Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-15
NEW RELIGIOUS UNION.
Meeting Of Federation of Chris
tian Forces.
FOR LARGER FELLOWSHIP
Congregations Of Twelve Protestant
Churches Combine.
TO HELP MAKE GOOD CITIZENS
Many Enthusiastic Addresses Made at
Gathering in Georgetown Yester-
day Afternoon.
TO HELP MAKE GOOD CITIZENS

Va Iii Aoldu COIScc VI ocoi SCtoWA, hCAu
yesterday afternoon in the West Street
Presbyterian Church. was well attended by
a representative audience and much enthu-
siasm was manifested This meeting was
the result of an organization effected in De-
cember last and composed of the ministers
and two members of each of the congrega-
tons of twelve Protestant churches. At this
meeting it was decided to undertake two
fold work. touching Christian fellowship on
the one hand and good citizenship on the
other. The Christian fellowship was to be
promoted by a closer contact between
churches and by having a union meeting at
least every three months. The meeting yes
terday. therefore. was the initial one of
the fellowship work.
The exercises were opened by the congre-
cation singing Gloria Patri' Immediately
after that the invocation was offered by
Rev. j. Ernest Litsinger, pastor Of Mount
Tabor Methodist Protestant Church. Owing
to the absence of Rev. DIR. William NJ Pet
tbs, Rev George w. King of Dumbarton
Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church led the
congregation in the repetition Of the apos-
ties creed and in prayer. Miss Anna Eb-
rett Of st. Johns Church, 18th and H
streets, sang Awake, My Soul" Rev. w.
c. Alexander. pastor Of West Street Pres
byterian Church. made brief address of
welcome In which he said that he welcomed
the federation in the name of his church, as
well as extending the greater welcome of
the general church of Jesus Christ
Purpose Of Organization.
This was followed by brief address on
the object of the federation by the presi-
dent. Rev Zed H. Copp, who stated. as has
been above referred to. the rwo-fold object
of Christian fellowship and good citizen
ship The first, he said, should be brought
about by an acquaintance with each other
as children of the family of the Heavenly
Father. in union in moving specifically
against the united evils that confront them,
arrayed in the saloons, Sabbath desecra-
ton, Objectionable literature, poisoning the
minds OF the young. the growing tendency
to disregard the sanctity of the home. and
the Sunday sale of groceries. The agrees
sive work is to be along the lines. he said.
Of distributing the city and working 1t so as
to bring all in touch with the Christian
church. He said, further, that the mistake
of the church was that II tolerated a con-
dition of evil and permitted inaction, which
required % per cent of it's strength to COM
bat and overcome, and what was needed in
the community, he said is union of forces
that must result In victory over evil for the
individual. the home, the church, the COM
munity, the city and the nation.
The principal address of the meeting was
made by Rev John Lee Allison, pastor OF
the Gunton Memorial Presbyterian Church,
who spoke on the topic. Our Larger Fell
lowshap" Among other things he said:
'Our fellowship Is with the Father by ere
alton and redemption in His Son and by
guidance in HIS spirit, and God has placed
all things at the disposal of His children
He also declared that the nOblest work
and the highest privilege known to man is
fellowship with God In the sense of SYM
pathy and help among men. From this
point on in his address he dealt almost en-
tirely with Christian socialism or the dy-
namio force OF united Christian effort, and
showed by a number of apt ilIustra tons,
L.
the invinctble power OF a common impulse
when rightly directed He closed by wish
ing the movement to develop practical re-
suits and that It might spread city-wide
and ultimately ally all of Gods people in
one grand, united effort against the united
evils which must under such cooperation
be overcome
Three-minute addresses followed by. Rev
Clarence p. Stealey, pastor Of the West
Washington Baptist Church, who heartily
Endorsed the movement and compared the
occasion to the return of Jacobs sons
from Egypt with wagons loaded with pro-
visions for their father and said that the
united churches should load down its hands
with action for the kingdom of God. He
was followed by Rev. Frank B. Howden,
pastor Of St Johns Episcopal Church, who
expressed his delight at the evidence af-
forded of the spirit of harmony and union
among the churches. Rev. Thomas o.
Grouse. pastor OF the Congress Street
Methodist Church, was absent, owing to
church, as well as others whose pastors
could not be present for one good reason
or another, had lay representatives at the
meeting who brought with them the assur-
ance of the hearty Endorsement Of the
movement by their respective congrega-
tons.
Movement Heartily Endorsed.
Rev. w. H. Ballangee, pastor OF the West
Washington Methodist Episcopal Church
South, followed with an address full OF
hearty Endorsement of the cause. Rev. G.
Alvin Smith, pastor of Peck Memorial
Presbyterian Church. and Rev. James II.
Blake rector of Christ Episcopal Church,
were unable to be present owing to pas
toral duties at that hour. The Columbia
Bapt list Church, of which Rev. George w.
Mccullough is pastor, and the Evangelical
Lutheran Church, were represented and
heartily Joined In the general accord.
"Blest Be the Tie That Binds was sung
In conclusion by the congregation and the
benediction was pronounced by Rev. Mr..
Howden.
Constitutional Provisions.
The constitution OF the federation has the
following provisions: There shall be a
Christian fellowship committee whose duty
1t shall be to arrange programs and to
work out details of fellowship meetings
and there shall be a good citizenship
committee whose duty shall ha RI ON