The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-06-26
Religious

"A unique instance of a union church,
with members from a score of denomi-
nations banded together in a harmO-
NOUS organization, is reported from
POtlatch, Ida. The conditions out of
which it grew are common throughout
the country, and the experiment shows
what may be done when common
sense and Christian tolerance prevail.
When the town grew about the
works of the Potlatch Lumber compa-,
ny the firm itself said: I'VE are going
to erect a building for our Roman
Catholic people, and If the Professionals
can get together we will build a church
for them also. But If they want sep
arate UNCONVENTIONAL churches they
will have to build their own" That
was the beginning, about eight years
ago. The Potlatch Union church or
ganized with t%ifty-three members.
Like most industrial c~enters, Pot1
latch brought together a great DIVERSE
ty OF persons. When a count of the
UNCONVENTIONAL affiliations Of the I'm
ion church was made it was found
that no fewer than twenty-one differ
ent ecclesiastical bodies We're repre-
scented on the roll. These ranged from
southern Baptists to Protestant Epis-
copal, with Presbyterians, Methodists,
Congregationalists and Lutherans
largely represented.
Significantly, this Union church has
never been antidenominational. The
Rev. c. Il. Scafe, now a Presbyterian
pastor of Spokane, but long pastor Of
the Potlatch church, steadily taught
the important work done by the great
denominations. He says that when
Workmen moved away from Potlatch
they and their families returned to
their former UNCONVENTIONAL afilia-
tions with undiminished zeal, but al
ways with greater breadth and toler~
ance.
The uniqueness of this pandenomina-
tional organization is not it's only claim
to note. 1t proved extraordinarily eff
Gent. The first church building was
outgrown in six years. Persons We're
literally turned away from it because
- NSN "a 1CoAh. A\C\CAIlly u ICW LIN
larger building Ta dedicated, this also
the gift Of the lumber company. The
membership of the church is low over
300. And it is a live and working con
g~regation-the social and intellectual
center Of the community.
The Union church's Sunday school
has a noteworthy record. 1t enrolls
800 members. All except fifteen Of the
non-Catholic children of the town OF
school age are members Of the school
There are over 100 more persons on
the roll of this school then there are
attendants upon the Potlatch public
school.
Such facts as these are cited by Mr.
Scale when the point is raised as to
the stimulating advantage Of a compel
ing Protestant church. Incidentally the
relations between the Protestant and
Catholic churches have been uncom-
monty close and cordial.
One rock upon which union churches
often split is the question of INNER
sion. Mr.. Scafe was trained in the
Moody Bible institute and so was
qualified to take a rather unbiased
view Of the situation. So he gave both
kinds of baptism and then left it to
each new member Of the church to
choose the method. This worked sat.
isfactorily.
There have been many candidates for
baptism. The church has been a vital
one and has made many converts. The
Union church has its own creed, a SIM
pie statement Of six articles of faith
to which the members subscribe.
These articles are belief in the triune
God, in the inspiration of the Bible,
the s%infulness of mans natural state.
the redemptive work Of Christ, the
free offer of salvation to all and the
two sacraments Of baptism and the
Lords supper.