Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-02
AN IMPORTANT COUNCIL.

The most important action taken by
the interchurch conference recently in
session IN New York. was Tho agree
ment 10 organize federal council to
represent the churches in the fedora
ton, but without amy voice in matters
pertaining only TO the Individual bodies
composing that association. The coun.
ell Is TO he a kind OF central govern
ment without power or responsibility
IN the government OF the respective
churches.
The council will consist of several
hundred members. each church being
entitled to at least four representatives.
Larger churches, however. will be more
strongly represented being allowed one
delegate for each $4,000 members or
major fraction OF that number. ON
this scale It is estimated that the Bap-
fist churches, North. South and coll
ored. VIII have 90 members; Methodists
North so; Methodists South 81: Dis
ciples OF Christ "a: Congregationalists
is; Presbyterians North %; Episcopa-
Hans 20, and United Brethren 6.
The federal council Is to have a pros.
ident a vice president from each body
composing II, corresponding and re-
cording secretaries, treasurer and an
executive committee. Expenses Of the
council. and salaries OF the officers are
to be- paid by the churches in The fed
GRAFTON. 1t is said that the president
Of the federal council to be. and indeed
it's corresponding secretary, will Occur
ny positions Of great responsibility. not
to say delicacy. Such officers will
speak for evangelical America" when
occasion arises. otherwise, the func-
lions Of the council are only advisory.
The objects to be gained are: TO ex-
press the fellowship and catholic unity
Of the Christian church, to bring all
into united service for Christ: 10 en-.
courage counsel concerning activities:
and especially. "To secure "A larger
combined Influence Tor the churches OF
Christ IN all matters affecting the nor
al ana social condition Of the peop;e
SO rs to promote the application of the
law Of Christ IN every relation of hui
man life" and. TO assist In the organ
izatIon Of local branches Of the federal
council TO promote its aims in their
communities"
Provision was made Tor the admit
lance Of other churches than those rep
resented at the initial conference. but Il
takes vote Of two thirds Of the coun-
ell, and tWo-thlrdt OF the churches
represented But it IS a foregone cou-
clusion that only Protestant trinitar-
ians need apply Tor membership An
others are excluded by the declaration
Of platform or the preamble which de-
clarcs:
More fllIy 90 manifest the essential
oneness of tho Christian churches VI
Ameriyp lu Jesus Christ as their Di-
vine Lord and Savior etc"
The word "di,lne" was. after an ami
mated discussion, inserted, so as to
exclude all Protestant "heretics' ON
that doctrine.
Many important addresses were de-
tNered during the conference. DR..
Stevenson rightly defined the church
as a missionary society because a
church without a mission. as the sects
OF today are, is no church at all. Pres
idsnt c. c. Hail spoke OF the duty OF
Christians to extend a pustful and
inclusive spirit TO all who seek FOR the
light, tie said that there are all over
the world men not Set within the inner