conference to On indorse
ment OF prohibition. And the conference wa
concluded by two well-known clergymen OF thu
Church Of England celebrating the Holy Com
T. A. a. 49, - M
habad. Administering the sacrament to Ger
tain ministers standing and to others sitting
who objected 10 the church requirement o
kneeling. thus emphasizing in the presence o
converts from heathenism those difference
which have been brought In to that sacramen
which was Intended by Christ to be a symbo
OF unity.
Al the Midway Conference | had q persona
experience OF what is regarded in the minds o
many as one Of the chief objects OF sucha gath
ering. namely. the gloriflcation OF self. Tn
widow of a wcll-known missionary requested
me to stand M in the meeting to make know
the great work which her deceased husban,
had accomplished in the foreign field. Tim
only allowed me TO mention certain features 0
my own WORK. and the he'll rang before | coui
enlarge upon that o. my deceased brother
The lady IN r""et IN never smoke - m
again. This is only one iLsta e. b.
y v oss Of personal sxpeg.sass, 9