The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-24
CONTINUED from First Page.)
Differences in Belief.

OlIeIeuCeS IN 6cne1.
There always is. and there always
must be. much liberty Of Interpretation:
tire is no Christian denomination IL
which earnest and devout men are not
found who in some particulars differ
very positively with the beliefs that are
held by the majority; and opinions range
widely IN the communions that are
closest. Ever IN the Roman Catholic
Church. with its rigid dogmatic texts,
there are differences OF opinion, even
about the meaning of the phrases which
ell profess 10 accept.
Il dare say that between loyal Metho-
dist Professionals there are doctrinal dif-
ferences much wider than those between
the typical Methodist Protestant and the
typical Congregationalist. 1t is not TO
be deplored: it is a matter for profound
thanksgiving that such wide ranges Of
thought can be included within a sincere
Christian faith Uniformity OF religious
opinion is no more to be desired than
uniformity Of leaf and blossom, OF face
and figure.
1T is possible that IL these three
/ Christian bodies should come together
in one there would be found in that
larter fellowship some greater variety
Of opinion than now exists in any one
/ of them, but 1 am persuaded that with
this greater variety there would also
appear a deeper and stronger unity. We
should be constrained to seek for points
OF agreement, TO emphasize the things
/ wherein we are at one, and one un-
/ important difference would only serve
/ to throw into a brighter light our es-
| sential duty
Question of Union.
1.-THE definite question is submitted to
YOU. as to the other two national bodies
the question whether you are ready to
unite with the others in calling togeth-
| er a general council to which shall be
! committed the task of working out the
problem Of unity The business Of that
council would be to consider and formu-
/ late plans by which the unity toward
which we are reaching out could be
progressively realized. 1t would signify
/ something more than federation. fol
/ federation, as 1 understand IL. contem-
plates the maintenance intact Of al
/ the parts and each of the denomination
taking part in II.
This general council proposes TO dc
much more than this. IL proposes C
/ find ways in which the three denomina
lions shall Immediately become one II
certain important parts of the worl
| which they are now carrying forward
It will address itself first, perhaps. Il
! the question of whether much of oui
missionary work cannot be consolidated
with good results. Why should not tn,
entire foreign missionary work be car
ried on by one missionary organiza
tion?''
DR.. GLADDEN. said furthermore. that thu
only point on which there could pos
| sibly be any contention would be tina
as TO the form of government. II th'
general plan OF union IS agreed upon
! however. II is not likely that a draw
| back OF this nature Will prove barrie
TO the consolidation of the three de
nominations.
DR.. Weekly's. Address.
DR.. Weekly. who is secretary of III,
joint committee. was also given a cor
dial greeting when he arose to address
the conference. In his speech he dwell
at length on the fact that the existenc
OF too many denominations is not onl,
hurtful TO every church. but is like
yoke on Christianity.
while there is a growing tendenc
among tho evangelical churches Of othe
lands to bury their differences. and Z
find a common ground upon which I
stand" he said. there is also a stron
leaning toward union. am glad to say
In our own country among denomina
lions similar IN doctrine government
The only way to avoid hurtfuI com
petition and TO economic men, money
and time IS 70 unite our churches int
fewer bodies. Any policy Is wrong tina
compels a waste OF resources.
Money for the Heather.
How humiliating the thought tha
very much Of the money raised in tbi
country, ostensibly TO save the heather
Is spent In keeping up ecclesiastical dis
tinetions. and consequently the most hur
full rivalries. Why should a town OF onI
few hundred people be burdened wit
half a dozen churches. when two a
most would answer every purpose? Ye
we have scores and hundreds Of sue
oyerchurched towns.
Under such circumstances. Christia
i work. so-called, degenerates into a mer