The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-10-13
PIG GATHERING OF MEMBERS
OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH AT DIES MONIES.
Many important Questions Are SLATED
for Consder ation-PromInent MIN
listers Are in Attendance.

DIES MONIES. Ia, oct. 13.-1he 'rl-
ennial session of the national councl
of the congregational churches OF the
United states opened a siX-day session
in the Plymouth Congregational church
today. About 300 delegates were pres
on, If the call to order by the Rev. Ar
morv "A. Bradford, y. D., Of Montclalr'
n j.. moderator.
Among the prominent Congregation
alists in attendance were Rev. Dr. Ly-
mon Abbott. Rev. Charles r. Brown
ID. u. of Oakland, Cal, Rev. II. II.
Proctor, of Atlanta, Ga; Rev. Oliver
Huckel. of Baltimore, Md; Rev. Al
bert n. Plumb. d. d. of Boston, Mass;
DIR. Roynton of Detroit, Mich. Rev.
Newell Dwight Hills of Brooklyn, and
numerous others The following COL
Iege presidents We're also present: Cy-
rus Northorp of the University of Min
nesota: II. C. King of Oberin college;
w. ID. Mackenzie. of Hartford Theolog-
zeal Seminary, George \. Gates of Po-
mona college, w. f. Slocum of Colora-
do college, f. d. Eaton of Belolt col
Iegp. and Professor j. w. Platner of
Andover Theological seminary.
The address of the retiring modera-
tor. the appointment Of committees and
other business of Il perfunctory nature
occupied the greater part of the open
ing session.
Important questions confronting the
consideration at the present meeting OF
the national council. The council is not
"A legislative body, yet it's advice is fol-
lowed by the churches in quite as large
measure as are the laws obeyed that
are enacted by official bodies among
other denominations. The matter of
most popular interest is the proposed
union of the Congregational. Method
list Protestant and United Brethren
bodies. The national council represents
the largest Of the three bodies, and its
action will carry greatest weight. Pre-
Iiminaries of the union have been ar
ranged. A union of Methodist Protest
ant and United Brethren bodies seems
almost certain, but it is not felt to be
so sure that Congregationalists can
bring themselves into line. The idea
among the leaders of the denomination
now here seems to cO-operation rather
than consolidation.
Union on some working lines. as mis-
sionary interests and a few minor
points, is about all that Congregational
leaders look for this year. Many think
the present council will do we'll if it Sc
cures cooperation in any real sense.
The present gathering is historic in
one sense. in that for the first time the
several benevolent and auxiliary So
cities of the church are meeting in
conjunction with the national council
The American Board. whose meeting
has been in progress in Grinnell during
the last three days, adjourned at noon
today and its members reached DeS
MONIES in time to participate in the
opening proceedings of the national
council
: The dominant theme of the popular
address before the council will be The
True Revival of Religion in the
Churches" as it refers to the individual
the community. the nation. and the
world.
Industrial problems will be consid-
cred, not only by specialists from
among Congregational teachers, but by
representatives also of labor organiza-
tons, the United Garment Workers and
the Railway Conductors being repre-
scented by their secretaries The coun-
ell sermon Will be preached by the
Rev. Alexander Mckenzie. u. d.. OF
Cambridge. Mass