The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-01-20

es Of Christ in Redwood Falls" Or
some other name. We will not all
become Presbyterian or Methodists,
j but we can all said under the banner
of 'The Federated Churches of
Christ"
Will church union work in Redwood
Falls?
4 It is working in other places why
should it not work here.
In Winnethka, Illinois, which has a
population of $500 they have but one
union church. The lage beautiful
Community house is equipped with
gymnasium, assembly rooms, moving
picture machine, nurse, physical di-
rector, two pastors etc. They do not
call it Y. M. C. A., Presbyterian or
Methodist. They call it, Community
House, Every man woman, and child
has part in it. There are 20 denom-
nations represented in the church.
There are Christians of several de-
nominations living in that town who
will travel six miles out of town to
attend their own church. Will we
stop the worlds progress because
of such Christians?
What will we do with our church
and benevolence money?
Use one church for worship;-Or
have an additional large chapel for
those who enjoy ritualistic services.
Use the other buildings for "Com-
munity Houses" with nursery, gym
nasium, moving picture machine,
rest rooms for farmers while shop
ping, etc. One pastor can preach
in the morning, another at night,
There are churches in Chicago and
Gary, Indiana where two to six diff
ferent languages are spoken in the
same church. One pastor who knows
German, etc., could preach to the
Germans in one building, while the
English speaking people were hear
ing services in another.
In reference to money:-Each per-
could designate on the envelopes as
to which Boards, presbyterian,
Christian, Methodist or Lutheranl
their offering would be assigned.
Ministers could be selected by COM
mittees from each denomination They
are to select the candidates to be
heard by the Congregation and then
voted on by the congregation. No
members of the committee is to reveal
as to what denomination the min
listers belong.
Some persons feel that this would
require too much politics" Could we
have any more wire pulling than we
have at present for electing mod
orator or bishop. The Living Church"
an official organ of a certain denom-
nation has just revealed some Of the
scheming done in recent conven-
ton not by the laity but by the clergy.
It asked other denominations not to
Judge their church by the action of
their official clergy. Why are so many
/ of our large church meetings held
with closed doors? Do we fear to
have the public know what we ac-
tually do and believe "Public Opin-
ion," is the whip which will make
every denomination and political
party "Toe the mark"
How can we solve the problem of
creeds
Let US not use the word Greed
which has become so unpleasant to
the ear. We can use the accepted
''full membership" requirement of the
Y. M. C. A.,-or the doctrine of the
Federated Chinese Church in Chicago.
We could suggest the following,
"Jesus Christ is Deity and Lord, Saw
Tor of the world. By confessing our
sins and accepting Him as our per-
sonal Savior from sin, and by ack-
nowledging Him before the world we
are TO be accepted into full member
ship into the Federated Churches of
Redwood Falls"
1t is needless to suggest that any
church, regardless Of how strong it
may be, which will refuse to unite in
! a Federated movement will die as
soon as its charter members will have
moved away or died. No person would
affiliate with church which will have
to be labelled, Marrow Minded"
To say that the "Bible is our Greed"
and then make certain restrictions
which will even exclude fellow min
lister unless he submits, to a certain
form of ordinance and doctrine is
worse than compelling persons to
adopt an outworn creed of twain
traditions handed down by our
fathers"
CONCLUSION
Church union is coming whether
you are working for it or against it.
/ ,%<r>s