Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-08
REPLY MADE BY
THE UN|TAR|ANS
PREPARED BY LEADING MEN OF
THE SECT
Communication Is in Protest Against
Barring Of Delegates From the
lntersChureh Con-
ference
w Associated Press.

"
BOSTON. Dec. IA reply to their
exclusion as Unitarian delegates from
the inter-church conference on federa-
tion at New York has been prepared
by Rev. DR.. Edward Everett Hale,
former Governor John d. Long and
Samuel A.. Eliot, president of the Uni-
tartan association, and today this was
forwarded In the form of letter to
the pastors of all the Unitarian churches
of Boston. 1t Will be read from the
pulpits next sunday.
The Delegates who had been elected
by the Unitarian national conference
were debarred from the privileges or
taking part in the inter-church con-
ference on the ground that their de-
nomination Is, from the standpoint OF
the conference, non-eVangelical The
address said in part:
1--WE were refused admission to the
meeting on the ground that Unitarians
are not Christians. Our characters
were not impea ched. but our beliefs
were condemned as heretical. In spite
of the protest of the most distinguished
Christian scholars and leaders of other
denominations than our own, this eX-
clusion has now been confirmed by the
action of the conference itself. The
Unitarian churches are definitely
omitted from the list of the Christian
bodies entitled to representation in
the federated council of the churches
of Christ i'm America.
1--WE make no controversy over this
action, which puts not us but its pro-
moters al the bar of an enlightened
public opinion. 1t seems time for us
to affirm anew the simple truth pro-
claimed of old by Christ himself. that
righteousness of life and spiritual eff
"a nrih nf
is the test of Christian discipleship.
We affirm that the doing of the will
of the Master is the vital thing, and that
beliefs about nature of the Christ are
unimportant in comparison with prac-
tical obedience to his precepts.
The Unitarian churches of America
and all who desire to promote pure
Christianity in our land should be
glad to be confronted by stimulat ting
challenge. Whatsoever good things
these other denominations propose to
accomplish, and we deeply appreciate
the good they do, it is manifest that,
as represented by this action, they are
both unwilling and unable to commit
themselves to the great Christian prin-
ciples of freedom and brotherhood.
1T is for us. therefore, to urge with
new insistence and in the spirit of
universal fellowship the ideals of faith
and conduct that lie back of all the diff
ferent theologieS and that breathed
true worship of all the churches, and
to teach that under the inspiration and
life of Christ men may here and now
enter into his high discipleship in
honest 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 signifi-
cant work. We certainly shall not try
to build higher the barriers which
seem to stand between us and our
brethren of other Christian commun-
IONS God forbid that any among us
should make that sad mistake. We are
called upon to recognize that our dis
tinctive 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 a simple and rational Christian
faith and of spiritual high mindedness,
by living lives of public spirited serv-
ice and widespread charity, by in
creasing the power and usefulness of
our liberal churches and upbuilding
our institutions. we shall help to keep
in Christian discipleship those who
have been alienated from all religious
connections and best promote the cause
of truth, freedom and righteousness.
when the good time comes that our
brethren in other Christian denomina-
tions know lis better they will find us
ready most cordially to cooperate with
them and with all other religious
bodies and bring the kingdom of God
on EARTH