The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-21
Revision of the Creed by Presby-
terians and Appointment of IA BIZ
BILE Commission by Catholics.
FEDERATION NOW THE RAGE
TENDENCY Is TOWARDS UNION OF
DENOMINATIONS.
Happenings which Are Regarded as
Unique and ms Making Precedents
I'm Church History.
IpeeiaI to tn. Indianapolis Journal.

Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Dec. 20.-In matters re-
ugious the year just closing has been re-
ularkable in at least five particulars. The
drst OF these five, in significance, is the
marked tendency toward federation and
even consolidation. Hardly second TO 1t,
however. are the two movements, fully de-
veloped during the year. affecting doctrine
and Bible study. Presbyterians North re-
vised their creed. and in some measure dis
placed the historic Westminster standards,
and Roman Catholics appointed a Bible
commission that must in some degree dis
place the no less historic Vulgate OF ST.
Jerome. The next two developments Of the
year were money raising, in which Method
lists led. and the organization of an educa-
tionaI board whose chief work is and long
will be In the South. True. the latter is
not distipctively religious, but it's promoter
Is the largest contributor to Baptist causes
In the world. and religious convictions are
behind his benevolence. These five features
OF the year touched almost all religious
bodies.
Hardly second i'm Importance TO the fore
going are half dozen features. one or two
Of them strikingly unique. which have
characterized the religious year. There
the Jew is coming to American shores by
tens of thousands the missionary advance.
for never before have many missionary
societies been free from debt: the activity
Of the lay element. for Iaymen are steadily
walking into precincts heretofore reserved
for ordained men. and the rapid increase
I'm the number of workers. for missionary
societies have added to the number of their
ri
Grated twelve bishops, a number greater by
four than during any previous year. AS
for striking features, they have not been
wanting. A Protestant President of the
United States sending deputation formal
ly TO treat with the Vatican at Rome; the
coming together of American Quakers and
the organization of a Five Year Meeting;
the acceptance by a considerable body of
the historic but hitherto ignored Lambeth
Observation-Disclosures are peculiar enough to
give character to almost any year of re-
ligious annals.
TREND is TOWARD UNION.
The year developed a positive and ap-
parently healthy sentiment toward union.
This union is organic in the cases, first, of
bodies holding the presbyterial system, and,
second. Of the three important bodies
known as Methodist Protestant, United
Brethren and Congregational. Perhaps
more immediate in results than these is the
effort towards federation. This latter tend
ency has affected all religious bodies Cath
olic alone excepted, and has been most
marked In the middle West. State and
other federations have sprung into exist
ence and have asked how waste of over
organization. OF duplication. of ministerial
equipment. may be avoided. There has
been formed a national body for the propa-
ganda of this get-together idea, and gen.
eral bodies OF no fewer than six denomina-
tons have unanimously approved of the
movement. Those who are specially inter
ested declare this federation to be the most
striking development OF the year and
others admit that II may grow into a senti-
ment which shall compel divided Protest
antism to come together.
In some measure II is true that larger re-
Iigious bodies are growing larger and small
er ones smaller. Into the General Synod of
the Reformed Presbyterian Church, body
that hardly holds its own in numbers, there
WAS introduced resolution. and adopted.
inviting all other bodies holding the Presby-
terrain system to unite and form one Gen.
eral Assembly, all present bodies to belong
to the same while retaining their autonomy
m.
proposition has met with some favor. es-
peci~-,y In other small bodies. II consum-
mated 1t would include the Reformed
churches. Dutch and German branch
es. and mean a religious body of
100000 communicates. Closely allied
with this Presbyterian union move
ment IL proposition originating
among Presbyterians south to unite with
the Reformed Church. Dutch branch. To
effect this latter union two Presbyterian
synods South have adopted overtures TO
their General Assembly. Such union would
mean a religious body OF $4,000 communi.
cants.
Rather more I'm earnest In the task of get
ting together seem to be the CONGREGATION.
al, the Methodist Protestant and the United
Brethren bodies. During the year leaders in
these churches have endeavored to see on
how many things they agreed. They found
the number many. and with no doctrinal
obstacles worth mentioning. Furthermore
they discovered that each was weak where
others were strong. and this applies to edu-
cational foundations, 10 geographical dis
tribut!on. and in some degree TO tempera-
nent Were union TO be effected the result,
would be a religious body OF l. 100 900 mem.
bers contributing to all purposes abou,
u2o00000 year. Congregationalists are as
strong as both others together and that in
numbers and finances, but Methodist Prot.
estants and United Brethren have much tc
add beside zeal. in the latter of which quail
lty United Brethren have shown much dur.
ing the year. Some talk has been INDUCED
In between Methodists North and South
but nothing apparently real Is in the air
Polish Catholics, who number $4,000 anC
came out OF the Roman body. seek unior
with Episcopalians on the line OF the Lam
beth Quadrilateral. already noted ant
negotiations are In tentative shape.
CREED REVISION.
The year 1902 will be famous In Presby
terrain annals because a new creed wa.
adopted by the Presbyterian North Genera
Assembly last May. and a brief Statement
sent forth TO the churches. The westmin
! ster standards are already becoming his
| toric In the sense that they are laid on tn,
shelf. but this statement applies to Presby
I terians North only: other Presbyterian
oodies show disposition to abandon old