The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-08-24


council of the Interdenominational
Church Council of Indiana. Last
night at the Methodist church the
following officers were elected:
President. Rev F. O. Fraley, pas
tor of Plymouth Methodist church !;
vice president. o. s. Ellis of German
township. present president of the
county Sunday school association; !;
secretary. Rev c. G.. Baker, pastor
of Plymouth Christian church: treas
urer, Rev S. F. Hendricks of West
township. of German Baptist Breth-
ren.
This action was the result of the
efforts being put forth in this coun-
fy for the past week or more by
representatives of the state council.
A religious census of the county was
taken in order TO know just how
matters stood and a report of this
condition was made at the session
held Thursday afternoon and evening.
DR.. Hale's Address
In spite of the show. small COM
pany gathered at the church to hear
DIR John p. Hale, of Lafayette, who
is president of the State Council for
federation. DIR. Hale's plea was for
a federation of the church people
for the more important work which
all the churches want to do. His
: closing statament was that IA have
come to a new and great period in
church historv-the period of church
federation throughout the land for
the great work which the church is
to do.
Sixteen million church members
are now federated together working
out the many problems of morals
and religion to be solved. he said.
DR. Hale reviewed the history of the
church to show how we came to the
present condition. At first the apos-
ties founded the G. urch. there was
only one church. ater this church
became the dictator of all thought
and no one dared think otherwise
than as the church said. But Luther
and Calvin did think, and they gave
their thoughts to the world. This
produced the Reformation.when there
was breaking up Of the church and
the forming of other denominations.
These other denominations were
themselves as dictatorial as the
mother church. each claiming that it
had the truth. the whole truth and
nothing but the truth.
Sueh positions made still other
denominations. until today We are all
split mp into many useless sects. all
irving to do the same work for the
same master Jesus Christ
There is but opa head. declared
the doctor. and all churches are in
the same body, work u~ for the sams
purpose He spoke very kindly Of
members of all denominations.
What the council in Indiana is
irving to do. he said. is to begin
quietly and do few things together
as we can. There is no compulsion.
Nothing will be attempted except
that on which all can agree. The
first thing necessary is to educate
the people in this direction. To show
them how foolish it is for three or
four weak struggling church denomi-
nations to exist In one small COM
munitv. where one strong church for
all the people might do much more
for the people. In MANY places there
IS room for only one church and one
pastor. Under the present arrange
ment manv churches are wasting their
home missionary monev In trviug to
keep aliye several churches when the
people of the communities could
themselves support one good church.
In such places there should be un-
ion
Another thing the council is do
ing is finding out the exact RELIGIOUS
condition in each county, as thev
have just completed dong in this
county. That is the first thing. Af-
fer we knew conditions, we can
then know where and how to work.
DR. Hale's address was verv
strong and reasonable. kindly yet
powerful plea for the churches to
get together for united effort in the
larger and more Important work
which all are doing. inst az all
other efforts in the countrv. OF can
ital and labor. are combined for spc-
cessful work. so ought the churches
to combine for better work.
The Constitution