The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-10-13
HOPE TO CREATE CONFIDENCE
AND SPIRIT OF FRIENDLINESS
Rev. Or. Peter AinsIie, After Four
Years Of Work Reports Barriers Be-
tween Churches weakenins-Favors
World Conference Of All christen.
dom - Hope For Realization Of
christ's Prayer.

Atianta, Ga., Oct. 13.-The unity of
Christian churches is with each year
becoming less remote possibility, ac.
cording to the report of the Commis.
sion of Christian Union which was
presented at the General Convention
OF the Disciples of Christ here today
The commission has been at work
only four years. Headed by the Rev
DR.. Peter Ainslie of Baltimore, it has
headquarters in that city, from which
1t has distributed more than 10000
letters to all parts of the world in the
interest of a more cordial relation
among Christians of all names and
creeds. 1t regards the. barriers to co.
operation among Christians in this day
to be due largely to the lack of ac-
quaintance. Its efforts have been Civ
en- to remove suspicion and to create
an atmosphere of confidence and
friendliness. .--,,-.-~s e. -, -
The President of the Commission
with Rev. DR.. Newman Smith, of the
Congregational Church, and Rev. Dr.
William H. Roberts, of the Presby-
terian Church, visited the churches of
Great Britain and Ireland last winter
in the interest of the World Confer.
ence ON Faith and Order. They secur.
Led the cooperation of all the Protest.
ant communions.' Later DR.. Ainsle.
the president of the commission. re-
turned to Europe as a delegate to the
Church Peace Conference at Con-
stance, which, however, was interrupt
ed by the war, but he returned to
America through England and there
held conferences in the interest of
Christian union
The commission is giving its SUP.
port toward World Conference to in.
clude all Christendom. Neither the
time nor the place has been set but
1t Is said preparations are maturing
so that this announcement may be
made at an early date.
The report of the commission which
is written by Rev. F. w. Burnham. of
Los Angeles, CAL, secretary of the
closes as follows:
ut is now four years since the coun-
Gil on Christian Union of the Disciples
of Christ was founded at Topeka, Kas
When the commission first began its
task it looked out upon a field where
there were many possibilities, but
ground practically untouched so far as
definite plans were con-
'erned. After four brief years, with
such time as busy men could devote
% the service, we are we'll on the way
oward the realization of some of our
greatest aims.
"a new literature on the subject.
the task in its larger pro-
portions and breathing more irenic'
md brotherly spirit, is coming forth. |
rhe amount of Thought and study now
'eing devoted to the solution of the
problems connected with the possible
'eunion of the divided Church of
Christ is unprecedented in the history
If Christianity. Yet but a beginning
las been made. The Christian world
S awakening to this issue as never
before. 1t cannot stop short of the
'ealization of the answer of Jesus
prayer. Difficulties that were sup
'osed to be insurmountable are dwin-
ling to significance under the clear
ight and closer fellowship of these !
lays. Old barriers are breaking down
md no man of leadership seeks to
,rect new ones"