The Detroit times., 1915-01-12
SAYS CHRISTIAN
CHURCHES OUGHT
TO AMALGAMATE
Elimination of Creeds Greatest
Religious Need of Age. De-
clares Bishop Williams
DISCUSSES SIN OF SCHISM
BEFORE PASTORS UNION
Points Out Problems That Could
BE Solved BY Presenting
United Front

A unity of churches and the elm
ination OF creeds as Christianity s
greatest need today, was the subject
or a characteristic talk by Bishop
Charles d. Williams before the Pas
tors union In its regular monthly
meeting in the Y NJ. G.. A., Monday
morning. In the work OF such organ
izations as the Pastors union and the
various church federations he pro-
fessed TO see the beginnings OF the
great amalgamation which, he de-
clared, must inevitably come.
For the unbelief rampant In every
community the bishop blamed the
churches themselves, declaring that
the average church member is too
much engrossed with the question OF
good churchmanship as regards his
own individual church and creed to
deal with the larger problems. But
the sin OF schism WAS being forced
on the churches at last by sense Of
their common failures, he declared
I'VE face the saloon problem, yes,
but what else do we face with a unit
ed 'front.'" said the bishop. I'VE min
listers are responsible for the mar
riage evil ii not for the divorce evil.
II one minister refuses to marry par
ties whom he believes TO be physical
ly or morally unfit for the sacred
union. or il the parties have been di-
vorced for trivial reasons, there is
another minister right around the
corner who Is willing TO tie the knot
for the customary fee.
What might not the church do to-
ward cleaning up rotten conditions in
city governments everywhere. If the
various denominations were 10 stand
together as the Holy Catholic church.
AS it is she counts for little ia the
great fight for better conditions.
Every year immigrants are pour
ing in upon us from non-Christian
countries, a great heather mass at the
heart OF a nominally Christian nation.
Our individual denominations have
their foreign missions, supported at
great cost, but they touch but 4 tassel
on the outermost fringe OF the prob
lem that confronts us
AS one example or the need for a
united church. Bishop Williams cited
the instance of small city OF 1000
in Michigan, which he did not name.
One good, big strong church would
meet all the needs OF this commun-
ity, at least Of the Protestant popult
tion,' he, went on. There are six
there now Six jangling bells break
the peace of the Sabbath morning
with their discordant notes. Six pull.
pits pour out their messages. often
belaboring one another with criticism
and tyffiInnpatfAn Stx
parsons starye along on meager sal
aries, irregularly paid, eked out by
subsidies from diocesan, conference
or district boards. Six handfuls OF
the faithful saints gather in their re-
spective houses OF worship while the
mass of the population takes to the
field, the woods, or the water, IL not
TO the saloon.
How can we expect the church 10
go on and thrive under such condi.
tions? That she survives at all is
proof of her divine origin and the
special providence OF God Almighty
over her.
And the same conditions that exist
in the rural district with respect to
the churches are found in the cities.
Statistics recently compiled show thar
in Michigan at least. Professionalism is
steadily losing ground People no
longer go 10 church because they are
Baptlsts or Methodists, but because
Mr.. Jones, or Mr. Smith or Mr.. Brown
goes TO this or that particular church.
And when Mr., Jones or Mr. Smith or
Mr. Brown decides TO attend some
other church they flock with him. The
churches are not making converts to
Christianity; they are proselyting, one
from another.
The history OF Christianity in this
country is closely analogous TO the
history of the nation. For a long time
after the signing Of the Declaration of
Independence this ration existed only
on paper. The conquest OF a new
land. threats OF foreign invasion and
other common tasks and perils grad.
ually drew the Independent states to.
gether until the Civil war finally ce.
mented them. The Christianization
of the world is our common task and
we are trying to face IL with a divided
host made mp of mutually jealous and
suspicious denominations This land
cannot be won to Christianity under
such conditions any more than the
allies could win the present war IL
each was to wage an independent
But the Christian church
has had some pretty hard bumps of
late and may need more before IL
awakens TO full realization OF the
necessity OF united effort.
I'VE spend too much strength in self
service and self-maintenance to give
the attention we should to spiritual up-
lift. The church has lost touch with
the characteristic religion OF the day.
II is setting men OF big faiths TO little
tasks and everywhere we feel sadly
the need of spiritual motive"
Bishop Williams was given a rising
vote of thanks in appreciation OF his
talk
nIDTIro