The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-17
OPPOSE A
COMMUNAL
CHURCH


Newell Dwight Hills, the distinguished
pastor of the Plymouth Congregational
church of Brooklyn, n. Y, in which nc
deals with the matter Of consolidation
among churches, has created decided
wave of agitation throughout the coun-
try Churchmen and prominent students
Of the subject are divided In approval
and disapproval Of Dr. Hills views
Rev. T.. Tallmadge Root, the Held secre-
tary Of the Rhode Island Federation OF
Churches and Prof James Quayle Dealey.
the president OF the federation. are In
ciined TO take up the question and while
strongly approving OF the spirit shown
by DR.. Hills. feel that much must be
considered in disapproval Of the plans
sdgges'e ed by him.
The article OF DIR. Hills was In the
form of a letter and appeared In a re-
cent number Of a well known magazine.
His views are striking and his sugses-
tions practical and strongly convincing.
The doctor believes that the wave OF
cor solidation that has carried before II
so extensively the business and educa-
tional interests OF the country has at
lats assailed the religious organizations
o. the land. There are over leo denom-
nations represented among the worship
pers of America Six or eight churches
maintained In communities averaging but
2Ooo in population. These eight churches
cannot enjoy prosperity with so small
a number 10 call upon for support The
funds must remain pitifully low, the sal
aries meagre and all departments OF
church activity cramped and hindered
through lack Of proper support Village
schools are united in one institution, the
modern graded school. Why not the
churches likewise? asks Dr. Hills Ono
| consolidated communal church. with a
pastoral staff OF three, preacher, teacher
| and pastor with large chorus. Bible
school, etc, uniting the religious and
/ social life OF the community now so
sadly divided-therein Is the remedy as
| advocated by the Brooklyn divine.
In support OF this strong and timely
/ letter from DIT Hills the president and
field secretary of the Rhode Island Fed
Grafton OF churches have issued the fol-
| lowing:
I'VE are glad that Or. Hills has spoken
/ as he has. Such utterances from such a
source ought to convince all that the
| present organization of Protestant Chris
| tianity Is inadequate to meet present day
| conditions, and that important changes OF
some sort are Inevitable. We assent 10 the
| assertion that to meet modern needs al
Christians must sink their differences in
|
| nifty. We 60 further and apply this prin-
| ciple to the city as well as the village.
But we cannot state too emphatically
that federation proposes no such imme-
diate and sweeping consolidation oi
churches. To make evident the fnsupera
BILE difficulties OF such an attempt. IL 1:
sufficient to ask: To what denomination
would the communal churches belong
The plan which DR.. Hills considers 81
easy involves nothing les& than tn,
speedy elimination of the denominations
Even granting that there Is a deliberate
purpose on the part OF those who holC
the purse strings to starve out most o
them-and so far as we can see, demon
national appeals still secure larger finan
cial response than any other-starvatioI
Is n slow and painful process. Religlou
organiza zations have the instinct OF self
preservation well as individuals. Tn
attempt TO carry out DR.. Hills program
would involve churches and communitie
In controversy and conflict.
Totally different Is the theory and
practice of federation Federation recog.
nizes that the dearlywon principles and
policy Of each and every denomination are
too valuable lightly 10 be thrown away
and their strength too great 10 make their
elimination conceivable for many years
TO come Recognizing on the other hand
that changes I'm the direction Of closer
cooperation are necessary, IL nOluS tna'
the only safe or possible way is 10 hav,
these changes made by the denomination
nj authorities themselves in mutual con
ference and cooperation. The govern
ing body OF the federation Is a state OF
national council. each denomination hav
ing proportionate representation. officially
appointed and responsible. Already, fol
the National convention Of November
1875. delegates have been appointed by
national bodies having a total member
ship Of over 100000. Thus the denomina
tlons keep control Of the movement. ant
can secure such steps In cooperation al
are Just and fair 10 all and supporte,
by the general sentiment In this way
consolidation OF churches can be secure,
with the cordial acauiescence of all con
cerned. as has been repeatedly done b.
the Maine Interdenominational commits
, sion; and where conditions do not reouir'
or permit. this. the Christians OF the com
munity can present common front b.
, the parish system or other form OF co
operation.
"If. for any reason. the conservative
movement should fail. DR.. Hillis's artcl