The Washington herald., 1913-10-19
NEWS AND COMMENT

/ The Kew. Wlllam ii. hODeTIHs bldlco
clerk of the Presbyterian General As
sembly and chairman Of the provisional
committee of the Evangelistic Commis-
sion, announces to the churches con-
nected with the Federal Council that the
| Commission on Evangelism at Its hrst
regular meeting in Atlantic City, N. j.,
| September 1911. organized by the ap-
pointment of officers. Under the rules
the chairman was appointed by the presi-
dent Of the council The other oficers
chosen were: Vice chairman, Bishop
Berry, of the Methodist Church; gen.
eral secretary, the Rev. William +.
Biederwolf, secretary of the national
federated evangelistic committee; record
ing secretary, the Rev. c. E. Schaeffer'
secretary OF the Board Of Home Mis-
sions of the Reformed Church in the
United States.
An executive committee was appointed,
consisting of the following-named: Dis
ciples, the Rev. Peter Ainslie, of Balti-
more; Congregationalist, the Rev. George
L. Cady. of Boston: Lutheran, the Rev.
Luther de Yoe. of Philadelphia: Baptist,
the Rev. Charles II. Dodd, OF Philadel-
phia: Presbyterian, South. the Rev.
Richard Orme Finn, of Atlanta; United
Presbyterian, the Rev. r. A. Hutchison'
Of Pittsburgh; Moravian, the Rev.
Bishop NJ. W. Leibert. Of New York;
of Philadelphia; Methodist. South, the
Rev. John NJ. Moore, OF Nashville; Re-
formed German, the Rev. Charles Z.
Schaeffer, Philadelphia; Protestant Epis-
copal, Bishop EtheIbert Talbot, Of South
Bethlehem; Reformed Dutch, the Rev.
o. N. Voorhees,, of New York; Method
ist the Rev. J. G. Wilson, OF Philadel-
phia: with the chairman, the Rev. w.
H Roberts, and the general secretary
- he rarauaisaf0u ReV- w T. Bieder-
wolf.
1t is expected that the ofice OF the
commission will be located In the
witherspoon Building. Philadelphia and
that IL will be opened for business on
January l.
In its first report. the Episcopal COM
mission on a world conference to bring
about the unity of Christendom, states
that its greatest difficulty does not arise
from Roman Catholic Church opposition.
for there Is none, but from the i'm
patience Of a Large number Of Protestant
leaders who clamor for the holding OF the
conference almost Immediately. A sec
ond class which give almost as much
trouble, persists in saying that nothing |
can ever be accomplished. The report |
to be presented to the public next week. |
admits that these two classes make |
more trouble than all others together.
A striking thing which the report will |
present is the open-minded position taken
by Catholic cardinals resident In |
America, and bishops and other leaders
resident abroad. The same cordiality the
finds among the preletes OF
the Russian or the Greek orthodox
In all cases the PROPOSE
tons have been cordially received, the
says, and requests made that
additional Interrogation be given.
Thirty religious bodies have now named
The extent Of the propa-
ganda Is seen In the reports statement /
that $4,000 leaflets have been distributed,
and as many more prayer cards and let
ters to leaders all over the world Not
4 religious body in Africa, South Amer
lea, or the Pacific Islands has been
left uncircularized. The commission has
4 mailing list in America Of about $500. /
10 which 1t sends all matter issued, and
desires many more to express willing
ness to receive and read the news Of
Christian unity. While the late J.
Pierpont Morgan gave 100000 toward the
expense, others have contributed in mod
est sums Il
The Disciples of Christ Foreign Mis-
sition from q woman of the far West
u
churches in Tibet, on condition that the
society shall manage and maintain them.
This means that this almost unknown
and, in addition to the missionary work
lone from England, is to have a vigor-
Jus American missionary campaign. Just
when the society starts upon this novel
md promising enterprise in a wholly new /,
Asiatic field Its secretary for twentyl '
'ears, the Rev. F. N. Rains, retires to
AXE up other work.
Early forecasts Of receipts by mission
Try societies closing their books this
autumn indicate the year to have been (
Iuite up to the average, possibly a little
head Of it Three Of the big boards Z
'nding their years, but not yet able to |
i've out figures, say that they will have [
10 debts This is unusual. The Episco-
'al Board came out little more than |
ven by the expedient of taking q small !
um from reserve funds. The American
Missionary Association predicts that I'll
vil have an equally good year, and the :
Disciples Of Christ Foreign Society nayI
un s45,000 ahead of last year, with a ,
otal OF s45o,oOo While there has beenI /,
10 phenomenal increase, It Is certain thati
he fall closings viii show no slumps
iather, there will be reported the usual : :
nd normal increases
The September number Of the Con- J
tructive Quarterly appears with articles /
Fhich present phases of Christian
hought of particular interest, not only
, the scholars Of the churches, but also {
, Christian leaders, who wish to keep e
breast Of the trend In church life.
The first subject discussed is that of G
hurch unity. It is handled from differ- 4
Mt points Of view by men of varied ira S
itions. The Most Rev. Mr.. Piaton. r
rchbishop Of North America and the 4
leutian Islands, admits all the impos-
bilities yet nevertheless, considers that
nifty Is possible. NJ. Geremia Bonomeili. 4
ishop Of Cremona. sends a strong plea Z
ON Italy for unity. The Disciples OF Ii
.ershner, NJ A, Ii. D., while George 5