Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-04
| UNION OF CHURCHES
Plan Submitted Today to Mary
land N. p. Conference.
THREE BODIES TO FORM ONE
Proceeding Yet to Be Ratified by the
Several Branches.
NOT REGARDED AS FEDERATION
Prescribes No Uniform Ritual-Sub-
stance of the Report of
DR.. T. 81. Lewis.
NOT REGARDED AS FEDERATION

Rev. DR.. T. H. Lewis, president Of the
Western Maryland College and the COM
missioner who represented the Maryland
conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church at the recent meeting of the repre-
sentatives of the Congregational, United
Brethren and Methodist Protestant churches
held in Chicago to arrange a union of the
churches, made a report today to the M.
P. conference in the Rhode Island Avenue
Methodist Protestant Church of the work
accomplished. In the course of his remarks
DR. Lewis said:
Perhaps never in the history Of the
world has three separate bodies Of people
faced such situation as we did. We con-
stitute three bodies and have never known
each other historically
In the arrangements which were consd-
cred it was proposed to have the three
boards of missions represent ative Of the
three churches to constitute the first board
of the consolidated churches. We will be
known as the United Churches, but on
account of legal difficulties in the holding
of property the official name of the church
will be according to the conference, which
has not been finally ratified the United
Churches comprising the Congregational
Church, the United Brethren in Christ and
the Methodist Protestant churches"
In conclusion DIR. Lewis said: I'VE should
have a union with no cast-iron uniformity,
and We should have much individuality. as
that is the great bulwark of Professionalism
in the world today. l still have fond hope
and enthusiastic belief that the members
of the Maryland conference will be march
ing in the van of the United Churches
Act of Organic Union.
The union. he further declared, is not a
federation, in that it does not prescribe a
uniform ritual.
DR.. Lewis then quoted the act under
which union of the churches Is proposed,
which. he stated, is yet to be ratified. This
was as follows:
Eve, the representatives of the Congre-
gational Churches, the Church of the United
Brethren in Christ, and the Methodist
Protestant Church. believing that we can
do more to promote the work of our Lord
Jesus Christ in the world by uniting than
by continuing our separate existence de-
nominations as heretofore, ard being of one
accord in the desire to realize our Lord s
prayer, that they may all be one having
already at the first meeting Of the council
entered into common declaration of faith.
hereinafter set forth, do now, in order to
bring about an organic union, propose to
our respective denominations the articles of
agreement hereinafter set forth.
Declaration Of Faith.
Eve, the representatives of the Congre-
gational Churches, the Church of the
United Brethren in Christ, and the Metho-
dist Protestant Church, rejoice at this time
to enter into union with one another
through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
in the love of God, and for the fellowship
in the Holy Spirit. In this solemn act of
faith and obedience toward the great Head
or the church, we do most humbly and con-
hdently make confession of our falth and
heartily renew the conservation of our lives
to Him and to the service Of mankind
Our bond of union consists of that inward
in Nhri OF
divine Savior and Lord on which all our
churches are founded, also in our accept
ance of the Holy Scriptures as the inspired
source of our faith and the supreme stand
ard of Christian truth: and further. in our
consent to the teaching Of the ancient SYM
bols of the undivided church. and to that
substance of Christian doctrine which is
common to the creeds and confessions
which we have inherited from the past. But
we humbly depend, as did our fathers, on
the continued guidance Of the Holy Spirit
to lead us into all the truth.
we believe that God, the Father and
Lord of ALL did send His son Jesus Christ
to redeem us from sin and death by the
perfect obedience of His holy will in life
by the secrifice Of himself on the cross
and by His glorious resurrection from the
dead.
I've believe that the 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
confidence in the mercy of God, together
with new desires and a new power to obey
His will.
I'VE believe that those of the sons of
men, who. hearing Gods call of divine love,
do heartily put their trust in the Savior
whom His love provided, are assured by His
word of His most fatherly forgiveness. of
His free and perfect favor. of the presence
of His Spirit in their hearts and of a
blessed immortality.
One in Belief.
1--WE believe that all who are through faith
the children of God constitute the church
of Christ, the spiritual body of which He
Is the head; that He has appointed them
to proclaim His gospel to all mankind, to
manifest In their character and conduct
the fruit Of His spirit, that He has granted
luehi freedom TO create such offices and in
sututions as may in each generation serve
unto those ends, and that for the comfort
OF our faith He has given to His church
Ihe sacred ordinances of baptism and the
Lords supper. 'i'o
I'VE believe that according to cbrist.s
law men of the Christian faith exist for tbe
service OF man, not only in holding forth
the WORD OF life. but in the support of
IN the maintenance of human freedom in
the deiiverance- of all those that arc ~
pressed, IN the enforcement of civic Justice
III tife reouke OF all unrighteousness
AND possessed of these convictions botb
as truths which we do most firmly hold
and acts of faith which spring from oIIr
hearts, We do, therefore, in the 'hannv
consunmatlon of this union and in the
name OF all the churches which we renreo
sent, commit ourselves, body, soul and
spirit, to the faith. love and service of
Him who made us and saved US the ever
Iasting God, our Father, Redeemer and
Lord. To Him be ascribed all praise and
dominion and glory, world without end.
Amen .'
Articles Of Agreement.
The articles of agreement were then
read These embraced the plan of church
government In great detail. as indicated
In the opening address of Dr. Lewis.
Among other things the articles provided
that: eu
All societies and boards now existing In
the churches represented in this union shall
as soon as possible after the adoption Of
this act of union and the organization nv
the national council of the societies and
boards Indicated in this article. cease fhair
active operations In collecting funds from
the church. They shall hand over tn tba
corresponding societies and boards organ
lied in pursuance of this article the incoma
of all their funds and the use of the mon
erty and equipment now employed in the
prosecution of their work. whenever this
may be lawfully done pursuant to their