New-York tribune., 1910-12-31

n
to-day was one of the most noteworthy OF
many years last past. The year brought
forth three definite proposals for Protestant
unity and developed the fourth one. start
ed four or five years ago. The Episcopal
Church put forward two of the proposals,
one unofficial. the Christian Unity Founda-
ton. with headquarters in this city. the
other officcial, a commission created by the
church's cfficial body. One announces
organic union. when it can be brought
about, the other proposes world confer
ence of everybody TO talk matters over.
Disciples of Christ, the great Middle
West body with 1900 members, pro-
posed plan and will soon issue stase-
nlent TO Christendom setting forth disci-
PIES views The formulator of the plan
and the head of the committee, is the Rev.
Peter Ainslie. whose work il Baltimore is
as unusual as it is large and effective. The
Federal Council OF Churches of Christ In
America, representing thirty religious
bodies and working on federative lines
really looks toward Christian union. Its
work for the year IN Colorado. Maine. WIS
consin and New Hampshire and its de-
velopment Of d secretary system were the
largest since its organization.
Another feature OF the year was the
coming forward of laymen. This feature
was apparent in Protestant bodies. where
in missionary campaigns OF laymen were
formulated in nearly all, and in the Roman
Catholic one. where the largest gathering
of working laymen ever held in the Roman
Catholic Church in America was held in
New Orleans a few weeks ago. ana vast
numbers of American laymen ]ournegeo 10
Montreal in September to pay homage 10
the Holy Eucharist in the great Eucharlstic
Congress- the first to be held on this sloe
of the Atlantic
The striking record Of the year was
financial one. Gifts to uplift causes broke
all records. To foreign missions gifts were
$1,000, 000 larger than ever before, ana 'ie
year saw America and Canada pass Eng
land in gifts and stand at the top OF the
LIST Of contributors of about s2S.000.00J
Year. Ministers commended Andrew Car
nesie's peace plans and took hold to make
the influence of American ministers felt
in peace directions Careful estimates put
the sum expended by American CHRISTIANS
in support of churches, their advance ut
home and their extension abroad at apout
s32O,o0o.ooo This is the highest or any
year. and a larger proportion OF IL cahie
from small givers than ever
In theology the year developed the con
spryative side. The extremists have passed
away. The American revision of the biple
is in sreat demand, and the American Bible
Society completed during the year It's sl'-
OaG. 900 endowment fund. Religious boales
that have the big campaigns in hand ana
that made the striking successes OF the
wear were and are OF the more conservative
type.
In this city an historic event was the con-
secration of ST Patricks Cathedral III
Fifth avenue, when there visited lhe ci's
the first Papal Legate. V1ncenzo Caruild'
yannutelli. The Ethical Culture Society
onened its new building and removed 10 II
from Carnegie Hall. Episcopalians eiecteu
Bishop Suffragan, the first official OF the
k:nc to be elected in America. TRINITY
parish showed that faults attributed TO IL
concerning its tenements were largely un-
founded and unreal, but 1t took steps -
put the condition OF It's teneineHtS pes'h
possible criticism 49,, ,o,,
In church membership growth the yeat
was normal. the percentage oeing apou. ,a
in some g. which IS faster than pcpuia,
for social service, and a Labor rem,
uIc in Second avenue was opened SeveTa.
imr,ortant pastorates fell vacant, an9 soliie
of them have not yet been hlled. ne teiI-
Gency of the year. in theory II noa IN VI e.
tice, was toward the small churehes. 81 81
TbOn1as's. in Fifth avenue, started WORK on on
a big building during the year. put Its
case is unusual Presbyterians made na strik-
ine. uroeTess in The Bronx anu nave lu!lus
to do still more. The number OF GonglteE,nn ,n1
members or more slowly increases, louf
haying passed that mark during the year