Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-10-12
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
IN CONVENTION
Cooperation With BaptiStS
To Be Considered.

NORFOLK, VA, October IL
(SpeciaD With thousands of delega-
ties and visitors assembled, the inter-
national convention of the Disciples
of Christ began today, to continue TO
next Thursday. Prominent members
of the church from all over this
country and from foreign lands are
the churches of Christ, since that in
enthusiasm all previous meetings of
the churshes of Christ, since that in
St Louis in 1903.
The convention has before it
number of questions of the greatest
Importance to the Disciples brother
hood. The convention like the Bap-
fist anniversaries, consists for the
most part of the annual meetings of
the Disciples missionary organlza-
TONS At this meeting, however, there
will be a special convention to con-
slider the invitation of the Inter
church Conference of Federation,
which asks that the Disciples appoint
official delegates to the Federal Coun-
Gil of Christian Churches in America,
which will meet for the first time in
December of next year
In the past, it has been the Gus
tom of the Disciples to decide such
general questions at their missionary
conventions, but opposition having
arisen to the federation project, the
the convention last year appointed
special committee of 10 to issue a
call for a meeting to be held at the
time of the regular convention, to
decide the matter, opponents of the
measure having insisted that it was
not a matter germane to the mis-
sionary meetings.
Cooperation With BaptistS.
AS a result of this situation it is
possible that this special convention,
which is to consider, besides the fed
GRAFTON question, a plan for closer
cooperation with Baptists, may be-
come a regular feature of Disciples
gatherings. 1t mas been impressed
upon the church leaders that the
Disciples should have a convention
before which general subjects might
properly be brought fc1 decision, and
some of them are urging that the
special meeting arranged for this
year be made permanent institu-
ton, like the Congregational national
council now in session in Cleveland;
or the new general convention of
Northern Baptists. Whether the
convention will meet yearly. in con-
nection with the missionary meet
ing, or at longer intervals, is one
of the matters to be decided at the
present session.
An alternative plan is favored by
some of the delegates, who suggest
that the present national convention
be made a body before which mat
tiers of general interest be brought,
and that certain sessions at the an
nual gatherings devoted to
tn missionary organizations of the
brotherhood Whatever plan is pre-
pared, it appears certain that oppo-
sition will develop, and it is possible
that final atcion will not be tah~--
this convention.
Another important measure that is
to come before the Norfolk meeting
is the proposed revision of the con-
stitution of the American Christian
Missionary Society, for which a COM
mittee was appointed at last years
convention in Buffalo, and which will
report during the present meeting.
The sessions of the convention are
being held in the Armcry building,
which has been specially fitted up
and decorated 70: The occasion. Add
tional delegations are arriving on
every train today, and it is expected
that the total will reach 5000. All
of the visitors are welcomed by To-
cal reception committees and prepa-
rations have been made by the Viz
ginia members of the church to elab-