The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-02-15

100 BSlcEd1 C0uIlCl1s &8EN= OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Dayton, o., Feb. 9.-In the session or
the tri-church council the general com
mittce was increased by six delegates
from each denomination, making q
committee of siXty-three.
At the afternoon session Of the con
ference which is seeking the union OF
and Protestant Methodist denomina-
tons, the reports OF h committees
were received, and tonight these were
being put through a special inquisition,
It may be considered as settled that the
union Will not be effected and the only
hitch late tonight was as to the nama
the united denominations shall bean
Many names We're proposed, but the
United Church OF America seems to
be the most generally accepted.
The subcommittee In Its report on
vested interests reported that 1t saw
no insuperable obstacle in these inter.
ests to the ultimate union.
Elaborate Plan.
The committee on polity presented
an elaborate plan OF organization in.
der which local churches shall be
left free to conduct their business as
present custom provides. that there be
laymen and a national conference, the
last to be made up as delegates
chosen by the annual conference
from a list selected in the district con-
ferences on the basis OF one to every
10000 and one for every major fraction
thereof. The national conference is to
have the power to change the ratio OF
representation at any time.
The committee on doctrine presented
a declaration Of faith for the united
church. The declaration reads as fol,
lows:
We. the representatives Of the Congre,
g~ational churches. the Church Of the
United Brethren in Christ n the Metho.
d1st ep pEoses tar church sn1os w rsiPice o At this ano tlms
Christ. in the love Of Goa and for fellow.
~ sfiP fa II the and ho age splr,s; t In thia Solemn ghs nr ae'
head of the church. we do most humbly
and confidently make confession OF our
faith and heartily renew the consecra-
ton OF our lives to Him and to the service
Of mankind.
/. Our bond OF union consists In that In
ward and personal faith in Jesus Christ as
our divine savior and Lord, on which all
Dur churcses are founded; alsoetn our ac-
r%eptance Of the holy, scriptures as the in-
spired source Of our faith and the supreme
consent to the teaching OF the ancient
symbols OF the undivided church and to
fhat substance Of Christian dectrine which
which we have inherited from the past.
But We hunbly depend, as did our fathers.
on the continued guidance Of the holy
spirit to lead us into all truth.
2. We believe that God, the father and
Lord Of all, did send his son Jesus Christ
10 redeem us from sin and death by the
perfect obedience of His holy will in life,
by the sacrifice of Himself on the cross
and by His glorious resurrection from the
dead.
g. We believe that holy spirit. the spirit
Of God and of Christ moves in the hearts
Of men. calling them through The gospel
to repentance and faith. awakening i'm
them spiritual sorrow for past sin and
confidence in the mercy OF God, together
With new desires and a new power to obey
/ His will,
Assured of Forgiveness.
4. We believe that those Of the sons OF
men, who. hearing Gods call of divine
love, do heartily put their trust in thu
savior, whom his love provided, are as
sured by Ills word of His most fatherly
forgiveness, of His free and perfect favor
and the presence of His spirit in their
hearts.
s. We believe all who are through faith
the children Of God constitute the church
of Christ, the spiritual body Of whichFIe is
the head; that He appointed them to pro-
claim His gospel to all mankind, to mani
fest in their character and conduct the
fruit OF His spirit: that He has granted
them freedom to create such officers and
institutions as may in each generation
serve unto those ends, and thai for thu
comfort Of our faith He has given to this
church the sacred ordinances of baptism
and the Lords supper.
6. We believe that according to Christ's
law men OF the Christian faith exist
wholly for the service of man not only in
holding forth the word of life, but In. the
support of works and institutions Of piety
and charity. in the maintenance of human
freedom in the deliverance of all those
that are oppressed. in the enforcement of
civic justice and the rebuke. of all upright
eousness. Possessed of these convictions,
both as truths which we do most firmly
hold and acts of faith which spring from
our hearts, we do, therefore, in the happy
contamination of this union and In tho
sent. commit ourselves, body, soul ana
spirit, to the faith, love and service Of
Him who made US and saved us, the ever
last God, our Father, Redeemer and
Lord. To HIM be ascribed all praise and
dominion and glory, world without end.