The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-30
Representatives of 18,000,000 Protostants Meet Together at Conference in Phil.
 adolphia.
DEAN ROGERS TO ATTEND
Mcans Ofncial, Though Not Organic, Union of Thirty-two Separate Denominations In
 America.

Philadelphia, Nov. 2a,-More tlan thirty religious bodies, representing 1S,00O,000 souls, will send delegates to the number of upwards of 400 to this city this week and part of next, to participate in ono of the most re- markahle religious gatherings in the
 history of Protcstanism in America, The convention will be the first of the "Fedcral Council of the Churches of Christ in America, It will be in ses- sion from Wednesday evening, Decem-
 ber 2, to Tuesday afternoon, Deeem-
 hcr s. Tt has been in preparation for sis years but Is particularly the fruit
 Of the great lnter-ehurch conference
 held in Carnegie hall, New York, in
 1905, For the first time, the Protest
 ant churches of the United States will
 be practically and officially, though not oreanicallN united in one body;
 the national assemblies of the thirty
 two religious bodies which have ap-
 proved the plan of federation rccom-
 mcnded in 1905, have appointed the
 delegates which will make up the
 meeting While this Federal council'
 will be wothOut executive or judicial authority it's recommendation will carry tremendous weight of influence
 Az defined hy tha plan of federation.
 tho objects or the federal council, will
 ho: To express tho fellowship and
 catholic unity of the Christian church.
 "To bring tho Christian bodies Of
 America into united service for Christ and the world.
 "To encourage devotional fellowship and mutunl council concerning the spiritual life and religious activities
 of tho churches
 "To secure large combined intlu- ence for the churches of Christ in all matters affecting the moral and social condition of the people, so as to pro mote the application of the law of Christ in every relation to human nfa. "to assist in the organization of tho lo- cal branches of tho federal council to ! promote it's aim In their communities. 1 Among the denominations which have approved the plan of federation and appointed delegates aro the Ban 1 tist, Congregational. Methodist Fpiscn- pal North and eou'h, and Protestant ! Episcopal Among the delegates win
 be 30 bishops many presidents of uni- ! versailles and colleges. officers of Mis- sion boards, some of tho greatest theo-
 loeions and preachers In the country.
 and lnrge number of laymen of prominence,
 ! Res. Drs William II Roberts. who was permanent chairman of the lntor- church conference nf l90h Waylantl lIoyt Baptist, stephen W Dana. Prss- 1 hHterinn; Wallace McMulen. Methodist and A. ], Lrmon. Conererationalls', 1 Thomas C, McMllan, who wns moder- ator of the national council of Conrre- gallnnai churches Rev nr Baxter F. Fullerton moderator nf the general as s.midy o( the Presh! !terian church in
 America, Bishop Ozl W Whitaker, nf l the frotestanL Episcopal diocese of l pcnNsHlvauia, Rev Charles Stolzie, of New Yrrlf secretary of the department 1 of church and labor of the Presbyterlnn ! church, Judge Peter $. c;rosscup of ! Chicago, boN pr Alexander Mackay- i Smith, coadjutor hlehop of Protestant ! Episcopal diocese ot Pennsylvania, Rev. | Dr. C. r. Aked, and Dean Henry Wade ] Rogers of the Vale Law school will | participate in the proceedings