The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

toned initial experiments under direc- ton of Presbyteries in Pittsburg, Chi cago and Seattle. The Presbyteries of these cities are expected at once to take up work, to show what can be done, and give lessons to Presbyteries in other cit ies just how to proceed.
 A plan proposed not long ago to con- solidate Presbyterian educational socie- ties aroused so much opposition on the part of the societies themselves that the plan has been postponed for a year, in part to study conditions more corefully and in part to allow heated feelings to cool off. It Is understood that the chief opposition came from the board of pub lication and Sabbath school work, Phila- delphia. and that the college of educa- tlonal boards, the two other societies af- fected. were more agreeable to the new plans.
 A controversy has arisen among Pres byterians over their Sunday school work. One party wants schools to take stronger hold of strictly educational methods. as has already been done by some other bodies. The large party in sists that Sunday schools shall be more evangelistic; that children be brought into church membership earlier in life and in large numbers. The many churches in this religious body that add not one member on confession of faith ouIiiiS u WnOlc yedf cduSt lilt tNallSel- istic plea to be put forth. This church grew, however. in total membership last year. according to figures just made public, by 6S,000 or a larger number than for many years past. other than when membership was swelled by absorption of other Presbyterian bodies.
 Church Unity
 The Protestant church seized upon .1<t. ton of the Russian church. who is seized upon the invitation of Archbishop Platon of the Russian church, who is quitting America for a Russian see, to advance the cause of church unity be- tween Anglican and Eastern orthodox communlons. The occasion was a fare well service and reception to the Rus sian archbishop. given at the Cathedral of St Nicholas in New York, just before his departure. The very unusual incl dent occurred of Episcopal and Russian bishops and priests taking part in the Cathedral service, which was that of the holy communion or mass. The in- cident is unofficial, and binds neither body to the recognition of the orders of the other, but is regarded as significant and likely to lead to further union steps.
 In this service. possibly to become his- toric, Bishop Courtney representing a church unity foundation, Bishop Oar. lington representing officially the Epis- copal church in America. and the Rev. Dr. William T. Manning, representing the world conference on faith and or der. to be held some time in an effort to advance organic union of Christendom, were the ones taking part, together with Archbishop Platon, two diocesan bishops and 40 Russian priests in vestments. Presentation of service books followed; an old custom intended to express good will
 The United States is the one great for egn mission field of the holy synod of Russia, spending here about $l00.00O a year. and the Russian is the only one of the four Eastern orthodox churches to do any foreign mission work anywhere worth mentioning because of size and expense. Formerly Russian church ef- forts were confined to Alaska. Later they extended to Minnesota and the mid dle west by the absorption of what are called Uniat churches, and some years ago the see city of the Russian arch bishop was changed from San Francisco to New York. A new archbishop has not yet been named.