New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-13
CHURCH BAR KEPT UP,
NO RECONSIDERATION.
Letters on ErcIusion Of Unitar1ans
Made Public.

The Rev DR. F. B. Sanford secretary or the
Inter-Church Conference or Federation yesterday
made public the letters exchanged between ilhseiA
and the Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Eliot regarding inc
exclusion of the representatives of the Unitarian
Church from membership. The Rev Dr. NJ f.
Dwight chairman Of the committee meetings,
said before the executive committee meeting yes
terday afternoon that the body would not recon-
slider its action and take in the delegates or the
Unitarian faith. His reason was that those VINO
do not believe in the divinity Of Christ cannot be
admitted into fellowship with the followers of
Christ.
After the meeting, when giving out copies of the
letters Dr. Sanford confirmed his colleagues state
ment. He said:
but it does not represent clash among our dele
gates, some papers say. The Federaton can
the head of the Church. It is distressing that the
Unitarian ChuTch shoulo nave GleCIeu cTf2 Go
since it has elected delegates such men as DR.:
honor honor for what they have done We want ell to
come in who without raising UNCONVENTIONAL
questions
DR.. Ellots letter TO DR.. Sanford reads:
I am advised by the Rev E T. Root my fellow
worker in the Massachusetts Federation of the
Churches, TO get into communication with you in
ton in New-York in November.
organization of which I am president. are repre-
scented in the State declarations of Massachusetts
and Rhode Island. and We have assumed, perhaps
unWarTantedly that the general invitation 10 the
Christian COmmuntOnS OF the land TO meet IN the
inter church conference in November includes our
churches and organizations. AS the purpose for
which serve, and one Of the aims and principles
are peculiarly interested IN the proposed
Doint strong and reDresenative delegation
In the course of the summer have learned through
friends that IN the conference may be
unwelcome to some of the friends who are coop
eaed at IN once 6os @ R ROOF %3d asked hm II
these rumors had any justine ton, He replied IN
em ferfore eonstrained to write directly to You
and TO ask TO lay this matter before the exec
It is Impossible FOR me to believe that an inter
| exclude the representatives of the churches that
American religious life and which have been fore
mistake IN judgment to organize the proposed ma
from membership some Of the most beloved and
! trusted leaders of Christian life and thought in
| our land? The gentlemen who have already been
! appointed upon the Unitarian delegation are the
ab SP ng gsa y and hGn e. this don we have BEEN
| proposing add like the Hon. Carroll y
freq 5is3 4 White Of brooklyn; the Rev James H
Ecob. Of Philadelphia. and the Rev William ShaI n
| ming Gannett, of Rochester. Am l not right IN
thinking that the new federation would be ssri -
confidence If it has to be said that these repre-
sentative men are denied fellowship and the power
| to the cause in which we are all enilsleoF
DR.. Sanford replied on September 26 &:
stand It, Mr. Root stated the situation correctly;
The committee of correspondence felt constrained
to limit to extent the sending out of invita-
tions to UNCONVENTIONAL bodies asking them 10 p-
point delegates the coming Interchurct confer
ence on Federation. This action was taken after
committee would decline 10 reopen me dlSC,tss-
sion Of the matter. need scarcely add thaJ TINS
decision in way personal
Surely there few persons IN our American
life whom we all delight to honor more than those
you mention. Your regret cannot be more sincere
than of the committee on correspondence IhaT
the way did not seem clear 10 invite your national
association appoint delegates 10 the conference"
Boston Oct Fin an interview to-day the Rev
DR. Samuel A Eliot Of this city. president of the
American Unitarian Association commented upon
the action OF the executive committee OF the Inter-
Church Conference on Federation in excluding the
delegates of the Unitarian denomination. DR.. Eliot
said:
should like to say that the action of the ex-
ecutive committee of the federation (as under
stand, the executive committee and not the fedora
nut the federation in false light before the Amer
lean people. It's membership should be inclusive
rather than exclusive. The UnitaTians ready to
cooperate in all good causes ana are only sorry
that the men of the other Christian cOmnuniOns
deny to them the chance of helDfulness. fear
that the American people will not believe much
in movement that denies 20 Edward Everett Haze
place in Its councils.
When asked under what conditions the Unitarians
were led to choose delegates, DR.. Eliot said that
no direct invitation to take part in the meeting
had been received, but that the Un!tar1ans took
1t for granted that they were considered eligible as
represented in the State federattOnS
Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
John D. Long thought the report from NeT-York