The National tribune., 1904-06-02
GREAT cHuRcH REUNIONS.

| reetion OF the ratification OF Protestant de-
nominations. The feeling toward this has
been rapidly growing of late years. until
it has taken possession of all thinking
workers along those lines. AS one of the
speakers said durin. the debate OH the sub
ject in the AIethodist-P Protestant Conven-
| ton:
"Lutherans are divided into Is different
bodies. Bapti$ts into IL. Presbyterians into
~ and McthodiSts into IL. Who is wise
enough to show Ii; how and to what extent
| the kingdom OF God il being proiited by
all these divisions? Does presbyterianism
have - and MethosliStism II different mes
sa se>, To the world: How ridiculous the
thought OF having IL varieties OF Luther
ans and ii HaptStS i'll the same town or
mission field. Tn" fact is we over
organized. Our machinery is too pondnrous
and complex. 1t requires SO much energy
ana money 10 keep 1t going that we have
| but little to use beyond the machinery it
self. Just think of the missionary ana
church extension or.a nZationS. of the pub
| fishing plants. colleges. theological semi
naries and the great number and variety of
other benevolent institutions which are
fairly piled upon each other. No wonder
there is friction aud great Waste. Nor
need we lie surprised that level-headed lay
men are getting tired of seeing Their money
wasted and are beginning to seek remedy
Away with the deluSion that the God
| OF all Wisdom and grace has planned for
| the continued existence of these ecclesiaS
| teal divisions and subdivisions. with 100
more that might be named. whose presence
can not be explained on any rational
grounds or in harmony with the spirit of
the gospel.
Mere federation will not accomplish
| what we want. We must go further. The
call of God at this hour to husband our
resources and to unity our forces. to the
end that we may conquer and win, is loud
and clear.
How humiliating the thought that very
much of the money raised in this country
/ '>tcnSlbly to save the heather is spent in
Keeping up ecclesiastical distinctions ard
consequently the most shameful rivalrieS.
Why should 4 town of cn,y IL few hundred
people he burdened with half dozen
churches. when two. ut nest. would an
swer every purpose? Yei we have scores
and hundreds of slclI Over-churcheI towns.
Christian work. so-called. degenerates into
IL mere scramble for existence.
| In concentration we will find Il solu-
ton of many of the problems which con
front and annoy us: and this ccntraiza
ton * impossible where Il multiplicity of
similar Organi2a tons exist. 1t is 4 sin to
waste Gods money in duplicating agen-
cieS. and yet this is being done all tire
| time"
| The result of THE Methodist Protestant
Convention in this city was long step in
the uniting of that important body of
Christians with the equally important Con-
gregationalists and United Brethren. This
| will bring together nearly 1000. 900 active
communicates. which. with those closely
affiliated with them. will at least quintupIe
the number. There is il little surprise at
| hhiS alliance. because one naturally thinks
of the Cungregationalists being more close
| ~ drawn to their Presbyterian brethren
and the United Brethren. perhaps. to the
| Baptist dpno,hnation. Evidently, how
ever. those in charge of the movement know
what they are about. and where there is
the best chance for successful alliance
Of the same grade Of Importance is what
looks to be a cOnsummation at last of the
much-talkcd-of Pan-Presbyterian move
ment. For many years there have been
| strong efforts made to bring the Northern
and Southern presbyterians together. and
| there seemed no reason why these disci
pies Of the Prince of Peace should not for
get sectional differences, and join together
in their great work. As long ago as 1882
| the Annual Assemblies Of the Northern
and Southern Presbytcrians tried to pave
the way to this end by expungng from their
records the harsh things they had said TO
one another during the rebellion. This was
not effectual because many things were left
| unexprnge,l. or some things added which
| kept no the. division The Presbyterians
are good haters and it takes them long
| time to get over their wrath. In the action
of the Northern Presbyterian General A,
| scmblies chance was taken to say that
while they withdrew all aspersions they
had previously cast upon the Christian
| character of the slave owners, they did not
| withdraw anything about loyalty and re-
| bc!loL." The Southern presDyterians. on
the other hand, reiterated their belief that
the Northern Presbyterians had mailed
the cross of Christ to the chariot wheel Of
the imperial Cesar" and SO they went
ahead their several paths.
| At the meeting of the 10th General AS
sembly Of the Presbyterian Church Of
| America (Northprnb at Buffalo, last week,
| the Assembly. with only one negative vote,
decided to remove from the minutes all as
PERSONS and charges rejecting on the
Christian character of the Southern Pres
byterians. This information was imme-
diately telegraphed to the Southern Pres
|
and was received with an enthusiasm and
an Outburst never before known in so
grave and decorous body and the South
erners, after debating the matter for some
time. sent the following reply:
1.-The General Assembly of the Presby-
terrain Church in the United States learns
with JOY of the action of your Assembly in
the removal of all aspersions upon the
Christian character of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States and declares
it's readiness to follow the leadings of
Providence in the matter of closer rela-
tons, oyertures touching upon which are
now before us for consideration
The Assembly at Buffalo also took steps
looking to a reunion with the Cumberland
Church. which was at the time holding its
General Assembly at Dallas, Texas This
is body of Presbyterians having it's men,
bership mainly in the South and South
west, and which seeded from the parent
body in 1910. before the slavery question
came up, dividing on doctrinal and educa-
tional grounds. According to the latest
figures thesenthree bodies have the follow
in strength GrIp
Northern PresbSterians, ministers, 1851 |:
churches, 1862 = communicates. 1924. 1876.