The daily Gate City., 1912-02-07
ON
CHURCH UNITY
Rev. Newcomb as Chairman of State
Committee Is Busy With Cor
respondence on the
Subject.
FEDERATION OF CHURCH
Iowa churchmen May Be Called To
sether to Discuss This Plan
and Adopt Some
Idea.

One or the significant and admir-
able movements in religious circles
at the present time is an endeavor to
bring the churches of America into
closer and more harmonious, and more
mutually helpful relations. The Lay
mems Missionary Movement" is one
depression of this sentiment The
Men and Religion Forward Move,
ment" is another. And still another
lis the organization of The Fedora;
Council of Churc hes of Christ in
America" All the principal eyangell-
cal churches of America are repre-
sented in this organization, Bishop
Hendrix of the Methodist church be-
ling president, and DIR. W. H. Roberts
of the Presbyterian church, chairman
of the executive committee.
This general organization attempts
to secure local federations covering
Estates or smaller districts, and in sew
eral OF the states. both east and
west, there are such bodies now op-
Grating.
Nothing more 'iihan preliminary
steps have been taken in Iowa. The
! Presbyterian Synod of 1910 appointed
a committee to cooperate with similar
committees appointed by any other
churches, looking toward state fed
Grafton. Rev. E. B. Newcomb ID. D.,
iof this city, president of the Board
.lof Iowa Presbyterian Home Missions
was made chairman of this commit.
& tee and by correspondence discover
ed that no other church had taken
any action in this direction. The Synod
Of 1911 continued the committee, with
specific instructions to seek con
ference with representatives of other
I churches. DR.. Newcomb has been do
! ing this. While other churches thar
the Presbyterian have not taken def
mite action, official representative.
of some of the churches express them
selves as cordially favoring, SOM
: sort of state organization along tn,
line of federation. 1t is probable tina
J Dr. Newcomb will call an informa
conference of representatives of tn,
: leading evangelical churc hes of low:
to meet in the near future to take a
least the preliminary steps in the ef
fort to bring Iowa churches init
closer relations Of mutual under
: standing and operation.
At the iowa Methodist Convention
to be held in Des Moines next weel
/, 1t is expected that this subject viii
have careful and extended consider
!, alton. State representatives of tn,
i Baptist, Congregational, Disciples am
> United Presbyterian churches hav
t responded favorably to letters of ir
5 quiry from DR.. Newcomb
8 There are numerous questions O
. church administration, especially i
i home mission matters, upon whic
+ a federation could properly counse
r and advise The changing cond
tions. particularly in the rural di.
e tricts, call for cooperation betwee
t churches. rather than rivalry an
S competition. While a federatio
could not have absolute authorit
i over churches, il properly organize
t and administered, it could be exceed
ingly helpful in the conservation {
men and money and effort. towar
: keeping Iowa supplied with religion
services. There are communitie
: overchurched; there are others el
tirely underchurched. Through tn
: proper operation of federation {
:, churches, investigating conditions
Il the whole state, the work of eac
i church and all the churches mieht /
. made more intelligent and effectiy
in the use of men and money.
u There are more than thirty churche
2 of the United States represented
. the Federal Council" In speaking
T. its work and purpose. Theodol
= Roosevelt has said, Every man in
5 bued with the teachings of christia,
ity must rejoice in the effort to cor
bine the strength of all churches fl
o the christianization of humanity
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