Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-22
Rev. Samuel Eliot Tells
Congress Of National
Federation There Are
"Too Many Superfluous
Christians.
Speaker Asserts Spirit of Age
Has Grown Weary of Theo-
logical Controversy and
Needs Application of Princi-
pies Which Christ Taught.

"A mixture of conservatism and radical
dam is the ideal Of religions, in the opin-
ian OF the Rev. Samuel Eliot, of Boston,
nresident of the American Unitarian AS
soclatIon, who declared there were too
many superfluous Christians" throughout
the country in his address today before
the National Federation of Religious
liberals at the Friends Meeting House,
18th and Race streets, assembled in this
city for the fifth annual congress of the
federation.
Doctor Eliot declared that 1t was pitt
ful to see ministers serving Christ in COM
munitles supporting three churches where
there is not room for one"
II know of one city of 100000 inhabi-
tants where the majority of the residents
are Catholics. They have four well-es-
tabllshed parishes, while tho Protestants,
who are Ia the minority. remember are
supporting 81 churches, no one of them
strong and vigorous"
In closing his address, Mr.. Eliot said:
"Here at least, is a little band of peo-
ple who believe in the things of this
world which we see as temporal and in
tho unseen things as spiritual Most
people do not seem to be able to compre-
hend the liberal They must either be
radical or conservative. We want a mix
ture Of both. That is our ideal of re-
lgion."
Although the congress is not declared to
be held in opposition to the "Billy" Sun
day revival, the opening remarks of the
Rev. Thomas w. Illman, pastor of All
Souls Universalist Church, West Phila-
delphia, in behalf of the Liberal Minis
ters Club of this city, were construed by
many to be a challenge to the strenuous
baseball evangelist.
Liberals and progressives are none too
numerous in this city," said Mr.. Illman,
"and so you look very good to us. We
need you to refresh a sorely strained
spirit of tolerance. We liberals of Phla-
delphia have been called upon to endure
the most insulting intolerance, which
loudly lamented it's inability to perpetrate
as present experience, the future damna-
tton 1t so lavishly invoked and threatened
We need you to help us be patient and
sympathetic with our fellow human be-
=ings in their slowness to receive the
larger truths and finer faiths. You will do
cur needy city of Philadelphia much
good"
The keynote of the entire movement was
struck by the Rev. Charles w. Wendte,
of Boston, executive secretary of the Ma
tlonal Federation of Religious Liberals,
when, in his report, he said:
THE spirit of our age has grown sick
and tired of religious controversy. dog
matte assumptions of superior knowledge
and authority by both radicals and con-
Rervatives, and interdenomnational feuds,
and is demanding a larger vision and
more conciliatory and inclusive spirit.
The need of the times is not dogmatism,
blind faith and abstract preaching. Earn
est and frank testimony shCLld be given
for religious and social refcym and ex-
isting evils in church and s. iety should
be fearlessly denounced. We must learn
to apply the doctrines and ethics which
Christ taught to the many social prob
lens OF the times. By doing so we will
give Christianity real meaning and
make 1t a powerful force"