The sun., 1913-10-15
CHURCH UNITY.
Some Plain Questions fer Episcopa lians
From . Friendly Presby teFisn.

IL THE lHE SUN-kirs ]
have read with interest the admirable de-
scription in THE SrN to-day of last nights
service In ST, Thomass Church. when
the Right Rev Logan II. Roots. Bishop
VI Hankow. China, spoke before the
members of the Triennial Conference of
the Protestant Episcopal Church on
Christian unity as the supreme ideal in
the foreign mission fields of Chr!sts king
dom.
As an active Presbyterian pastor I lis
tened with profound approval 10 the broad
and catholic Interpretation which Dr.
Roots gave both To the theories and prac-
tces of church unity in China. When
there fell from his lips such phrases as
Christian brethren of other commun-
IONS especially in a presence composed
so largely of conference delegates. includ-
ing many Bishops. | felt like congratu-
lating myself that | had lived long enough
to hear such words, and to see such a
Bishop coming out of China with cour.
age enough to utter such a message.
During this important triennial confer
ence We have heard and will continue
to hear great deal about church"
| or Christian unity Bishop Roots
has eloquently told how In China
il solves itself In their pan-miss ionary
conferences with the clergy of th"
Episcopal Church praying and work
ing together side by side with the clergy
OF our christian brethren or other conf
muuions
Now I ask: If Christian unity can
he and is 81 beautifully interpreted ia
| far on China. why may not America
| behold a like vision? We American pas
| tors OF tn. other communions'' are as
keenly Jealous for the idea and practice
of unity as are our EpiscopNlian brethren.
and We are willing to go more than half
way to put our prayers into practical!
operation.
! Nor, In this our zeal would We expect
| the Episcopal clergy 10 become unfa!thful
| IN the slightest 20 any tenet of their
| church which they may regard as "A doc
| uluaI or ecclesiastical essential
But 1t appears that there are rules" 4"
| Let me illustrate know OF an occa-
sion when the evangelical churches In one
OF the New York suburban towns united
| in Thanksgiving Day service. In fur
| therance Of Christian fellowship a hearty
invitation was extended to the rector OF
| the leading Episcopal church, in which
he was not only urged to be present but
WAS asked TO deliver the address or SER
| mon appropriate To the national celebra-
| ton of thanksgiving. The rector refused.
| courteously, on the ground that the rules
| OF his church made II impossible for him
| 50 to do"
| | know of another occasion when an
Episcopal rector refused to administer the
| sacrament OF infant baptism in the home OF
| one of the families Of his parish because
| a Presbyterian pastor, an intimate friend
| in that home, had been asked to be pres
ent aud share slightly in the ceremony.
| Rules of the church" forbade.
| also personally know Of two other
| occasions when rectors Of Episcopal
| churches have refused the presence and
| assistance of Presbyterian pastors in the
| ceremony of marriage. tn each of these
| occasions the suggestion simply was that
| the IrcshS terrain minister might merely
| "assis, in some slight degree. for rsa.
sons Of courtesy that wrr" 'ascd in one
instance on intimate friendship and III
| the other instance On kiuship With one Of
| the contracting parties. Eut again the
rules OF thu church mad" such an act
| of assistance ,ueNp'dlcut II not impossible,
such examples night be extended b!
| others than myself al intiiiitum.
The following questions arc pertinent
| and should be clearly answered by the
Episcopal Church:
| What does that church really mean by
"unity": What deeds OF actual frater-
nifty are the Episcopaliau clergy really
willing 10 produce In order properly To
| Justify their prayers for unity? is this
| vital matter going To be simply one Of
prayer, or will our Episcopal brethren en-
| courage II to become one OF practice? II
| such practice is good enough for China.
why not then for America
Permit me To affirm that the spectacle
| Of "a Presbyterian or Methodist or Con-
gregationul preacher assisting an Episco-
| pal rector In a marriage or sacramenal
| or preaching service will 80 further to
postulate the sincerity Of EpiscOpalian
iongings for unity than many prayers.
| But the landscape is full of ghosts.
| those rules OF the church." that will
not down and that pop up on every Oc-