The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-22
National Council of COngrega-
tiOnal Churches i'm Conference
Plans to Adopt a New State
ment of Doctrine.
SIX HUNDRED DELEGATES meet
lin Kansas City for Session to
Last Nine Days.
Fight for National Prohibition
Is to Be Organized.

Kansas CITY, oct. 2Z.-1ne InOSI iii
p1rtant conference of Congregational
lists in a decade began here today
when Moderator Nehemiah Boyntor
of Brooklyn, n. Y, called to order the
fifteenth triennial session of the Ma
tional Council of Congregations
Churches in the United States. Be-
fore it has completed it's sessions
which will occupy nine days, the coun-
Gil will have elected a new moderator
adopted a new constitution containing
a new statement OF doctrine, chosen
a national secretary to act in an ad-
visory capacity to the churches and
societies of the county and heard men
high in the service of the church re-
port and suggest methods for spread
Ing the doctrine OF Congregatlohal-
ism to all corners of the world.
Six hundred delegates and 1000 Wis
itors are in attendance. The electlon
of a moderator was to take place trls
afternoon, a choice to be made from
four candidates: Rev. William Hor-
ace Day of Los Angeles; Rev. Samuel
H. Woodrow of St. Louis; Rev Charles
r. Brown, dean of Yale divinity
school New Haven, Conn.,, and Rev.
Charles S. Mills of Mont Clair. DR..
Boynton will deliver his address as re-
firing moderator tonight. In connec-
ton with the national council the
eight national societies of the church
including the missionary bodies, Will
hold meetings. Practically all the
prominent workers will attend.
The reports of commissioners and
committees occupied most OF today
session. The report of the commas
sion on polity containing the new doc
trinal statement, was considered the
most important. This commission also
recommended the curtailment or the
number of church societies and the
appointment of a national secretary
with advisory powers, to visit churches
and societies through the country.
Doctrine Objected To.
The statement of doctrine which is
objected to by some members because
of its broadness. follows:
1--WE believe in God the father, IN
finite in wisdom, goodness and love;
and in Jesus Christ, his son, our Lord
and Savior, who for US and salVatlon'
lived and died and liveth ever more;
and in the Holy Spirit, who taketh OF
the things of Christ and reVealetn
them to us, renewing, comforting ana
inspiring the souls of men. we are
united in striving to know the VIII OF
God as taught in the Holy SCRIPTURES
and in our purpose to walk in the
ways of the Lord, made known or TO
be made known to us. we hold IL TO
be the mission of the church of Christ
TO proclaim the gospel to all mankind,
exalting the worship of the one true
God and laboring for the progress or
knowledge, the promotion OF Justice
the triumph of peace. and the realiza-
ton of human brotherhood. Depend
ing, as did our fathers upon the con-
tinued guidance of the Holy Spirit to
lead us into all truth, we work and
pray for the transformation OF the
world into the kingdom of God ana
we look with faith for the triumph OF
righteousness and for life and glory
everlasting. Amen"
An extensive movement, cOncurreu
in by the churches of many denomlna-
tions in America to bring about an
amendment to the United States con-
stitution prohibiting the manufacture
sol if0DOFtAtiOn
portation of intoxicating beverages
throughout the United states was
recommended to the council by the
committee on temperance.
National Prohibition.
THE determination of the liquor
traffic" said the report, sis national
problem. Much has been done by
faithful fighting in localities and a
few states have held the fort for a
long period. But it is hard to enforce
the law in a prohibition state when
surrounded by territory which per
rnits the sale of liquor. The final bat
tie must be fought out in the national
arena The saloon is dying. A good
blow will put it out of existence.
The report of the secretary showed
an increase in church membership
churches. Benevolences to the church
the last year amounted to $2,363, 500.
There are now 6064 churches in the
United States with IL membership of
743, 026
The brotherhood of the church is
now engaged in movement to draw
labor and capital closer together, ac-
cording to the report of the brother
hood committee which incidentally, de-
cIares men are taking a gree ter inter
est in church affairs since the brother
hood movement was started Various
means have been used to keep the men
interested. One brotherhood organiza-
ton has an efficient social insurance
plan in operation. another has interest +
ed its members in the boys of a reform I
school in it's city, another is attempting (
to teach a group OF foreign-born citi- /
zens who have settled in their COM /
munity. All of these things serve to /
keep the men interested in church af- /
fairs, the report says.
THE program for labor and co-opera- |
ton with labor organizations has met /
with such recognition that the continu- !
ance of the work is warranted" says (
the report. There is, however, more /
than one fact to be considered in the !
present situation. The church cannot |
afford to ally itself to a partisan fight. |
Labor leaders. as well manufacture !
ers and business men feel this. The /
church stands for men and the things |
that make mems lives richer. The only /
things we are fighting and ought to |
fight are the things that impoverish and |
destroy men, women and little children. !
The Community Program.
In the community program we have |
the sympathy and cooperation of lead
ing manufacturers. At several places |
where conferences were held the men
to whom the new program of industrial |
justice will mean the greatest cut in |
their profits are the men who are most |
heartily in sympathy with the move
ment-"
The common church unity which
has been holding conference with the
Protestant Episcopal church since the
last council meeting endorsed a world
conference looking toward the consol-