Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-27

FEARS RELIGIOUS GROWTH.
he Federation Tendency Most
Striking.
Remarkable Development noted in
Various Lines.

In matters religious the year just
klosing has been remarkable in at least
1--WE partieulars.z-sThessf first Of these
five, in significance, is the marked ten
dency toward Federation and even con-
solidation. Hardly second TO it, how
tvert are the two movements, fully de-
peloped during the year, affecting doc
trine and Bible study. Presbyterians
North revised their creed, and in some
measure displaced the historic West
minister standards, and Roman Catho-
hes appointed a Bible commission. that
must in some degree displace the no
less slistoric Vulgate of ST. jerome.
The next two developments of the
year. were moneyraising, in which
MetRodsts led. and the organization
of an educa tional board, whose chief
work is and long will be in the South.
Grue the latter is not distinctly reli-
gious. but its promoter is the largest
contributor to Baptist causes in t"e
Sorfd, ana religious convictions are be-
hindf his benevolence. These five feat
hires of the year touched almost all re-
1igioais bodies. Hardly second in i'm
portance to the foregoing are half
dozen features, one or two of them
Strikingly unique which have charac-
heriZed the religious year. There are,
6or example the Hebrew problem for
the Jew is coming to American shores
Gy tens of thousands. the missionary
advance. for never before have so
many missionary societies been free
from debt; the activity of the lay ele-
hnent, for laymcn are steadily walking
unto precincts heretofore reserved for
ordained men: and the rapid increase
in the number of workers, for mis-
Sionary societies have added to the
number of their secretaries, and one
Communion consecrated twelve bishops,
a number greater by four than during
gtny previous year AS for striking
features, they have not beer wanting.
IA Protestant President of the United
States sending deputation formally
40 treat with the Vatican in Rome, the
coming together Of American CluakerS
sand the organization of a Five Year
bneetinG: the acceptance by consider
ablt. body of the historic but hitherto
ignored Lambeth Quadrlateral-thes
are peculiar enough to give character
to almost any year of religious annals.
The wear developed a positive and
apparently healthy sentiment toward
union. This union is organic in the
eases. first of bodies holding the Pres
byterial 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 toward federation. This latter
tendency has affected all religious
bodies. catholic alone excepted, and
has been most marked in the Middle
West State and other federations
have sprung into. existence aud have
asked how waste of over organization.
of duplication. of ministerial equip
1ncnt may be avoided. There has BEEN
formed 4 national body for the propa-
ganda of this Get-together idea, and
general bodies of no fewer than six
denominations have unanimously ap-
proved of the movement. Those who
are specially Interested. declare tl.is
federation to be the most striking de-
VeloDment Of the wear. and others ad-
init tnat it may grow into a sentiment
which shall compel divided Protestant
ism to come together.
In some measure it is true that larger
religious bodies are growing larger, and
smaller ones smaller. Into the General
Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church, Il body that hardly holds its
own in numbers, there was introduced
resolution. and adopted, inviting all
other bodies holding the Presbyterian
system. To unite and form one General
Assembly, al present bodies to belong
10 the same, while retaining their
autonomy of name ana dcuominational
freedom. The proposition has met with
some favor. especially in other small
NJ 90 would H.
clude the Reformed Churches. Dutch
and German branches. ana mean II
religious body of 2,1O0,u00 commune
cants. Closely allied with this Pres
byterian union movement is Il PROPOSE
Mn originating among PreSbyterianS
South to unite with the Reformed
Church. Dutch branch. To effect this
latter UNION two Presbyterian SynocS
South have adopted overtures To their
General Assembly. Such union would
mean a religious body of $4,000 COM
municants. Rather more in earnest in
the task of getting together seem to be
the CONGREGATIONAL. the Methodist
Protestant and the United Brethren
bodies. During the year leaders i'll
these churches have cndeavored to gee
on. how many things they agreed.
They found the number many. ana
with no doctrinal obstacle worth men
tioning. Furthermore, they discovered
.that each was weak where the others
We're strong. and this applies To educa-
t;onal foundation, to gcogra phical dis
trihution. and in some degree to tenn
permanent Were union to be effected
the result would be a religious body of
1100.O09 members. contributing to all
purposes about $l20o00c0 year. Con-
gregationalists are as strong as both
Others together and that in numbers
ana finances. but Methodist ProteStants
and United Brethren have much to add
beside zeal. in the latter of which qua
fty United Brethren have shown much
During the year. Some talk has been
hdulged. in between Methodists North
and South. hut nothing apparently real
is in the air. Polish Catholics, who
humber $4,000 and came out Of the Ro-
man body seek union with Episco-
talians on the line of the Lambeth
euadrilateral, as already noted. and
Negotiations are in tentative shape.
The year 5000 will be famous in Pres
ANNALS beea,lSa now ,raad