El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-10-23
Women to Be Recognized
Representation In COngreGationalists
Council Urged for Federation
of Church Women.
By Frederic }. HaSkin
Continued from page /.

men could never enjoy the freedom
wherewfth Christ had made them free
until every congregation of faltn1ul
men was a democracy, exercising COM
DIete control over all of It's aIIalIs-
These radicals were hated by all men,
They were known as "Separatlsts ana
were prosecuted and even put 70 Oealh-
The Pilgrims who settled in New Eng
land were Separatists- who mad Deen
driven from their homes by religious
persecution.
But even the Separatists who re-
mained in England did not agree among
themselves. Part of them believed tnat
the sacrament of baptism should only
be administered to those who were aole
to make a confession of faith: TneSe
became known as Bapttsts. The -ot2 :
ers believed that all children born OF
Christian parents are fit subjects Tor
baptism. These became known as Inde-
pendents and in America all 1ndepen-
dents began to be called Congregation
alists. The OngregatiOnalists believe
in keeping all the sacraments OF the
early Christian church. but each con-
gregatiOn decides upon the manner IN
which the sacraments shall be admins
tered
The Church Requirements.
The church requires from its mem
berS an evidence of repentance, faith IN
Christ and a renewed life. In some
churches regular evangelical services
are carried on annually similar to those
of the Methodist church In others an
opportunity is given upon each COM
munioH Sunday for new members to
unite with the church. Previous to
this, they must have met the pastor or
some of the church authorities who was
in a sense satisfied of their fitness
The rules of receiving members are de-
termined almost entirely by the lndi-
vidual congregations
The history of the church teaches
that the first Congregational church to
- ~ s-I-1 -.
modern denomination was organized in
London as far back as 1892 and the
spirit of liberty characteriZing COngre-
gat1onal1Sm was recognized by sir
Walter Raleigh and discussed by him
with queen Elizabeth While the term
congregational was not in general use.
II was recognized in London as early
as 1881 when an agreement was made
which the Episcopahans, BaptisCs and
QuakerS were exempted from the sup
port of the CongregatiOnalist churches
then existing in Massachusetts.
The First Association.
, The first general association of Con-
gregatiOnal ministers was organized in
Connecticut in 1909 From this time on
the denomination became recognized as
a religious power in the New World.
Many OF the greatest men of that per-
1od were Congregationists. Even in
that early day this church was anxious
to establish church unity because in
IoOl plan OF union was adopted be-
tween the Connecticut General Congre-
gational association and the General
Assembly Of the Presbyterian church.
This union was abrogated by the Pres
byterian church in 1887. Now one of
the actions proposed for consideration
by the National council in Kansas City
IS some definite step which will bring
together all of the Christian churches
Considering the general progressive
ness of the Congregational denOminat-
ton 1t seems rather unusual that no
measure has yet been taken by which
the women of the church may have
their work recognized Other Evangel-
zeal churches have had restrictions in
their constitutions or church govern
ments which have prohibited any off
cal recognition of the work done by
the women members. but this has not
been the case with the congregational
church The Woman's Home Mission
airy Federation viii hold its eighth an
nual convention in Kansas City jusr
preceding the National council. 1t is
the opinion of the leaders in the Wom-
ans Federation that they should have
some representation upon the board OF
the National society and this feminine
movement may add some spice TO the
sessions of the council.
tomorrow: The presidents daily
mail.