New-York tribune., 1907-10-12

or greatest present interest in church circles %
the meeting at Cleveland, now in session OF th9
CongregationaIists of the United States ms -
the meeting of the Congregational national council
but with it combined two annual meetings %
she missionary and benevolent organizations OF lne
denouination SO that for the first time IN many
years practically all Congregational interests centre
IN series OF meetings in city and AT one time
The sessions began on Tuesday, October s, and
will continue untI the evening Of Thursday Oc-
tober L.
The CONGREGATIONAL national council is not legis-
lative body for in theory the individual Congrega-
tionaI Church is a law unto itself. and Is IN no
sense under denominational authority The ma
tional council is clearing house of Congregational
ideas: its recommendations TO the churches have
almost the weight of legislation, and its trennal
meetings have more and more influence as the
years pass. This influence is not accepted by all
Congregational churches an instance of this being
in the attitude OF the churches toward
the plan Of unios with Methodist Protestants and
United Brethren. This plan had its origin with
committee Of the national council. and many Con-
gregational churches have not hesitated in recent
months TO place on record their dissent TO the plan
Since the last meeting of the national council
held in Des Moines. Iowa, three years ago. the
Congregational Church has made especial advance
IN evangelistc work. The Rev. DR.. Newell Dwight
Hills. OF Plymouth Church, Brooklyn. ap
pointed the last meeting head the evangelistic
committee. and a dignified and effective campaign
has resulted. The Rev. Or. w J. Dawson was
brought from England TO lead the campaign, and
last season Gypsy" Smith came across the ocean
10 add his efforts, returning TO England last fall
after a series Of meetings notable the evangel-
istic history of America
Tendencies in the Congregational churches since
the Des MOines meeting of the National Council
have been. in the opinion Of leaders in the
denomination. toward greater Capitalization Of ef-
fort than is provided in early Congregational poty
in various sections local conferences have adopted
plans for closer cO-opera ton. and in benevoences
there has been adopted a modification of the ap-
portionment plan.
The six benevolent organizations OF the denomi-
nation continue TO make independent efforts for
support. but after careful investigation of their
needs by special committee of the National Couu-
Gil 100000 decided upon as the annual sum
needed by all these organizations, and state asso-
Citations have had the total aPportioned among
them and most Of them are working to provide
their individual shares Of the Steps toward
the organization of q national Congregational
brotherhood have been taken. but up to the time of
the opening OF the Cleveland meeting now in ses-
sion, nothing beyond preliminary plans had been
considered.
Congregationalists now number about 100000
church members During the three years since the
last National Council meeting there has been gain
of . churches and 36,523 members \ substantial
gain has also been made in amounts contributed
for benevolence and for congregational expenses.
falling off of nearly 10000 and a corresponding re-
duction has TO be recorded in the membership OF
young peoples societies in the churches