The Detroit times., 1915-06-12
Commission on Fed
Grated Activities
Formed
IS ORGANIZATIONS
ARE REPRESENTED
Will Make Church CO.
operation a Work
ing Reality
~ THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.

come 10 pass in Americas religious
work This time IL is an ambitious
plan 10 get all the big bodies, like
the Young Mems Christian associa'
ton, the sunday school, Christian
Endeavor. Laymen's movements
and SO forth, TO doing team work.
The country has been cross-harrow-
\ cd with campaigns" and move
ments" and sometimes before one
4 desired crop has begun TO grow.
another pioughing and narrowing
and planting comes along until To-
eel pastors and churehmen are in
perplexity.
Something like hundred repre-
sentatiyes OF these national and In.
terdenominationai bodies got to-
eether in a conference NJ Atlantic
City last week and authorized
commission on federated activities.
which viii seek TO bring the pres
ent multiplicity OF agencies into har-
m0nious cooperation. At the same
time, the commission will give the
greater part OF its attention to
founding. fostering and faihering
federated church work In the cities
Of the country. Since the modern
urban centers are the crucial points
IN Christian activity. it seems vital
that some permanent; and effective
form OF local federation of churches
be created.
The prime mover IN this new ef.
( ford Is Fred q. Smith. leader of the
= Mem and Religion movement, and
4 the executive officer chosen Is the
Rev. Roy b. Guild. late successor
(, to DR.. Charles NJ Sheldon as pastor
OF the First Congregational church
K Of Topeka, and formerly executive
secretary OF the Men and Religion
movement.
Among the rs organizations rep.
resented at the Atlantic City meet
< in9. which lasted for two days were
\ the Federated Council Of Churches
Of Christ In America. the Sunday
School associations. the Missionary
Education movement. the Laymens
Missionary movement. the Brother
hoods. the Young Mems Christian
\ association. the Young women's
Christian association. the Council OF
Women. the Young Peoples so
cieties. and the Home Missions
4 council.
Apart from its epochal action In
creating. under the Federal Council
Of Churches. this new Commission
on Federated Agencies. the Atlantic
City meeting was notable for It's
|. personal. Rarely are so many ma
tional religious leaders met together
K ct one time. Men sat silent through
the sessions. or were heard from
only In brief opinions amid the gen
( eral discussion. who are accustomed
70 address great audiences and 10 be
the center Of important occasions
For instance, John r. Mott. OF the
Y Y. NJ. c. A. and Marion Lawrence.
& OF the Sunday school, and ]. Camp.
bell White. OF the Laymen's Mis-
\ sionary movement, and William
shaw, Of Christian Endeayor, and
\ Daniel Polling. OF the Flying Squad.
4 ron, sat silent through whole ses-
sions OF the conference.
The discussions were frank but
h friendly. There was no lack OF can
dor In pointing out the difficulties
and dangers to be met by the new
Z movement. yet never once vas the
rerenity OF the meeting ruffled. and
\ the action taken was unanimous. Il
means much for the Christian work
Of North America when the real
Z leaders SIT down in council together
The small group of women dele
& gates. led by Mrs. Robert +. Speer,
contrfbuted materially 10 the spirit
(. and success OF the conference.
n Not infrequen,ly II has occurred
that the plans OF these general or
y ganisations for local campaigns
have FLASHED. because each has
sone ahead without conference with
the others. Now this new clearing
h house should insure cooperation.
Nothing In clearer. under the
y changed conditions Of osir time. than
that religious work can no longer
b. done exclusively on the basis OF
the local congregation. The thought
and activity OF churches is largely
being shaped by general move.
q msnts.' like that of the Organized
Adult Bible classes and the Lay.
msu's Missionary movement and
+ 1he Men and Religion movement.
Is The local church Is still. as ever
Z che most essential factor In all
!. christian propaganda but now.
odays the churches all have interdg.
nominationai relations and func
i elcns.
Because parochial system Is I'm.
ar1eQuate for modern city condi
X o1oU& the need for better co-opera
)1Vo machinery has called into &C.
1851 this Commission on Federated
c11vl(ies. Many cities have had
expsricnce like that OF philadel
watch, for the purpose OF a
nonnecltptic campaign, formu.
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