The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-25
REVOLUTION OR
A REFERENDUM

fcontinued from Page ONE
lions now carrying on church work, into
one also has met with some opposition.
The commission would have the nation
al council begin the initial steps in this
union at once by naming the majority
members of each governing board OF
the church societies, thus giving the
national council control. 1t has been
contended that the council has no right
to assume control of the societies.
which are separately incorporated bod
les.
A new apportionment plan, by which
the funds that formerly went directly
to each society from the churches at
large, shall be turned into the national
council where they may be apportioned
to each society is proposed. Thus, an
income of 100000 annually is turned
over to the national council for distri-
button.
The constitution provides the nation
al council shall in the future meet ev-
cry two years instead of every three
years.
An increase from the present assess
ment of three cents a member per
year to four cents is provided The Sc
lection of a moderator is changed to
provide that this officer shall be 'cho-
sen from among the members of the
council instead of from the voting
members present at the council This
provision was made following the cleo
ton of Moderator Brown who was
named in technical violation of the con-
stitution because he was not present
when chosen.
Doctrinal Statement.
Considerable discussion has arisen
over the doctrinal statement of the
commission which forms a part of the
preamble of the new constitution. The
commission undertook no task of pre-
pairing a creed for the denomination.
but its brief summary of Christian
faith has attracted wide comment.
Many have charged the document is
too broad in its terms, that it has
omitted many necessary provisions,
such as a statement of the resurrection
of Christ and the sacrifice" of Christ
on the cross The confession follows:
I'VE 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 our saliva
ton lived and died and Hveth ever
more; and in the Holy Spirit, who
taketh of the things of Christ and re-
vealeth them to us, renewing, COM
forting and inspiring the souls of men.
We are united in striving to know the
will 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
it to be the mission of the Church OF
Christ to proclaim the gospel to all
mankind, exalting for worship of the
one true God and laboring for the
progress of knowledge and promotion
OF justice, the triumph of peace. and
the realization of human brotherhood.
Depending as did our fathers upon the
continued guidance of the Holy Scrip
ture 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
and for life and glory
everlasting. Amen"
DR.. Sanders Defends His Work.
Rev. Frank K. Sanders, president of |
college and chairman of the |
of nineteen; Rev. William
E. Barton of Oak Park, ILL.,; Prof |
Williston Walker of New Haven, Conn. |
and Charles s. Nash of Berkeley, Cal, |
spoke in favor of the constitution.
1t developed that the commission of !
nineteen had acceded to the request of
a number of the opponents to the con- {
stitution by placing in the statement
of doctrine a phrase recognizing the
of Christ, which had been
contended for by the opponents of the
The words inserted in /
the doctrinal statement are land rose
again." making the direct statement of /
creed read:
we believe in God the Father, in !
finite in wisdom and goodness and
love; and in Jesus Christ, His Son, our
Lord and Savior, who for us and our
lived and died and rose again
and liveth evermore."
The commission also explained it had
met the opposition to the establish I
nent of commission of missions.
The first informal vote taken fndf-
Gated the sentiment of the council was
n favor Overwhelmingly of the COM
mission of nineteen's recommendations. I
The council rejected by a strong ma |
lority an amendment to the constitu-
ton as reported by the council of
asking for a triennial session /
instead of biennial session, as rec
ommended by the commission. The
amendment was voted down. An eff
tort by the Rev. Fred Page of Wal i
tham, Mass, to take away from the
commission on missions the power to
regulate church societies as recon-
mended by the commission was defeat
ed by the council.