The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-07-18
RELIGIOUS LIBERALS HOLD CONGRESS IN BERLIN
Unknown DENOMINA AT7ONSAREREPRESENT
So manypeople from
various parts offhe
world will attend
that three langua-
ges are adopted.
(American News Service)

american News Service)
Berlin, July lS.-One of the great
est religious gatherings ever held in
Germany will be the Fifth Worlds
Congress OF Religious Liberals which
will convene in this city. August s,
and continue its SESSIONS for four
days. Delegates representing almost
every known religious denomination
and hailing from every civilized coun.
try on the globe, will be present and
the speakers will include the most
prominent religious educators and pull
pit orators in the world.
The attendance will reach far into
the thousands and so many different
nationallties will be represented that
three nguages-Garman, French and
Englsh-have been adopted as the Of
fetal languages of the congress, in or
der to facilitate wider understand
ing of the papers read by the dele
gates.
| The American delegation is especial
ly large, having occupied the entire
cabin space of the Devonian of the
| Leyland line. which sailed from Bos,
ton July IS. They will visit both Eng
land and Holland, before they reach
Germany. Among the prominent Am
orleans who will attend the congress
are: Prof. Francis G. Peabody, OF Har-
ward University; DR.. Benjamin Wheel.
er. of the University of California: :
Rev. Samuel A. Eliot, ID. d., of Boston: !:
| Rev. Charles w. Wendt, of Boston
Rabbi Emil G. Hirsch, Of Chicago.
Although this organization is but
ten years old its growth has been
nothing short of phenomenal. It had
its inception in Boston ten years ago,
having been originated by the Rev.
S. A. Eliot. president of the American
Unitarian association, which was hold
ing its 18th anniversary in the Hub
city at that time. and II now repre-
sents Sixteen different nationalities,
and over thirty district church fellow.
ships.
The articles of the congress are few
in number. Its purpose is declared to
be ito open communication with those
| in all lands who are striving to unite
pure religion and perfect liberty. and
to increase fellowship and cooperation
among them"
| Four congresses have been held thus
farm London, Amsterdam. Geneva
and Boston-and all have been large.
ly attended. The last one was held
in Boston in the autumn of 1907. and
was called "Thc International Con
gress of Religious Liberals" each
country entertaining the congress
having the privilege of selecting a
name.
| The coming congress in Berlin, how
ever. promises in the brilliancy of its
personnel and scope of its program to
eclipse all previous meetings. 1t will
be called the Worlds Congress OF
Free Christianity and Religious Pro
gress," and will be presided over by
the Hon. Karl Schrader, member OF
the German Parliament and president
Of the German Protestant association
| According to present arrangements
the first day OF the congress will be
devoted to trip to Potsdam.
Sunday. the 7th Of August will wit
ness a great religious gathering in a
prominent Berlin church at which the
service and song will be conducted by
Germans according to German usage;
but the three sermons will be deliver
ed by three preachers OF eminence-a
Frenchman, and Englishman and a
Swiss, who will each give a fifteen
minute homily. Rev. J. Emile Rober
ty. d. D., Of the Oratoire, Paris, Rev
William G. Tarrant of London and a
Swiss divine, still to be named, viii
be the preachers. This will be fol
lowed by a communion service to be
participated in by clergy from many
lands. The same Sunday evening ir
four large halls in Berlin. four public
meetings for the people will be hello
at which themes Of social import are
to be considered.
The addresses of the retiring presi
dent, Rev. Samuel A. Eliot. d. D.. o
Boston and the incoming president
Hon. Karl Schrader. of Berlin, ant
the report of the General Secretary
Rev. Charles W. Wendse, D. D., o
Boston, will introduce the first regu
lar session Of the congress. They
are to be followed by three brief pa
pers on the theme:
what religious liberals Of othel
nations owe to the religious spirit
and free theological science of Germ
any,"
At the evening session will begin {
series OF papers by leading theologi
cal professors and divines of German,
designed to give succinct a clear ex
position OF the present state OF Ger
man theological science and church
life.
A series OF scholarly papers by for
eign delegates will also be delivered
at sectional meetings of the congress
Among the prominent speakers wnt
will address the congress are: TIL,
Rev. r. j. Campbell, ID. D.. OF the Cit.
Temple. London: Prof. DIR. Van Soden
of the University of Berlin: Rev. Ma,
Fisher. pastor Of the St. Marks church
Berlin: Prof. Martin Rade, of Mar
burg University: DR.. David Starr Jor
dan. President of the University o
California; DR.. Jesse A. Holmes. o
Swarthmore college, u. s. A.; Prot