Omaha daily bee., 1913-10-23
NEW DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
Congregational Council Will Con.
slider Proposed Greed.
MANY THINK 1T IS TOO BROAD
Conference which Begins st Kan-
SOS CITY viii Last Nine Days
Six Hundred Delegates
Are Present.


KANSAS CITY. oct 2.--The most inn
portant conference Of congregationsiists
. in a decade began here today when Mod
orator Nehemiah BoyntoD Of Brooklyn.
N. Y. called to order the fifteenth tri-
ennial session OF the National Council Of
Congregational churches IN the United
( States.
Before Il has completed it's sessions.
which will occupy nine days. the council
will have elected a new moderator
/ adopted a new constitution containing a
\ now statement Of doctrine. chosen a ma
tiopai secretary 70 act IN an advisory
1 capacity TO the churches and societies Of
the country and heard men high in the
service OF the church report and suggest
methods for spreading the doctrine Of
/ Congregationalism 20 all corners OF che
world.
Six hundred delegates and 2o0o visitors
! ere in attendance. The election OF a
moderator was TO take place this after
noon. There are four candidates: Rev
/ William Horace Day OF Los Angeles.
Rev Samuel II. woodrow OK 81. Louis.
Rev Charles r. Brown. dean OF Yale
divinity school. New Haven. Conn, and
! Rev Charles s. Mills Of Montclair. Dr.
Boynton will deliver his address as re-
firing moderator tonight.
In connection with the national council
the eight national societies OF the church,
including the missionary bodies will hold
meetings and practically All the promi-
nent workers viii attend.
New Doctripa1 Statement.
The reports OF the commissions and
committees occupied most OF todays ses-
sion. The report OF the committee on
poi!ty, containing the new doctrinai state
ment. was considered the most important.
This commission also raised the curtaii-
ment OF the number OF church societies
and the appointment OF a nation=, s>Ssa-
tary. The statement on doctrine. which IL
objected 20 by some members because of
It's broadness follows:
We believe in God. the Father. infinite
IN wisdom, goodness and love; and In
Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord and
Savior. who. for US and our salvation
lived and died and liveth evermore; and
In the Holy Spirit, who taketh OF the
Us, renewing. comforting and inspiring
the souls OF men.
we are united in striving 20 know the
will OF God as taught In the holy scrip
ways OF the Lord made known or to be
made known 20 Us. We hold It TO be the
mission OF The church OF Christ to pro-
claim the gospel TO all mankind. exalting
the worship OF the one true God and
laboring for the progress OF knowledge,
the promotion OF justice. the triumph OF
peace and the realisation OF human broth
efhood. Depending, as did our fathers,
on the continued 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; and we
look with faith for the triumph OF right
nj Far "A 400 -. .uk-
ing. Amen.
An extensive movement. concurred IN
by churches OF many denominations in
America to bring about an amendment
TO the constitution OF the United States
prohibiting the manufacture ana sale, the
importation and expectation OF irtoxicat-
Ing beverages, throughout the United
statss which 10 rsconsihended .lby the
council on temperanee. ~
Membership IL increasing.
The report Of the secretary showed an
increase IN church membership since 1910
OF 7tSi. There were thirty-one more
churches. Benevolences last year
amounted to s2.s6a.6Oo. There are s,Oei
churches IN the United States with a
membership OF 7s.02s.
TIE brotherhood OF the church is now
engaged In a movement 20 draw labor
and capital closer together. according to
the report Of the Brotherhood commit
tee. which Incidentally declares that men
are taking a greater interest In church
affairs.
The committee on church unity. which
has been holding conferences with the
Protestant Episcopal church since the
last council meeting. endorsed a world
conference looking toward the consollda-
ton of all Christian churchesL
We have agreed" says the report,
that any efforts TO formulate definite
oyertnres between the Episcopal church
and the congregationalists might well
he deferred until this larger project OF
the world conference shall have been
brought 70 fruition."