The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-23
Regarding Church Unity


 One of the notable facts in connection with the general convention of the Pro- testant Episcopal church recently held in Cincinnati was J. P. Morgan's gift of sl00.000 for the promotion of the church unity movement" remarked layman.
 ''The idea is, believe, that within the next two or three years an interna- tlonal conference, representing various churches. shall be called for the purpose of discussing the question of an eventual amalgamation of all the religious bodies of Christendom. Such a movement ap- peals to the imagination and millions of Christians will pray for the success of the movement. Of course, every well in- formed, thoughtful church member readi- ly appreciates the difficulties in the way, and no one will expect the unity move ment to have practical results in the near future. It may be many, many years be- fore we can all get together But a start will be made and an educational cam paign begun. MT. Morgan has done mo- ble thing in making the gift to further the cause. A prominent churchman, writ ing in the New York Sun anent this mat ter, points out serious obstacles to unity. While he Is not pessimistic, he is far from hopeful. He shows, for example. how extremely difficult it would be for the Protestant bodies and the Church of Rome to get together The writer re- ferred to concludes thus:
 The hope of that unity which will be of practical benefit to the religion of the do l,a a arotF ir ing the divisions which exist among non episcopal communities. The divisions among these communities are simply pre- posterous. The Baptists are divided into Is different sects, the Methodists into IT., the Presbyterians into 12, the Lutheraps into five, with very considerable num- Der of Independent synods." We might expect to find unity with the United Brethren, but they are divided into two that the multiplicity of sects in Protests ant churches are of comparatively recent birth.
 CT must admit that in many cases these divisions have been evidences of growth. There is an impression that the various sects of Christianity are a great bindrance to foreign missionary work. Such Is not really the case. The prophet of Arabia foretold that his followers would be divided into 75 sects. and they have actually grown to 15o, and 1t is esti- mated that the Buddhists are divided into at least 300 sects.
 'When the congress does assemble it will be found that there are doctrinal diff ferences which stand in the way of union and that these doctrinal differences are such as the lay mind can scarcely appre- ciate. It is within my recollection that MT. Voysey and others were removed from their curacies because they did not believe in endless punishment. I have very clear recollection of clergyman standing at the altar of his church and denouncing the ''old fashioned views" of the preacher.
 Dean Farrar said the age of martyr dom had passed, not because there were no bigots to burn them, but because there were no martyrs to be burned. I am sure that he was entirely wrong. The zeal and spirit of martyrdom in China alone shows that there are men quite willing to die for the truth. But I am afraid that in most Protestant countries the people are 30 saturated with unbelief that. like the philosophers of Rome, they look upon all religions as equally true and equally useful. All this will come out in the great conference for unity.
 Professor Westcott once said to me at Cambridge: You will live to see that unbelief has penetrated within the altar rails.'"