New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-14
By CHARLES W. WEIGH

Now that the clergymen OF all de-
nominations have returned from the"
vsrations. and since an account OF inc
scenes enacted by chose who sat a'
the bedside through the last DEAN
struggle Of the Dodgers" has been pof-
traved by Grantland Rice, W. j. Mac
beth and others of The Tribune stan
the department of "The Church Ina'
IL in New York" welcomes the return
Of an opportunity to be of all possible
,s.istarce 10 those who are endeavor-
ing 70 make the life of the Church OF
which they are part, all that II ought
TO be.
Out of the big, generous world, MADE
more real by the recrestions oil sum
mer holiday, has come the conscious
ness of every minister and churchmah
hereabout that the essential cravings
of the life of this city are for three
things with which 1.-THE Church that is
in New York" has not been too album
dainty blessed, in recent years at least
These are the spirit Of unity, an en-
comprising vision and generousneSS
Of spirit.
II this lesson has failed Of recep-
tion in the hearts and minds OF the
snonsors for the Church's place in this
e;tv. then of what use is vacation al
anr To no one else should the heid,
the sea, the mountains, the streams anu
their teeming life more surely bear
their interpretations of life's need lot
breadth of ministry and visionful en-
deayor than to the leaders OF the
sniritual forces of any community
Time for Church Action
At M time in this city's life, prob
.blv. has it recommended its activities
with a greater earnestness or more
seriousness of purpose than that WIN
which it is characterized during these
autumn days. viii the Church be the
last 70 recognize this. and set ltseiA
aggressively to the task OF cooper@'i"s
in a movement which should bear US
oil along TO the goal of the sincerest
o,deavor? DO not believe II Will
"The Churchman." the local organ
Of the Protestant Episcopal Chureh,
emphasizes the need for the spirit OF
unitv of which | hate spoken, wneh II
Quotes the Rev. Parkes Cadman. one
~ the leaders Of the Congregations
Church. 1t says OF DIR. Cadman: re
nuts this point positively IN the loi,
lowing words. which expose some OF
the dangers Of the principles OF I'D
erty as held by the protestant
81 have long held it verihahle,' he
declares. that the ethereal ietdcn-
ment of Puritanism is such that ohIy
superior men and women are aoIe 10
overcome It's neglect OF outward anu
visible signs. The inward iorulyihs
Of q profound spiritual experience OF
God. the readings out into the IN
finite of a finite creature, are the oc-
equations Of strong and enduring
natures. and when these moral ana
spiritual attributes decay we nave no
sufficient support for our position
Reunion Aids Spiritual Growth
After ALL" "The Churchman" con-
tinues, reunion is word when
means the establishment OF untold OPP
portunities for spiritual growth. IL
signifies the opening up OF hidden ana
unsuspected channels for the progress
OF corporate life which accepts
Christianity as its guide. In the
United States DR.. Cadman sees the
best field for experiment. 1t is true
there are 100 distinct branches Of the
Church in the United States, but nine
tenths of these can be arranged IN
nine groups. There are many indlca-
lions that the evils of Christian dis
sension are felt by the mass Of Chris
tian people in the United States.
policy of mutual recrimination in their
intercourse has already been aban-
doned.
There is a larger view Of life, and
there is a recognition of the duty OF
Christian love in the relations of the
members of all the Christian communi-
ties. More definitely, DR.. Cadman
points out the various signs OF the
concentration of evangelical Chris
tianity. The Methodists, for example,
are following the lead Of their Cana
dian and British brethren, and are
arranging for confederation between
the Northern and Southern Methodist
churches.
Warfare Yields Factions
"Under the stress of warfare, Eng
lish evangelical Christianity is taking
even holder step. Only recently the
president of the National Council of
Free Churches has proposed plan
for the federation Of all the evangeli-
cal churches in England, on the
ground that their UNCONVENTIONAL di-
visions had no meaning for the pres
ent generation, and were a positive
hindranee to the triumph of the Cos
pei.
"Sueh facts a. these have an i'm
portsnce that cannot be escaped. The
whole orientation Of Christian thought
has changed. How wide the change
has been may be judged from an al
fusion made by DR.. Cadman himseI
20 the reception given 20 q phrase
used years ego by Dean Church, who
spoke OF the poisonous contAgion Of
disunion az something which arrested
the holiness and the advance Of the
church. His diagnosis, holly resent
ed at the time, has since been ad-
mitteo by Christians Of every kind"
In answer TO the fsr-fung criticism
Of the Church, Nolan r. Best, editor
OF The Continent" in introducing a
series OF articles entitled THE Church
To-day, says: "The Church is not a
failure
LET that defiance urges Mr. Best.
be the answer OF Just men 20 all the
Ohurehs foes. Only the short-sighted
can dare 70 mock the Church.
Powerful Help TO Integrity
"Fsr from failing, the Church is be-
yond all comparison the most powerful