The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-29
FEDERATED COUNCIL IS NOTABLE
NEE TING IN CHURCH ANIMAL S

j. Some of the great movements In
o history have pressed far from their
{ small beginnings before the rushing
|, world became fairly aware OF their
I existence. mcmentous disaster. a
tremendous conflict at arms, may
!, give pause to the mighty currents OF
. life's normal activities, but construc-
tive enterprises. however vast in ul-
innate Significance, do no. reveal
, their power at the beginning. There
, fore the fact that great busy Chicago
: was made really conscious of the pres
ence Of the delegates representing the
: Federation of Churches Of Christ In
, America may Re taken as evidence OF
|, progress Chicago-not only the
/ Chicago OF churches and church peo-
pie but Chicago the cynical and in
different-~knew about and talked about
this meeting; and the world cannot
fail to take note,
A body which assumes to take
cognizance OF all the problems OF the
united church must have In It's mind
and on it's heart an almost bewilder-
ing number of themes for discussion.
SO at the beginning and throughout,
and perhaps even after the off cial
sessions of the delegated body had
ended. there were innumerable for
NAL or informal conferences In which
g. ItIc tUouRHI vi IHt NdS given
form. Tuesday. the Sd. found many
delegates already In appearance at the
well appointed headquarters In the
Hotel La Sale; and the social SER
vice. theological seminaries and State
federation conferences on the follow
ing day were largely attended. At
Fullertea hall on Wednesday night
the federation was formally weioAmed.
and the president. Bishop Hendrix. OF
NJ.
South. spoke In significant phrase the
inspiring motives OF the organization.
an Episcopal bishop. DR. Anderson. of
Chicago. had expressed in generous
words Of fellowship the note OF up
HIT above sectarian pettiness. and
President Hendrix strikingiy en-
phasized the "enlarging limitations
which give the federation all the great
er power when 1t puts aside the
temptation to do for the churches
what they themselves must do sepa-
rately. and sticks close to what can
be done unitedly.
The selection Of Smaller Mathews,
D. D. as president of the federal
, council. brought to the platform q pre-
. siding Off Ger whose efficiency prompt
|, ly proved the wisdom OF the delegates
DIR. Mathews is dean OF the Baptist
Divinity school in connection with
LfI5 u niFSTSIIy OT 1UiCdSu, tdltoT VI
, The Biblical World and writer and
, speaker whose expressions are held in
most wholesome respect by ministers
. and laymen throughout the country.
His speech setting forth some OF the
things FOR which the federation should
/, stand was mastery
| DIR. r. D. Lord. recording secre-
/ tary, and Alfred r.. Kimball. treas
> urer, were reelected, and the office
10 H,.<Y
. ished as an elective office. DIR. E. B.
r Sanford, corresponding secretary. seri-
8 ously i'll at the time OF the convention.
9 was named honorary secretary
Much Time to Mission Discussion.
Time was given two afternoons for
. consideration OF reports of the council
| committees on home and foreign mis-
sions. From the reports and the COM
| ments 1t was indicated that, while
| there are many examples of co-opers-
ton among workers at home, 1t In on
| the foreign field that the most nota-
| BILE results have been achieved.
] Bishop Mcdowell, OF the Methodist
church. observed there would be still
greater cooperation in foreign lands
II the boards would authorize things
which the missionaries themselves
D propose.
, Various examples OF work between
ternoon. when the report Of the home
missions committee was considered
The council agreed that the home
missions councii Ia the proper body
through which home mission coop
Grafton should be pushed. although
there was discussion In the executive
/ committee as TO the desirablnty of
the two bodies joining forces dennite-
ly. 1t was declded to accept the plan
OF reciprocal exchanges which has
worked well In the STATE OF Maine.
Under the assumption that churches
allied to no denomination lack an
outlook on foreign MISSIONS, q uenoml-
national literature, source of regu-
lar supply and other desirable inilu-
ences. the mission authorities have
pracuced In Maine the pan of Great
Ing churches OF the denomination se-
lected by the majority of the consul
tuLinx members. IL was p...nted out
that strong church. nourlsned ny
the united bodies OF that one denomi-
nation, 10 better Than several small
organizations and better than a union
church under the protection OF no de-
nomination.
Bishop Fallows. OF the Reformed
Episcopal Church, told of the organi-
zation IN South Dakota OF a Congre-
gational church from an assortment
OF representatives OF seven denomina-
tons, and he said he would be glad
to form q thousand such Congrega-
tional churches. Rev. w. II. Matn-
ews. Presbyterian pastor at Grand
Forks, N. d., told the conference the
experience Of pastors in that State
In failing to get contributions for
home missions when 1t was announced
the money was 10 b.. used in North
Dako,a. He said members OF the
churches refused on account OF the
overlapping of denominations the
councii heartily adopteo recommen~
dations urging cooperative work
among the Orlentais. the Mormons.
the mining and lumber camps, In
the congested regions of cities and
thinly popuiuted sections of the coun.
try.
The report Of the committee on
foreign missie MS recounted the grea,
!, advances made through the vallous
conferences eliminating In the Edin-
hnrsh continuation committee ana the
s.udies being made In this country