Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-10-09
PLAN CHURCH FEDERATION
CONVENTION IN PHOENIX
Meeting Will Be Held Here Tuesday,
When Organization Will Be
Perfected.

For the purpose of forming a fed
Grafton of the Protestant churches OF
Arizona, a meeting has been called
of representatives of all the evan
gelical churches on Tuesday at the
South Methodist church, Central ave
nue. and Monroe street. The afternoon
session will be held at o'clock for
the purpose of organization at which
every congregation in the territory is
invited to send as representatives its
4 pastor and at least one layman. In
| the evening, at 1880 o'clock, a large
| mass meeting will be held at the
same place, to which everybody is cor
| daily invited.
| Church Federation" IS a somewhat
new term. 1t was only in 1908 that
| the Federal Council of the Churches
| OF Christ in America was formally or
| ganized. 1t represented thirty three
of the Protestant churches of this
country, all the leading bodies, in
| fact. The object of this federal coun-
| ell was stated to be:
First-To express the fellowship and
| catholic unity of the Christian church
Second-TO bring the Christian bod
les of America into united service for
! Christ and the world.
Third-To encourage devotional fell
lowship and mutual counsel concern
ing the spiritual life and religious
activities of the churches.
Fourth-To secure a larger com
bined influence of the churches of
Christ in all matters affecting the
moral and social condition of the peo-
pie, so as to promote the application
OF the law of Christ in every relation
of human life.
Fffth-TO assist in the organizati n
Of local branches of the federal cOun-
Gil to promote its aims in their COM
munities.
In Maine the churches have had an
INSTRUMENTATION commission for
twenty years and remarkable results
have been accomplished. not only have
/ the weaker churches been greatly
benefited materially and spiritually,
but ii has been a benefit to the
stronger churches as well. regardless
OF denomination. Weak interests have
been combined into stronger enter
prise. Moreover. the commission
planned 4 forward movement with a
view of meeting the religious needs
of the large foreign population of the
state.
These are but samples of the things
| it is hoped win be accomplished
through a federation Of the churches
Of Arizona.
Rev. Hugh 3. MacCauley. d. D, OF
| Trenton, n. J., secretary of the east
Z 9
come clear across the continent to
help work out the new plans. Rev.
John T. Thomas. ID. d. Of Denver, \
secretary of the western district of
the federal council. is also expected
here, and both gentlemen will address
the meetings.
Arizona is home mission ground |
where there is large room for church !
cooperation. We may well hope that |
the federation movement may be |
success from the start
AS an indication of the practical 1
character of the new movement. the |
following statement Of principles of !
the interdenominational commission |
Of New Hampshire are worth noting: |
Recognizing the evident desire Of
the evangelical denominations of New
Hampshire to do more efficient work
for our common Lord. and
Believing that the Holy Spirit is
moving Christians toward practical
cooperation,
I'VE rejoice in the progress already
made in this direction, and desire to
affirm our conviction as follows:
Il. That the churches in the cities
and larger towns ought to cooperate
according to the plans of the Evan
gelical Alliance, or others of similar
nature.
III. That church extension into
destitute communities should be con-
Quoted as far as practicable, accord
ing to the following consideration:
81. NO community in which any de-
nomination has any legitimate claim
should be entered by any other de-
nomination through it's official agen-
cies without conference with the de-
nomination or denominations having
said claims.
80. A feeble church should he re-
vived II possible. rather than new
one established to become its rival
''3. The preferences of a community |
should always be regarded by denOm-
national committees. missionary
agents and individual workers.
a. Those denominations having
churches nearest at hand should. other
things being equal, be recognized as
in the most advantageous position to
encourage and aid a new enterprise
in their vicinity.
IS. In case one denomination begins
gospel work in a destitute community. Il
1t should be left to develop that work
without other UNCONVENTIONAL inter
ference.
70. Temporary suspension of church
work by any denomination occupying
n field should not be deemed suffi-
cient warrant in itself for the en-
trance into that field by another de-
Suspension should be
deemed abandonment when a church
has had no preaching and held no L
for an entire year or more.
~. All questions of Interpretation
of the foregoing statements, and all
cases of friction between denomina-
tons or churches of different denomi-
nation should be referred to the COM