Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-25
CHURCH APPROVES
NEW CONSTITUTION
Commissions Report Adopted
by Congregational Council
by Big Majority.
OPPONENTS MADE PLEA
FOR REFERENDUM VOTE
instrument Accepted Makes New
Statements Of Doctrine and
Other Radical Changes.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. October 2S-The
Congregational Church in the United
States Is progressive. This was demon
strated today when its national council
swept aside all opposition. and by an
overwhelming vote adopted q new con-
stitution. containing new statements OF
doctrines and other radical changes in
church policy.
The council made no important changes
in the document as presented by the
commission
Congregationalists throughout the ma
ton anxiously awaited the action Of their
national council. which today accepted a
new constitution. The issue was whether
or not the church should confine itself to
the conservative constitution adopted at
the formation Of the council forty-two
years ago.
The first informal vote taken indicated
the sentiment OF the council was In
favor overwhelmingly Of the recon-
mendations Of the commission OF nine
teen. The council rejected by q strong
majority an amendment asking for q
triennial session instead OF q biennial
session, as recommended by the COM
An effort by the Rev. Mr.. Page of
Waltham. Mass, to take away from the
commission on missions the power to
regulate church societies also was de-
feated.
Advocate Adoption.
Rev. Frank X. Sanders, president Of
Washburn College. and chairman OF the
commission Of nineteen. and Prof Willis
ton Walker Of New Haven. Conn.,. spoke
in favor of the new constitution. It de-
veloped that the commission Of nineteen
had acceded to the request Of q num-
Der Of the opponents to the constitution
by placing In the statement Of doctrine q
clause recognizing the resurrection OF
Christ. The words were inserted and
were land rose again"
Among those who have stood out reso-
lutely against the adoption Of the new
legislation is Gov. Baldwin Of Connect.
cut. who has contended the instrument
is unconstitutional and who has insisted
there should be a referendum by the
churches before it is adopted In one OF
the public hearings Gov. Baldwin warned
the commission there were only two ways
of settling the question. by revolution
or referendum.
The commission of nineteen that framed
Sanders. president of Washburn College
Topeka, Kan. and DR.. Nehemiah Boyn.
ton of Brooklyn. N. Y, retiring mod
orator, is a member. It was appointed
three years ago at the session OF the
national council in Boston.
DR.. Sanders said today:
We have drawn up the best documen,
we could frame, and we believe It rep.
resents the wishes Of the great church
throughout the nation
Provision for General Secretary.
The provision that caused the most
discussion and some opposition IL the ap-
pointment OF general secretary to serve
the churches in an advisory capacity. His
duties are similar to those Of q bishop.
1t has been charged his influence will be
greater than that of the moderator
The appointment Of commission Of
missions to govern the missionary So
cieties with the ultimate object OF merg-
ing the eight organizations now carrying
on church work also met with some
opposition. The commission would have
the national council begin the initial steps
at once by naming the majority members
of the governing board OF each society
thus giving the national council control
1t has been contended the council has nc
right to assume control Of the societies
which are separately Incorporated
A new apportionment plan 10 pro-
vided by which the funds that for
merly went directly to each society from
the churches at large shall be turned
into the national council, where they
may be apportioned to each society.
Thus an increase of 100000 annually
is turned over to the national council
for distribution.