The Washington herald., 1915-05-30
What Church People
Are Saying and Doing

faction with the suffragan plan, q new
one, but to wish to end risk Of Bish.
op Longley being elected bishop of some
other diocese. Connecticut and Tonnes
see, both large Jurisdictions. decide upor
more bishops for existing work in pref.
ence to division Of fields. Reports from
Newark are to the effect that the new
bishop may be either a suffragan or 9
coadiutor, as shall be determined upor
later. The difference. as may be ex;
planned. relates to right Of succession In
case Of death Of the diocesan. both be-
ing alike in spiritual powers.
Anton Lang. who has twice played the
part OF the Christ in the Passion Play a
Oberammergau, has been called to the
colors and IL fighting in a Bavarian regi-
ment in the vosges Mountains. But fol
the war an interim Passion Play would
have beeh represented at Oberammergau
this summer. The picture Of the
"Christus" OF the Passion Play at wori
in the trenches killing men is not a
pleasant one.
Dr. David Starr Jordan. the prophet OF
the peace movement in America, has is.
sued statement showing how the
churches can work efficiently for peace
in America. This the church can do
DR.. Jordan says. at can educate. it can
elevate; 1t can lend its organization. its
prestige. its influence to every movement
that promises to give the people Of Eu-
rope better control over their own at
fairs that tends to reduce international
jealousy and hate, that makes war-mak-
ing a more difficult task. that looks for
ward to lasting peace
A Church Unity Conference is to be
called within a few months. 1t will be
limited to Christian bodies Of North
America, and Is in charge Of Episcopa-
lians, Presbyterians. Disciples and others
who are pushing plans for world con-
ference on the same subject The place
and time will be announced soon. The
North American Conference will have
two aims. One is the bringing Of Chris
tan bodies OF this continent into closer
relations. and the other is to prepare for
action the very moment the
war in Europe comes to an end 1t is
stated that the conference will be held
here whether the United States goes to
war with Germany or not.
These unity advocates feel strongly that
the war is over conditions
such as the world never saw will obtain
for pushing Christian plans, and that
foremost among those plans must be a
more than fifty foremost bodies have
come into official relations with the COM
mittees in charge of American and world
conferences, and that Greek, Eastern and
Roman Catholic leaders show strong in
terest and good will in all OF the plans.
A first step for unity. the war ended.
will be an American deputation to Eu-
rope. there to visit the head of every
Christian body. including the Pope of
Rome. the metropolitans of Constantf-
nople and Of Moscow and ST. Petersburg.
Bishop Anderson of Chicago. Bishop
Rhinelander of Philadelphia, Rev. Will
lam T. Manning Of New York, and others
are members of the deputation. The claim
Is made that the number of Christian
leaders who believe unity to be worth
while and attainable steadily increases
The project of uniting the Methodist
Protestant and United Brethren denomi-
nations has been revived and there
seems much probability that the union
VIII be contaminated within the next
year. At a recent conference of the two
denominations at Indianapolis, 1t was
recognized that the Methodist Protestants
had completed every formal step toward
union and now the matter is before the
United Brethren. The leaders Of both
denominations will conduct a publicity
campaign to prepare the way for union.
not by advocating union formally and
arguing for 1t. but by showing the ideals
and Character of the sister body.
The National Council of the Conere-
sationalist churches meets this autumn
It New Haven. Conn. Among the ques-
ions that seem likely to come before
he body are a proposition to create a
BOARD or religious education to in some
way direct the work of day school re-
igious education that has been left
'ut of the scheme of public school in
'truction. and the question of the
'uture status of the pilgrim Press"
'omH are urging that this publishing
rouse or the denomination be reor-
sanized on some such lines as those of
he Methodist Book Concern.
The ninetieth annual meeting Of the
American Tract Society was held in the
darble Collegiate Church. New York,
ecently. William p. Hall was elected
'resident. and Rev. DR.. John Henry
owett. vice president. Gov. Charles s.
Whitman. Rev. DR.. ]. Ross Stevenson,
nd Bishop Homer Stuntz were elected
honorary vice presidents.
The value Of the Christian literature
distributed gratuitously by the society
rand total OF free distribution since
he organization of the society amounts
o $2.617.S2090. equivalent to four bill
ion pages of tracts.
The grand total Of all publications
4 all languages issued by the society
rom its home office during the ninety
ears Of its history amounts to 49,
42,050 copies.
The missionary colporteurs Of the So
iety distributed 5s.431 volumes during
he past year by sale and grant. They
ED 6.346 gospel meetings. and visited
O2.S77 families, many of whom were
immigrants. Since the organization of
he society. its missionary colporteurs
ave circulated q total Of 17.32s,sa7
olumes. have made 1S.406.67S family |
lists. and have addressed 5s5.s4s re-
gious meetings.
The present openings before the So
iety for great usefulness are not only |
tide and varied. but are calling for
clip. This is especially SO in the South |
continent. which is experi-
ncing q new awakening. and fast be- |
oming the opportunity for English.
peaking missions. While this society,
thoroughly interdsnominational, yet
has always proved loyal to the evan.
eltcal faith, despite all the efforts tn /
hift it to liberalism.
As gifts Of the New York Bible Society
early 10000 volumes Of the Scriptures /
'ere distributed to the sailors OF the |
tlantic Fleet while II was in the harbor
gently. The distribution was larrelyl
lade on the last Sunday morning that
he Meet was In the harbor by 1lS youhx l
omen and young men. Parties made up /
two young men and four young women