The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-17
GREAT CONFERENCE
FOR CHURCH UNITY
DR.. Manning at Trinity Tells
Of Meeting Soon Of All
Denominations.
STEP TO WORLD COUNCIL

A great conference Of church leaders
in North America who are active in the
movement to bring about Christian unity
while the horrors OF war are turning the
attention of the world TO the need Of
stronger bonds OF brotherhood among
men will be held in this country within
the next few months. II will be a step
toward the proposed world conference.
This was announced yesterday by the
Rev. DR.. william T. Manning. rector OF
| Trinity Church, In a sermon in which
he emphasized TIE opportunity for
bringing about unity.
Yesterday was a day fixed by the
Episcopal Church for prayer for unity
| Bishop Lawrence of Massachusetts, sent
out a prayer which WAS widely used.
at seems providentiai." said DR.. Man
ming, "that there Is organized and well
under way a movement which calls upon
TIE Christian forces of the world to come
together for conference. At this moment
more than fifty OF the great religious
communions of the world are identiied
with the undertaking for a world con-
ference, including all of the Anglican
communlons In all parts OF the world.
Great interest Is also felt In the move
ment by the Russian and Eastern
churches and by TIE Roman Catholic
Church. A deputation has been APP
pointed and Is under orders to Inter-
view the heads OF all the churches In
all the countries OF Europe at the first
moment conditions permit, with a view
to arranging for tie world conference
as speedily as may be.
"Christians are asking themselves
to-day whether the church might not
nave prevented this awful world war "
1t had been able TO speak with united
voice.
I'VE believe Christian unity Is pos
sibie, although we admit the difficulties
to be overcome are enormous. II Is
according to our Lords will and with
Him nothing is impossible. Unity means
Arm agreement as to the e~sssntiaIs or
our faith, together with wide room for
diversity and difference In non-essentia
matters without these differences being
looked upon as reasons for separation
and division.
.'There are those who believe that
Christian unity Ii to be desired and
prayed for. but that nothing can at
present wisely be done to bring II nearer
These brethren believe that any EFFORT
toward unity IL certain to result in com
promise of principle and sacrifice OF
some portion of the truth revealed In
Christ. They believe therefore that the
only thing to do Is to 40 on as we are
in the hope that in time the truth Will
he made plain. ON the other hand.
there are those h seem to think that
II anything Is TO pe accomplished we
must have immediate results. These
well meaning but impatient souls say
that the thing TO do is to forget diff
ferences and come together. The situa-
ton can never be met by this method.
II overlooks the fact that the differ
ences among Christians are deep and
real and must be treated seriously.
Christian unity cannot be achieved by
the methods OF Christian Science.
There are others. and they are In
creasing In number, who believe that
the true method of approach toward
unity IL the method OF conferences. with
full, frank and brotherly discussion OF
the things as to which Christians differ.
Those who hold this view hope and he
lieve that such discussion entered upon
In the spirit of love and good Will, not
IN The spirit of self-assertion, will lead
toward the removal OF differences and
the fuller understanding of Christs
truth. This il the method of the world
conference movement n for which II
is now e~ndeavoring 10 prepare"