Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-18
CHANGE IN TITLE OF CHURCH
Rev Philiu Davidson of St. Matthias Dis
ou5se5 the Proposition.
COMMENTS ON THE WORD "cATHoLlc"
Considers II = Name that Adequately
Describes the Church, but Finds
objection 10 It's Adoption
at This Time.

In st. Matthias church Rev. Philip Da-
wilson discussed the proposed change in
the title Of the church. He said In part;
I'VE are looking forward and praying for
a unity OF all Christian people In one fold
under one shepherd. This name Protestant
Episcopal, useful as It has been in the
past and accurately as II may nave de-
scribed our dual protest against sectarian-
ism and Romanism, cannot be made 70 de-
scribe the whole church of Christ, from
the very fact that Il declares us to be In
controversy with other branches of the
church and with the members OF other
Christian bodies. What we shall have TO
do in that age which will witness the full
1llment of our Masters prayer, that they
all may be one is the selection OF a name
which will at once satisfy all classes and
branches Of the Christian body being the
universal name of the church.
1--WE are asked TO make that name the
American Catholic Church. There is
strong protest against the use of this
word catholic to designate the church, al
though all of us with one accotd confess
that we believe in the Holy Catholic
church. Still this name Catholic has
many unpleasant associations that we al
most despair Of its being rehabilitated into
the true and pure significance such as Il
possessed in the early history of the
church.
without question It is a name which IN
its essential meaning adequately describes
the church. The word catholic Is from
the Greek word TSatholikos,' meaning uni
versal or general; It is a designation
adopted very early by the Christian church
to indicate its worldwide universality IN
contrast to the narrowness of Judaism. 1t
since the second century. to denote the
church as the depository of the universally
received doctrine of Christ, the representa-
tive of Christ, the possessor of authority
and power from Christ to preach the gospel
to every nation as long as the world stands.
Il believe that the name Catholic will
be rehabilitated and Incorporated into the
title of our church some time In the fu-
ture, but not soon; not, perhaps, during
the lifetime OF the older generation. II is
realized that the name Protestant Epfs-
copar marks a certain important epoch in
the history OF the church 1t is Identified
with the history OF our country from the
fact that three-fourths of the sIRners of
our constitution and Declaration OF Inde-
pendence were men who acted in giving
this name TO the church As the Protest
ant Episcopal church 1t has made great
headway in this land and stands today in
the same strong position 1t stood in the
beginning of our national history-a bull
wark against Roman aggression and a pro-
test against the anarchy of sectarianism.
The time will come when the necessity OF
the dual protest will have passed away
and Christian men everywhere will be
seeking union in one fold under one shen.
herd. In that day this honored title AZ
our church will be abandoned and the
united Church of Christ in this land win
oe known as the American Catholic
Church."