The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-17
CHURCH FEDERATION
CONFERENCE OF EVANGELICAL.
 DEN0MENATEONs nEGINs.
wenort of the Executive Comrnistse Sets Forth the Purposes Of the
 Conventiop-.lDrs MaeArthur
 35&fI5s.it Speayxs. ss sxsa

New York, Nov. 1e.--The report of the executive committee before the inter-church conference on federation in Carnegie Hall was the first business taken up by that body today.
 The report reviewed the beginning of the movement toward conference ana declared that. there was no inten- ton at any time to invite all tne churches to the conference, but only inc larger churches and those already in fraternal relations and supstantiai agreements as to fundamentai Shris- tian doctrine"
 The letter of invitation sent out by the Executive Committee. the report saws, has received an affirmative re- sponse from twenty-eight churches. This letter contains the following statements as to the nature, object ana powers of the movement;
 What we pi opose is federation or denominations to be created by the de- nominations themselves
 We believe that the great Christian body in our country should stand to- gether should enter in the discussion and give impulse to all great move ments that make for righteousness.
 Work Enough to Do.
 We believe that questions like those of marriage, divorce, Sabbath desecra- ton, social evils, child labor, the. re- iation of labor to capital, problems that are created by foreign immisra- tion, the bettering of the conditions of The -laboring class and the moral and religious training of the young. concern Christians of every name and demand their united and concerted ac- tion.
 Tt is our conviction that there should be a closer union of forces and more effective use of the resources of the Christian Churches in the different cities and towns and when feasible in other communities and fields. with view to an increase of power and of results in all Christian work. Tt Is understood that Its basis would not be one of credal statement or gov ernmental form. but of cooperative work and effort.
 "It Is also understood that the or ganization shall have power only to advise the constituent bodies repre- sented
 Spiritual Welfare of World.
 "In closing this report. the commit tee desires to emphasize the fact that the source of the movement toward federation which has resulted in the assembling of this conference is found in the growing fraternal feeling be- twesn the different Christian Churches of the country and in the widespread desire for concerted action in Chris tian work with a view to the spiritual welfare of the nation and world" Rev. Dr. Robert S. McArthur, of the Cavalry Baptist Church. spoke a few words of welcome, in which he said the present conference would be far and away the most important confer ence on Professionalism ever held and that his report would be made on it during the next few days.
 Rev. William Hays Ward of New York, chairman of the Committee on Committees. Federation and Unity of the National Council of ConRrera- tional Churches. then addressed the conferennce.
 After reviewing various methods used by those who attempted to unify the Chrustian church in the past. Dr. Ward said:
 FellowAhfpS and Uniona. "The great fellowships and unions that we are now achieving at home and abroad are on the old basis set by the example of the Apostles at Je- rusalem. on the liberty of the several bodies of believers, to wear their own colors. whether they choose to march l as separate companies or consent to lock step in the same regiment. Thus, we express both sound fellowship and yet the consent of separate convic- tions in our Young Mems Christian As | sociations and our Christian Eudeav- I ors and our Bible Societies and our | Federations, as also in the unions which m Scotland Australia. Canada and the United States have consoli- dated strong denominations into single