The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-10-01
DEBATE BEFORE
 THE CONG. CLUB Rev. Dr. Ward and Rev. MT. Mcfarland Discuss
 Proposed Union of
 Churches. FORMER STRONGLY FAVORS SUCH ACTION Latter Questions Whether Union Means Unity-To Enforce Would be
 Disastrous.

liam Hayes WdTu, U. D', OL NEW lOlh city, editor of the Independent, and Rev. Charles s. Mcfarland, PhD., pastor of the Congregational church of South NorWalk
 Walter B, Law, the new president of the club presided, and the subject un- der discussion was the proposed union of the Congregational Methodist Prot estant and United Brethren denomlna- tlons which comes up for settlement at the meeting of the national council at Cleveland, Oct. 8.
 Dr. Wad endeavored to show that the points of economy, efficiency and fellowship demanded the formation of the tri-uTion, declaring that as the church stands at present the Congre- gational is a second-class denomina- ton, a mere local church, while it might be national In character with a vastly broader outlook and power for good.
 He cited instances resulting in great ly increased efficiency from the union of other churches in the past-that of the Presbyterlans thirty-fve years ago, that of the three Methodist divisions in England q few weeks since, and those in Canada and Scotland recently joined together Similarly the pro- posed Congregational tri-unlon can be consummated legally and without a particle of sacrifice either in freedom of church government or fellowship on the part of the Congregational branch.
 The contract of union as drawn up provides for absolute autonomy of the different churches, each body to re- tain It's government as at present, ex- cept that the systems as used by the other two branches will be replaced by that of the Congregational society This, pr. ward declared shows the spirit in which the other churches are approaching the conference.
 The state associations of each churcf are to. be retained until such time al new boundaries shall be drawn by mu tual consent and the state governments combined AS Dr. Ward sees It. thu only point open 10 criticism in the \ plans is that of granting to the ma tional association power to define boundaries, composition and preroga. tives of tllese state associations, be- lIeving that this will present complete self-government and that freedom which is a cardinal principle of thu Congregational church. The intent however, he states, Is to interpret thi section freely
 Annual district conferences will b maintained in precisely the present re lation, each of the three churches hold Ing a separate conference, but all be ing in cooperation with the nationa association, until such time as the, may find it mutually agreeable to ge together. Two or more state division may unite and are empowered 10 mak all laws relating to their own govern ment.
 What will be gained by the union
 strength, efficiency and economy i
 such branches as foreign missions
 home missions, Sunday schools an similar departments.
 In presenting the arguments agains the union, Mir. Mcfarland began by al
 firming that even though 1t involved great sacrifice on the part of congrega |, tionalism, his own church would glat ly enter such an agreement provide the movement means a gain for Chris tianity.
 The real difficulty he declared lies
 the fact that the distraction betwee
 unity and union Is not adequately req
 ized. The former relates to the essel
 tial while the latter Is of the temper and local Union might even destrc
 unity.
 Both nature and humanity exemplii
 the principle of variety with identit
 The Christian church Is the ineVitab \ result of the process of evolution. Al As to the fact that economy will M promoted by combining pr. Macfarlar VI suggested that a similar result mig
 result by bringing his neighbours fan $ ily together with his own into ol A house. The result might be union b $ hardly unity.
 A An attempt to force union now declared will temporarily at least, de M troy the existing unity which of itse % has suggested organic-union. The san N men he said, who are pleading f M union in the church are those who q X clare our American democracy a fat
 ure, who are looking to fraternity or T semi-aristocracy. He conceded that t # denomination needed to be more clos M lv bound together, but feared to s XXI the existing unity destroyed or impai X ed by further urging of this issue. M Dr. Ward here regained the floor al
 set his hearers laughing by first a
 tacking his fellow speakers mention # American democracy, The Americ < union was formed, he said, because
 statesmen saw that not merely uni N but union was necessary for the be % interests of the thirteen colonies.
 then stated that if an instance of ( # versity in the church Is desired, |
 Congregational church has 1t in t N wide difference between Its ernine
 divines and those of its ministers
 some parts of the country who c
 scarcely read or write, One of the N he recalled, in asking for aid spell
 the name of his state thus: Ala Ban
 Tn closing he declared that if proof V unity and fellowship among the thr z churches is wanted 1t was clear w shown in the great meetings held l centlv in Chicago and Detroit