Alamogordo news-advertiser. (Alamogordo, Otero County, N.M.) 1912-1914, 1913-05-02
Proposed Federation Of Alamo
gordo Churches Wfings Fer
vent and Favorable Comment
From Big Pass City Paper
THINKS SUCH A TRUST A
COMMEMORATE COMBINE
Views Of Outsider Particularly
Interesting at This Time:
Routine Work Being Pushed
and Decision Expected Soon

Commenting on the proposed fed
GRAFTON OF three, and very probably,
four of the churches into one. co
operative league. the Ell Paso Her
aid says, editorially:
AIamogordo. y. NJ, announces the
newest thing in tusts and COM
bines. And here is one that the
divine law sanctions and no human
law would dare attack, yet one that
is so good and wholesome and desir-
able that it is almost universally un-
popular
nothing less than a combine of three
churches of different denominations.
1t hasn't been perfected yet.
Pray for it, Perhaps that live and
progressive town at the base of the
Sacrament" mountains may bring
forth offspring OF great promise, if
men do not interfere too much
with the working of the spirit.
Three church congregations Of
different denominatiOs have found
that there is difficulty in support
ing each and all rs they should be
supported. Each has its own build
ing. its own pastor, its own organ
Ization, and its own activities to
support But there is not enough
support to go around in adequate
proportion.
Anything like competition under
i such circumstances is ruinous. The
sensible view may prevail. that one
strong church will be more effectual
n human service than three weak
! Jnes
Ii is not to be understood that
this Alamogordo proposal means or
| yanic unity as to church belief; it
! probably involves but little more
.han business cooperation. Yet it
is IL mighty wholesome and inspiring
| sign of the religious progress of the
| age when churches are willing to go
| even 50 far. Such a plan would be
radical departure from the prac-
| tice OF most churches today. One
I
Paso to find two missionary church
as of different denominations Occu-
! pying the same block in sparse
ly settled neighbOrhood.
The church organ of the Univer-
salisis makes an interesting Sugges
don looking toward organic unity
Of all the denominations of the
Christian church. Ii would simply
change the word denomination
TO department. and go ahead. al
under the one broad name "Th,
Christian church" Says the Uni
versalist leader OF Boston;
Every sect recognizes that II Il
hut one member OF the Christian
church, IL strengthens itself thai
IL may contribute larger service tC
Ithe whole church. and this recOgni
tiOn needs but to be made actua
and practical and the way to rea
unity Is open before us, for w
have but to strike out from eccles
iastical literature the word demon
inatiOn and substitute in its place
the word department.
How would IL look? The Con
gregational Department; the Episco
palian Department; the Methods
Department;the Baptist Department
the Presbyterian Department; tn
Unitarian Department; the Cniver
salist Department of the Christian
church, etc, etc.
"Straightway all are united in tn
Christian church and seryin
through that department which give
to them greatest efficiency. Tn
success of one Is the success of all
Deadly competition Is measurabl
eliminated, and even personal rela
lions OF members are affected 70
the better. for both belong To tn
same church. and are simply work
ing In different departments.
"Of course all this Is true alread
In the minds of many; is II tru
enough to be proclaimed? And b
the changing of word can we no
set forward nightly the suprem
purpose OF this Christian hour"
About goo different "denomini
lions" are noted In the nations
census of churches. including bot
Christian and non-Christian. Ther
would seem to be room for fur
ther spread Of the Alamogordo spiI
II.