The Washington herald., 1907-11-14
BAPTISTS SEEK UNITY
Washington Pastor Makes
Plea for Union.
ASK BRoTHERLY COOPERATION
DIR. Power Says Riff should BE
CIOsed--Baptists Near Each other
in Doctrine and Practice-wOrISinE
Together VIII Bring End for
Which the Saviour Prayed.

EltNldA 10 Inc washington utlaAu-
Baltimore, Nd, Nov. 13.-The Baptist
Congress to-day appointed n committee
TO establish summer vacation industrial
schools throughout the city, in which the
Bible may be taught to children during
the summer holidays.
The committee was authorized 10 make
report as soon as possible upon the plan
suggested. as it is proposed to open the
schools July Of next ycar and continue
them until the public schools open for
the fall term.
This latest step toward bringing chill
dren into the church is the result OF the
recent discussion on the part Of the min
listers attending the conference. regarding
the relation of the church and the wage
earners.
According to the plan as outlined, the
schools will be placed in the congested
communities. and an effort will be made
TO get all school children to enter the va
cation institutions instead OF roaming
about the streets.
The vacation industrial school plan has
met with great success in three cities
namely. New York. Chicago. and Boston
and other cities are considering the ad-
visibility OF adopting the system.
Church Union Proposed.
Rev. DR.. Frederick D. Power. pastor of
the Disciples Church. OF Washington. set
forth one of the strongest arguments in
behalf OF the church union made during
the afternoon. He said. in part:
In any assembly of Baptist Churches
of Christ 1 feel, in a peculiar sense. at
home. My grandparents. in old Virginia.
were Baptists-members Of Old Grafton.
near Yorktown, a church constituted in
1903. Nineteen years later came the un-
fortunate Dover DEGREES, and the church
felt its liberty invaded and accepted the
position of Alexander Campbell. Had il
not been for John Kerr. who wrote those
famous DEGREES, and the Dover Associa-
ton. that passed them at Four-NIile
Creek Church, near Richmond, In 1892.
] doubtless would have been pastor to-
day OF a Baptist instead of a Disciple
Church OF Christ
1T is fair TO say. I think. there could
not be found now within the bounds OF
that association. a single man who would
defend these articles which declared the
cause of truth and righteousness re-
quired a separation. and called upon those
whom they deemed erring brethren to
rise up and depart
Rift Should Be Closed.
"On both sides there has been an in
crease Of knowledge and of grace since
that early time, and If North and South
could shake hands across the bloody
chasm,' and in a single generation stand
shoulder 20 shoulder against a common
foe, this little rift between US, beloved
brethrcc in Christ, should be closed in a
moment
I'VE OF the great immersionist family
Baptists. Free Baptists. and Disciples
are near 10 each other in doctrine and
practice. and hold vast interests in COM
mon Indeed, il is historically true that
the Disciples were never in favor OF
separation. Alexander Campbell declared
ten days before he passed from earth.
speaking on this subject. THE Baptists
and we ought never to have separated.
We might have remained one and come
10 a perfect agreement. IL ought 10
have been so" Ii was never this pur-
pose 20 withdraw from the Baptist
fold. and his first publication is called
The Christian Baptist" II there were
some radical differences then, they have
been sOftened.
VI NNAAStf tA4EtE dit DdpllSAS duQ
Baptists, as there are Disciples and Dis
ciples. Extremes among Baptists are
much more pronounced in matters of
doctrine and practice and among Dis
cipleS as well, than is true OF average
Baptists and Disciples Surely among
brethren that stand so close together.
there should be cooperation. fraternity
unity. The walls are thin. The barriers
that keep US apart are triling. The
hindrances 10 our perfect fellowship
would vanish at once, if all were willing
10 be led by the spirit of God.
Celebrate CampbeIrs Declaration.
Disciples celebrate at Pittsburg in
1909 the centennial Of Thomas CampbeTs
great declaration and address. which
sought TO restore unity, peace, and purity
TO the whole church OF God Why should
not prayer be made by both Baptists and
Disciples for some practical steps toward
union, which would crown that event with
exceeding great JOY.
Brethren, we do not ask that the
churches of Christ known as Baptists
shall swallow up the Disciples, nor tha.
the churches OF Christ known as the Dis
ciples shall swallow up the Bapt!sts, but
we do seek the unity of the churches OF
Christ, on apostolic foundations.
In union Is strength Our Lord prayed
for unioni let the church pray. Let party
barriers be laid low Let the word OF
God stand forth in its true position Lei
the Master be Lord, Head of the body
Prophet and Priest, Center and Corner
stone. King of Kings and Lord OF Lords
Let the hearts OF the millions who love
Him lift up to the throne OF a prayer
answering God, one earnest and concen.
trated volume of petition for the triumph
of the truth and salvation of the world
Combination of forces. concord, unity
agreement all working together with
God and with each other will. under God
bring the end for which Jesus prayed"