Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-11-23
The Observer.


ence, now in sessions in New York
City, is an outgrowth of a sentiment
that is every year becoming stronger.
Yet we must not think that the desire
for unity among Christians is a thing
of recent origin and growth, or that
this present conference is the first
movement that has been made towards
bringing some sort of practical order
out of the ecclesiastical chaos. 1t is
not the first of such movements, nor is
it likely to prove the last. For this
reason we should not hope for too
much from it. A year or two ago an
Inter-Church Conference on divorce,
held in New York, recommended GER
tain legislation to the various ecclesi-
astical bodies represented in it; but so
far as we know the recommendation
has not received the slightest attention
from any of the denominations to
which it was offered. 1t is compara-
lively easy thing for the representa-
tives of various churches to agree up
on some Inns of action which in their
judgment might with profit be follow
ed by their respective churches; but it
is another and more difficult matter to
get the various authoritative bodies to
adopt the recommended course of
| action. One is tempted to draw
cynical contrast between the vast
amount of labor and talk that attends
the organization and conduct of an
inter-church conference, and the infin-
itesimal results which seem to come
from it all.
Two generations ago there was a
movement somewhat similar to the
present proposed federation The be-
ginning of the Evangelical Alliance, in
1915 and following years, was marked
by degree of interest and enthusiasm
which seems to be wanting in connec-
tion with the present movement, yet
one hears nothing now of the Evangel-
ical Alliance. 1t still maintains its or
ganization, as we see by referring to
Strong's Social Progress" but what it
is doing to carry out its objects Christ
ian unity, religious liberty and CO.
operation in Christian work does not
appear.
Though the present proposed feder-
alton recalls the Evangelical Alliance,
there is marked difference in the OBJ
| jects of the two movements. The
| chief concern of the Alliance was for
the maintenance of certain type of
| doctrinal beliefs, and it is to this cir
cumstance that it owes its present de-
| cay. The controversies and shibbo.
lettes of two generations ago have
been largely forgotten. Advances in
| biblical scholarship, the subtle inhu-
ence of the scientific spirit upon
theology, aud the growth of the spirit
practical social service, have caust d
the modern Christian mind to see
things in new perspective.
The chief concern of the proposed
federation may be summed up in one
word: practical service. Its purpose
Is not so much to define Christ, as to
carry out His will. Many practical
difficulties will attend the formation
and work Of such a federation; but its
object is one that will endure Though
its beginning may not be marked by
the enthusiasm which attended the
formation of the Evangelical Alliance,
the Observer ventures to think that the
proposed federation may do more than
did the Alliance towards the realiza-
ton of Christian unity.
Ought Unitarians to be admitted to
this federation? Inasmuch 'as the aim
of the federation is that of practical
service, why should Trinitarians refuse
to cooperate with an organization
which numbers among it's members
such men as President Eliot, DIR. Ed
ward Everett Hale, ex-Secretary Long,
and the Hon. Carroll ID. Wright?