The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
CHRISTIAN UNITY FOUNDATION
TELLS REMARKABLE STORY OF
CHURCH UNION MOVEMENT

Presbyterians and Episcopalians are
getting together. They are doing so in
America and in Australia. Far apart in
miles, the action of Christians in one
country has just exerted marked in
fluence on Christian leaders in the other
Through the Christian Unity Foundation
there came to this country the other day
the text of an agreement on union be-
tween the Church of England in Austria
liza and Tasmania. and the Presbyterian
Church in Australia, accompanied by a
letter Of explanation from the Arch
bishop of Melbourne, the Right Rev. DIR.
Henry l. Clarke.
So significant was the agreement for
the Australian union that American lead
ers in The bodies named held an informal
conf eTCnCe in New York this week AS
individuals they refrained from commit
ting themselves to all provisions of the
Australian plan. but by unanimous reso-
luton they express delight at steps a
ready taken by others. and urge wide
publicity of the action, to the end that
Christians in America may be encour-
aged to believe that corporate reunion
is possible here. The American Presby-
terians taking part in this conference
just neld were:
The Rev. DR.. George Alexander. presi-
utIl VI TIE IOdIu VI OTtlSn MISSIONS,
the Rev. DR.. Henry &. Minton. a former
moderator Of the General Assembly: the
Rev. DR.. William p. Stevenson. pastor
of the First Church, Yonkers; Cleveland
H. Dodge, a trustee OF Princeton Univer-
sity. and Judge william NJ. tanning. of
New Jersey, a trustee OF the General
Assembly.
The Episcopal members were: The Right
Rev DR.. Frederick Courtney, New York,
n former RiSDnn Of tho
Rev. Dr. r. F.. Alsop. member of the
board of missions; the Rev. DR.. George
W. Douglas, canon OF the New York
Cathedral: the Rev. DR. Henry r. Gum
mey, diocese of New Jersey; the Rev.
DIR. Arthur LOwndes. an authority on the
question OF orders: r. Fulton Cutting.
the well-knOwn philanthropist. and
Francis c. Huntington. a son of the late
Rev. DR. William r. Huntington. The
EpiscOpalians are members of the Chris
tian Unity Foundation, the unofficial body
of the Episcopal clergy and laymen who
seek, through wider information concern
ing the history and work of each, to
bring about corporate reunion of all.
The agreement between the Church OF
England in Australia and Tasmania and
the PRESBYTERIAN Church in Australia, fol-
lows. in brief form:
The Holy Scriptures, the Apostles and
Nicene creeds as basis for any further
statement that may be needed. and the
two saCTaments of baptism and supper
of the Lord form the opening part Then
follows this. relating to ordinations:
THAT the act of ordination involves
prayer and the imposition of hands with
the following: Ca) Full church member
ship: Cb) inward and personal call Of the
Holy Spirit: CcI recognition by the church
of this call after inquiry into fitness; ID
the laying on of hands in ordination We
understand to be a visible symbol of the
bestowaI in answer to the prayer of
faith. of authority. and grace by the
Holy Spirit for the work of the ministry;
and (e) the authority to perform an act
of ordination comes from God the Father
through Christ the Mediator. by the Holy
Spirit as the living agent Of the church,
and is exercised by the appointed officers
of the church. The resolutions following
are:
We recognize that up to the period of
the Reformation that was one common
succession of orders. and that since that
time the practice of ordination has been
continued and the act OF ordination has
been performed (a) in the Anglican
Church. by a bishop and presbyter. and
OBJ in the Presbyterian Church by
Presbytery presided over by a moderator.
THAT a union of the Church of Eng
land in Australia and Tasmania and the
PRESBYTERIAN Church of Australia be eff
fected and conSummated by joint SOL
emn act under the authority and sanction
of both churches. in which each church
shall confer upon the presbyters of the
other all the rights and privileges neces-
sary for the exercise of their Office in the
united church. so that from the mo-
ment OF such union all the presbyters
of each church shall have equal status
in the united church. "a minority of
two Anglican members declined to
recommend this resolution. but ex
pressed their willingness that 1t should
be referred to the judgment of the
Lambeth conferenCeD
That some form Of individual sup
erintendence and government, consti
tutionaIly exercised. as eXpedient for
the united church, and that authority
to execute such superintendent and
government shall be conferred by
solemn act of conservation duly ad-
ministered on a presbyter. with the
title of bishop exclusively attached.
This conference, while recognizing
that the authority to perform an act