The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-05
AUTHORITY OF
CHURCHES MADE
MUCH BROADER
Congregational Bodies Gain
Control of Various Organi-
cations by Constitution
PLAN is ADOPTED IN
KANSAS CITY CONVENTION
F. e. BOgart Tells of Meeting of
National Council, Represent
ing 10000 Members

Delegates representing 5000
members and about 5000 churches at.
tended the National Council of Con.
sregational churches, which came to
a close In Kansas City. last week.
1t was big and impressive meet
ing, both In what actually took place
and in It's significance" said +. f.
Bogart, Detroit business man. who
was one OF the delegates, to The
Times. THE only thing of great i'm
pOrtance done was the bringing OF
the constitutional organization of the
council up to date. No one who was
not there can appreciate just what
that means.
I'VE all went with the feeling that
a great task was before US. and thai
this was the time TO do 1t. A com
mittee OF 10 had been working on the
reorganization for the last three
years. They held open hearings upon
1t each day up to the time OF voting
on the new constitution. Skillful
lawyers, trained theologians and sue
cessful business men, all from among
the ablest in the country, met In
these informal debates. From the
standpoint Of keenness OF intellect
and able presentation of views, those
arguments would be hard to surpass
Then came the day for the final vote.
after three and a half hours of dis
cussi0n on the floor Of the council. II
passed with q unanimity of approval
that carried everything before 1t.
Then those hundreds OF delegates
rose as q man and sang the doxology
with a fervor that ! never have seen
eQualed. 1t truly was momentous
occasion"
In the adoption OF this new consti-
tuition, seven different societies of the
denomination, the American Board OF
Commissioners of Foreign Missions,
the Congregational American Mis-
sionary association, the Congrega-
tionaf Sunday School and Publishing
society, the Congregational Church
Building society, the Congregational
Home Mission society, the Congrega-
tional Education society, and the
Congregational Society for Ministerial
Relief we're all brought under direct
control OF the members of the
churches by making the delegates to
the national council voting members
Of each one Of the societies.
Heretofore these organizations
have been entirely separate. though
made up of members OF Congrega.
tional churches" explained Mr.. b.
CART They have been self-perpetu-
ating. Now they are placed under
the control OF the rank and file OF
the churches who have been giving
the financial support to them ali
along. And this was done In a way
that does not affect the individual
autonomy Of the different congrega-
lions.
1--WE feel that this Is great step
forward and worthy OF the past rec
ord of our people since the Pilgrim
Fathers landed from the Mayflower
for that, you know. was our begin
ming. Our foreign missionary organ.
ization. formed 101 years ago. was
the first to send out a missionary
from America.
"But although we are proud of our
past history and hopeful Of the f'i-
'ture, there was nothing narrow done
in our meeting In Kansas City. the
spirit uppermost throughout was one
not only Of harmony among ourselves
but OF good will and fellowship for
all other religious bodies"
It was decided In the Kansas City
meeting that hereafter the Nationa.
council shall meet every two years.
instead Of triennially, as heretofore.