The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

BRoTHERI,Y SPIRIT GAINING,
WRITES PRESIDENT SALMON.
Evidence Of Harmony in Tendency To
ward Unifcstion of Protestant Or
ganizations Contained in Recent Mer-
ger Gathering of Churches at Day
ton, Ohio. -

Ry w. n. Salmon, President OF Carleton
College.
That religious organizations are in
harmony with the tendency Of the
times towards Capitalization and unfit
cation was evidenced by a significant
gathering at Dayton. Ohio, last week,
wher representatives Of the Congrega-
tional, United Brethren in Christ and
Methodist Protestant denominations,
including delegation from Minneapo-
lis, met to discuss ways and means for
bringing about the organic unity OF
the three churches. s=s -
Resolutions looking towards closer re-
1ations between these bodies have been
introduced in their national confer
ences from time to time, and commit
tees have been appointed to open nego-
tiations. After getting together it
was discovered that they were divided
more by church government than by
creed, and that all Of them were some
what alike in the matter of church gov
eminent.
The Congregationalists broke away
from the Church Of England in 1902,
when "several religious people in the
north Of England, driven by their
troubles to see further into these
things by the light Of the word Of God"
determined to "shake off this yoke Of
anti Christian bondage, and, as the
Lords free people, join themselves by
covenant into g. church state, to walk
in all his ways made known orB to be
made known to them, according to their
best endeavors, whatever it cost: them
Each Church Unit. S4o,e -
The descendants Of these Puritans
fourished in America, but altho there
had been numerous conferences between
the members Of various Congregational
churches, notably one at Boston in
1865, when more than 500 delegates
were present, 1t was not until 1871 that
anything like an organization Of the
various churches took place.
In that year, at Oberlin, Ohio, ma
tional delegation representing twenty
under the name Of 'The Nationa
of the United States,'' but the individ
lutte independence. They have now il
round numbers 100000 members, min
theological seminaries, forty or NOR
colleges planted by them and more o
less closely affiliated with their church
es and twenty missions in India, China
Japan, Africa, Turkey and other fol-
eign countries.
The Methodist Protestant denomins
ton arose in 1880 thru controversy
the Wesleyan church. The seceders d.
manded equal lay and clerical repr
sentation and the abolition Of the cpl
copacy. The Wesleyans have admitte
the first but denied the second.
The Methodist Protestants may
said to be strongest in those sections
the country where the Congregations
lists are weakest, Q. g., Maryland, We
Virginia and Delaware. They ha7
$4,000 members, four colleges, the
logical seminary a publishing hou
and foreign missions in Japan and CT
ma. They are extremely orthodox al
stand for a modified itineracy.
otterbein's Church.
Unlike the Congregationalists a.
the Methodist Professionals the Unit
Brethren in Christ church Ito be d
tinguished from the United Brethrt
or Moravians) was not born in reb
lion Philip William Otterbein is r
ognized as it's founder. He came
America in the days when forei
countries were sending their missi'
aries over here. While preaching
Pennsylvania as missionary Of
Reformed church Of Holland before |
revolution, he decided that he hims
had not received the new birth.
While in this state of mental unr
he attended meeting led by Mar
Boehm, Mennonite preacher, who
some time before obtained what
deemed the new birth. At the conc
sion of q remarkably effective sern
by Boehm, Otterbein arose, embra
him and exclaimed, '@We are Bre
rem This was the origin Of the ma
of the new church. They have M
bership of 100000, three-quarters
whom are in Pennsylvania, Ohio, II
ana and Illinois, five colleges, a tt
logical seminary, two publishing HOT
and foreign missions in Africa, ia:
and Porto Rico.
These are the three churches
thru their delegates, appointed OF
basis Of one for each 5000 memb
have sought and found conn
ground for organic union Three c
mittees Of twenty-one from each b
submitted reports to the denominat
al delegations on "Vested Interest
'''Doctrine' and 'Polity.' These v
earnestly considered and sent for
ther consideration and reference to
general body.
Mutual concessions were made
the desire for flexible system Of
ity prevailed to the exclusion Of e,
disturbing element. The extent
which the spirit of fellowship and
sire for unity were manifested f
vent when the proposed creed or
= laration of faith of the new ur
church was presented.
Greeted by Applause.
AS each section was read an,
schism developed, it created a
remarkable situation. The appl