The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-02-27
ADDRESS BY REV. DIR. NORTH
ON THE Fedora TON CHRISTIAN
CHURCHES At CENTER CHURCH.
Purposes of the Local FederatIon-The
Purpose, Scope nnd Ideals of the
Organizations.

Rev. DR.. North of New York gave a
very interesting talk in Center church
last evening on the purposes of the
Federation of Churches and Christian
Workers of New Haven and vicinity.
| The federation now comprises thirty
five churches, each represented by the
pastor and two lay members The
need of such an organization was felt
when thorough canvass showed that
there We're in this city thousands of
people of Protestant descent and pref
erence who attended no church. DR..
North said in part:
Federation is everywhere. 1t covers
vast range Of most important factors
of our modern civilization. r have
never been able to understand why we,
in Christian churches, have usually
failed to understand and profit by the
under-currents of the life about us.
Federation has naturally and properly
come to the churches
THE federation of churches is not a
sudden or ephemeral matter. On the
frontier and in the new territory feder-
alton is even more important than it
the cities. Nothing In England has had
so important an influence on church
life since the Oxford movement as the
non-conformist federation. The church
has written into the very constitution
of your colony the plea for unity in
Jesus Christ. Another element. has
hoe t1a 81 l.
church that men must be free in their
worship We stand for the theory that
men must be free if they would be true.
The ideal or principle next noted in the
heart of the church is desire to serve
men, wherein the love of Christ is
best expressed.
Through all the multitudinous bodies
we call sects this ideal is found. We
stand to-day where these elements,
common to all the churches of Jesus
Christ converge-the churches seeking
the world with open doors. Federation
and freedom in the service Of the world
be our watchword. There will be the
recognition of things on which we
agree as well as of those in which we
differ, In the former we shall find our
ground, in the union of essen
tials.
1.-THE success of your federation de-
ponds upon it's ideals If you think
Christ came to select few individuals
for a commonwealth .in the sky your
federation will do little good If you
believe He came into the world to save
the world-humanity as well as men
you will see a scope you cannot find
In any other conception. Outside your
church doors Is the world for which |
Christ died. Federation is the co-ordi- |
nation of all the elements of Gods |
church. 1t means a divine discomfort |
with the existing state of things. Diff
'erences of the past have left us nearly
me to-day, as we at heart wish to be.
your federation is the sanest thing /
you have done in the work of the
church. 1t is the application of sound
business principles. You prevent over
apping, you organize your forces, you
,xert strong force where it is needed, you
ire doing well. In other states this in
lovaton has done very well. 1t is not
IN experiment in New York, the great
st missionary field in the world. Over
,alf the people in New York, / suspect,
lever enter a church We have as
many Italians in New York as would
e-populate your city should it be de-
populated. They present problem
hat will not wait for a solution. And
here are Others
'Who shall understand what 5000, 900
eople need-this great alienated mass
f people waiting for the gospel of the
on of God. Little by little we have
rganized to meet this great problem,
nd some others like it. We had sew
nty members from all denominations
t. the last national convention. We
i'm to fulfill the ideals of the church.
lot by competition, as in the past, but
y cooperation. 1 give you greeting
rom our New York federation, and
ray for your success"
|