The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-12-14
Rev. Florence Buck Makes Public
Response Of Unitarian Church
toCounciI Christian Bodies
THEY TAKE UP CHALLENGE
Will Fight Christian Church Fedora
ton on Lines Laid Down by the
Leaders of the Movement
An Open Letter

At the morning services at the First
Unitarian church on Sunday morning
the Rev. Florence Buck took up the
question of the action of the Christian
Church Federation of New York, in
excluding the delegates Of the Uni
tartan church from the deliberations
of that body, and it is certain that the
members of the Kenosha society will
stand shoulder to shoulder with the
leaders of the church in defending the
tenets of the Unitarian faith. The
Rev. Miss Buck read in the Kenosha
church an open letter from Edward
Everett Hale, John D. Long and Sam
ue1 A. Elliott, which was in part as
| follows:
"To the Ministers and Laity of the
Unitarian Churches: It is known to
all that great meeting of delegates
from various Christian bodies has
been held in New York City under
| the name of the Inter Church Confer
ence on Federation. AS all Christian
bodies were invited to take part in
this movement, we, the undersigned,
we're, in natural response and in fra
terna1 good will, appointed as repre-
sentatives of the free Christian
| churches called Unitarian.
"We we're, however, refused admis-
sion to the meeting on the ground
that Unitarians are not Christians.
Our characters were not impeached,
but our beliefs were condemned as
heretical. In spite of the protest of
number of the most distinguished
Christian scholars and leaders of
other denominations than our own,
this exclusion has now been con-
f1rmed by the action of the conference
itself. The Unitarian churches are
definitely omitted from the list of the
Christian bodies entitled to represent
tation in the Federal Council of
Churches of Christ in America.
I'VE make no controversy over this
action, which puts not us, but its pro-
motors, at the bar of an enlightened
public opinion. In view of it, how
ever, it seems timely for us to affirm
anew the simple truth, proclaimed of
old by Christ himself, that righteous
ness of life and spiritual efficiency
rather than orthodoxy of belief is the
test of Christian discip1eship. We
affirm that the doing Of the will of the
Master is the vital thing, and that be-
liefs about the nature of Christ are
uninportant in comparison with prac-
tical obedience to his precepts.
1.-THE Unitarian churches of Amer
lea, and all who desire to promote
pure Christianity in our land, should
be glad to be confronted with slim
u1ating challenge. Whatsoever good
things these other denominations pro-
pose to accomplish, and we deeply
appreciate the good theysdo, it is man
ifest that, as represented by this ac-
ton, they are both unwilling and I'M
able to commit themselves to the
great Christian principles of freedom
and brotherhood. It is for us, there
fore, to urge, with new insistency and
in the spirit of universal fellowship,
the ideals of faith and conduct that
lie back of all the different theo1ogies,
and that breathe in all the true wor-
ship of all the churches, and to teach
that under the spirationsol the life
of Christ men may here'and now e-ter
into his high discipleship in no. est
and unselfish service of the present
age,
I'VE therefore appeal to all liberal
Christians to put fresh courage and
patient devotion into.their own signi-
fcant work. Let us each and all be-
lieve more stoutly than ever in our
mission to mankind, and go to work
for it with heart, and head and hand.
We certainly shall not try to build
higher the barriers which seem to
stand between us and our brethren of
other Christian communions. God
forbid that any among US should
. make that ad mistake.
eve are called upon to recognize
that our distinctive message, which
we believe to be and strive to make
the truth Of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
is still needed in all parts of the
world. By fearlessly proclaiming the
ideals Of simple and rational Chris
tan faith and of spiritual high
mindedness, by living lives of public
spirited service and widespread
charity, by increasing the power and
usefulness of our liberal churches and
| upbnilding our institutions we shall
help to keep in Christian discipleship
those who have beer alienated from
all religious connections, and best
promote the cause of freedom, truth,
i and righteousness.
When The good time comes that