Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-16
Saturday, December t6, l5l1.
WHAT A. churches Are DOING.

A study at TINS time OF N4Idt ZIG
religious bodies of the world are do
ing or attempting to do, is OF unusual
interest. Changes of far-reaching
inheritance are mapped out as the
work Of Protestant, Roman Catholic
and Jew. The Church News Associa-
ton gives an interesting account of
the mission to Russia of Rev. Dr.
Robert S. Macarthur. DR.. MacAr-
thur is the new president of the Bap-
tlst World Alliance. and in a real
sense represents Christian people by
the hundreds of thousands, and he
goes to Russia on a special errand.
while his work, after that, goes De
yond, into an even broader field. lie
bears letters to world rulers from
President Taft and letters from sec
retary of state Knox to ambassadors
in all countries in Europe and ASIA
which he hopes to visit. He goes 10
Russia to ask the Car for larger
measure of religious liberty for all
peoples of all faiths in his vast en-
pire. He will present written state
ment, and will back ii up with an
oral one if allowed to dc so. Famous
as Or. Macarthur is for the things
which he has preached and spoken
against the Roman Catholic church.
he will row ask the Car for larger
n
STA, and especially for better treat
ment for Jews.
DR. Macarthur recognizes the difii-
cult phases of his mission. Before
sailing, he said: New England Puri-
tans have treated Baptists as badly
as ever Russians treated Jews, and
suspect the Car of all the Russias
knows it. The American people have
been cruel to the American negro,
and / suspect the Car knows that
too. We exclude the Chinese. and I
am sure that all Russia knows that,
and knows how unjust we are in this
respect. Nevertheless, l believe that
failings on my part, I may be able
to accomplish something on Russia S
part
This world trip of Dr. Macarthur
which Is expected to last q year
seems to be a test of Baptist strength,
Capitalization of Baptist power
which speaks for better things, in
the future, than ever recorded in the
past. But other religious bodies are
not to be left behind. The Congre-
gationalists are working toward a
complete reorganization of American
Congregationalism- plan to central
ize it, although avoiding the viola
ton of traditions in any marked de-
gree. 1t is the purpose to introduce
legislative power and representative
character. The national council be-
comes more official one. The aims
are. to decrease administrative eX-
pensc of benevolences, and u closer
cooperation of all general agencies
AS a step toward the latter aim, II
is proposed TO magnify greatly tbs
Office of secretary to the nationa
council. So marked Is this change
that the secretary, If on the founda
ton now suggested. will virtually b.
at the head of the denomination il
even larger degree, and with rathe
more powers, than the presiding bish
op in the Episcopal church or tn
moderator of the general assembly il
the Presbyterian. The suggestions,
carried out, appear to be among tn
most radical ever made by any II
ligious body in what may be called Il
time of peace, that is, when the
was upon it no stress of doetrin
dispute or division.
Only last week, in New York.
first step was taken toward UNI
between the Presbyterian and reforr
ed churches-the latter the Dutch
not the German. Tile promoter W
Rev Dr. Henry Sloane Coffin,
young Presbyterian pastor who com
from the famous Sloane family
New York 1t is not TO be understo
that this proposed action confer
plates organic union o federation.
simply proposes cooperative woi
but It seems to US to be q moveme
in the right direction, the dol
away with useless differences viii
interfere with work that demonstrai
to US the difference between Chris
anity and religion.
Who Passed the Primary Law2