Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-10-27
sRArrLEBoRo, FRIDAY, OCT, 81, 1905
No Cause for OHense.

The storm of protest and apology
which has followed the action of the
executive committee in excluding UNI
tartan delegates from the interchurch
conference on federation to be held IN
New York in November, seems wholly
unnecessary and most unpleasant
when one considers the facts in the
case. Much misunderstanding seems
to have arisen in connection with the
matter.
Leaders of the movement for the
conference say that II is not an en-
largement of the national federation
of churches. 1t was started on SIN
gle evangelical basis and such bodies
were invited as, having common
ground. might be expected to cooper
ate with some prospect of success. The
call for the conference was issued by
the national federation at the request
of the national council of Congrega-
tionalists
ANY one at all familiar with the
Trinitarian and Unitarian faiths
knows that they are widely different in
their vital conceptions. 1t Is hard TO
see how thew could work together for
the evangelization of the world, which
should be the first and urgent effort or
every evangelical church. believing, as
they claim to do. in the lost condition
of the human SOUL the necessity or a
new birth and regeneration through
belief in the Saviour. If they really
do believe this. is it desirable that
they should enlist in their efforts the
services of other churches who do not
believe it? Charity and liberation
are commendable but liberality should
belief According to the evangelical
belief, a man may be all that is hui
name and moral and still not have the
saving belief which makes him a
Christian We may argue that this is
a narrow creed, but can we blame a
man who honestly believes it. for be-
ing particular about the creed of
workers sent into the field of the UNI
converted? 1t is one thing from the
evangelical standpoint. to be aiding
and uplifting the world by humane
and philanthropic measures; but quite
another to be saving mems souls by
awakening conviction of sin and a
saving faith. All this must be consid-
cred before the action of the commit
tee on the conference is condemned.
No one would expect for a moment
that a physician of one school of med
icine would call brother from a diff
ferent school for consultation in a
critical case. Both might be working
for the same end-the restoration of
the sick patient-but they could not
possibly agree as to methods to be en-
ployed. Yet this disagreement would
be no discredit to either. Neither is
the disagreement of honest theolo-
gians discredit to any of them and
refusal to work together should not
be so understood: it is rather an indi-
cation of firm and virile conviction
of truth which is good for the world.
1t is not necessary or desirable that
opposing religious beliefs be clipped
or yelled for the expediency of liberal
federation. They are all needed for
the uplifting of the varying types of
humanity and they would lose in indi-
vidual power by composition more than
they would gain in federated strength.
Yet the division of faiths need not
q of hn in
the sympathy and helpfulness which
may be found in many common activ-
tiles.
'Side by side may we stand at the
same little gate
When all's done. The ways they are
many
The end is one.
We can only be loyal. each to the
truth as he sees it.