Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-22

The national convention of the Ameri-
can Unitarian Association begins its as
nual session in Boston today. The dele
gates in attendance represent the philan-
thropic and benevolent departments of
the organized work of the Unitarian
Church in the United States and Canada.
although the convention exercises no
ecclesiastical function or authority what
ever. Aside from discussing the actual
work in progress, the convention will give
consideration to the project for building
a great church in Washington which will
represent the dignity of the followers of
the Unitarian faith in the entire country.
II they were not Unitarians they might
describe this great church as national
cathedral The new national church will
include the Edward Everett Hale Me-
mortal Parish House, in which the philan-
thropies of the church will have their
headquarters.
1t Is planned to lay the corner stone of
this edifice in October. when the National
Council of the Unitarian and other
churches will meet in Washington, and
the intention is TO invite representatives
of other denominations to participate in
the exercises then.
AS an organization. the American Uni
tartan Association is younger than most
of the other religious bodies of the coun-
try. although Unitarian as religious
belief came over to America with the
Puritans. Its followers have been loyal
to their faith since that time. although
they have pursued 1t individually rather
than as members of an organization. In
dividual churches of the Unitarian per-
suasion have existed in America since the
eighteenth century. In fact, these earlier
churches stood for individuality and OBJ
union federation ~ the ground that it
would lessen the liberty of the single
congregation. This feeling is the keynote
to the government Of the present associa-
greatest strength and its greatest weak
ness.
The American Unitarian Association as
II now exists dates only from 1925, when
the organization
individuals United, was formed. in
Not the Churches. t'n III e v' only
churches. 1t differs FROM the other great
UNCONVENTIONAL bodies in that 1t Is not
| a union of churches. but an association
Of individuals belonging to the Unitarian
churches who become members and are
entitled to vote in the association by
signing it's constitution and paying one
dollar annually. The association never
has had any explicit relation to its
churches, and exercises no control over
them. 1t can exert no real authority over
any individual church. since each is a
law unto itself. The influence of the as
ISOLATION can be only advisory.
For example, some great church body
may pass a rule prohibiting any church
belonging to 1t from recognizing the mar
riage of a divorced person and forbidding
any clergyman to perform a marriage
ceremony for a divorced person. The
Unitarian Association can take no such
action because every church makes it's
own individual rules and each clergyman
IL responsible only to his congregation for
his actions. A Unitarian church may
call a man to its pastorate without being
| liz any way responsible to the association
| for his religious views A Catholic priest
| or a Methodist preacher could hold the
pulpit OF the Unitarian Church, SO long
as the congregation permitted It, with
out being called upon to defend his faith
| to any higher authority.