New-York tribune., 1910-07-29
CHRISTIAN CHURCH UNITY
What Cooperative Spirit Without Uni
formity of Creeds Has Done.
Editor oP The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: 7 do not think Christian unity Is to
be sought through the abolition of sects or
the uniformity of creeds or church govern
ments Cooperation among CHURCHES, IN
spite OF differences of doctrine, Is IA
niliar spectacle to US all The practical
difficulty in organized cooperation is that
of government. IF all churches were con-
gregational-that Is to say, democratic anu
independently would be easy for them to
unite In religious and social work. end also
In worship, frequently enough and heaItlIy
enough TO demonstrate their essential unity
OF spirit.
Presbyterian and episcopal governments
make this cooperation more difficult, put
not impossible: witness the work of union
every year in Pittsfeld, Mass, when all
the Protestant churches of the town con-
stitute 'the Church OF Christ OF Pittsfeld
1t is a fair question whether church union
should or with advantage could go further
than occasional common worship and spe-
cial departments of common work. From
the CongregationaIists standpoint the
local church is the family Unit. and it is
not desirable to communize all the life OF
the family to show fraternal sympathy
with other families.
II will doubtless be admitted by most
advocates of church unity that in details
of doctrine the pulpit should be free
though where the line should be drawn 1t
might be hard to say. But ] do not think
II is generally recognized that Cnristlan
fellowship is greatly promoted by the eS-
istence of separate denominations. Doctrl-
nal controversies are no longer bitter, un-
less they are intradenominatlonal. Inc
Presbyterians I notice, can discuss win
equanimity DR.. Briggs's views OF script
ure now that he is no longer a Presoy-
tefian. Now, two things are clear: Q'
Such discussion ought 10 so on, ana ~
it ought to go on without bitterness. Con-
sequentiy, it would appear that the oe-
rominational pulpit has not yet outiVed It's
usefulness as an intellectual factor in the
life of the churches.
Mr. Beecter used to say with regard to
the attempt to obtain church unity through
uniformity Of doctrine that In the MIL
lennium there would be as many sects as
individuals. Regarding each church as
family, having its own fenced gardens, ne
said that the way to unite fannllles was
not to take down the fences and make one
trodden common of all the home gardens
but TO plant Towering vines along the
boundaries and let neighbors make love to
one another over the fences and through
the blossoms.
Unity of spirit and cooperative efort In
this sense have made much progress among
us during the last few years The great
danger now seems to be that we may over
load the new impulse by giving 1t 100
many things to do and providing TOO many
new machines for it to drive. we ate In
danger. ! think, of producing among sin
cers believers a sort of unanimity which
produces peace but not powef-nameiy,
unanimous fatigue. But fraternal love and
Christian zeal will, I believe. solve TINS
problem wisely In the end. Even II we
are to have for time as many organiza-
tions OF union We have had OF differ
ence. there viii be great harm done,
unless the friends Of union take to quar-
reliing. X w. ia MIMI
Washington, Conn, July q, 1910