New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-05
Immersion Tenet Keen
Thousands Away, He Tell
Startled Audience
Declares War Will
Unite Denominatioo,
Future Religion Will c.
ment Humanity Bonds,
He Declares

John d. Rockefeller, jr., whose IA.
class IN the Fifth Avenue g..,-
Church is famous. declared last 81.
tina. the Baptist tenet tina. baptisr /
immersion was necessary vas se a
stacle which had kept perhaps b.s,,
Christians than you or me- OF: ofa.
Baptist Church. His statement ~,
made at a dinner Of the New York c,,
Baptist Mission. ct the Hotel Naj.,.,
and was heard b. 200 members Of 4.
Baptist Church, some Of whom ~,
clergymen.
Immersion as a condition for ne.
bership in the Church" he deels,,,
els man-made. II the Baptist Carr
IS TO bear its part in the leadershiv I,
the Church Of the future il must -
exclude good Christian men and won.
on matters Of form. In the Church 4
the future form and ceremony will pap
p minor part"
"Christiaaity Not a Failure
Mr. Rockefeller began by saying "a,
despite assertions 20 the contsr
Christianity had not been proved /,
failure by the war. Perhaps the Churl
had failed. he said, but Christian,
had not; Christianity had attainsS |,
higher and broader plane through H.
e.crfeoa- ,yI prfu-stone or svar !. 4
clared. The war, in bis opinion, kt
brought closer the Church OF the fgssn
the Church Of the Living God.' NJ
Rockefeller said it might be called
II wish / could tell you what | ~
as the church OF the future ne na
81 see al UNCONVENTIONAL barriers "
liberated, and If the Baptisis to-tr
have the courage and the breadth =
stand on the platform of the founder
OF the Church. il can be a part Of h
foundation of the Church Of the fsnn
"a leader in the Church Of the LiYi,g
God. What a privilege! What an y
portunity. In Gods name, | ask, Dee
any one dare 10 let il pass y
Address a Surprise
Il was evident that Nr. RockefellU,
statements had taken some Of bis sst
ence by surprise. bat he was the las
speaker and there was no public d
cussion Of his views.
In the course Of his talk, the -,
Of the founder Of the STANDARD o.
Company made il clear that the Chure
he saw in his vision vas one whKi
embraced all Christianity religioe
trust in which the efficient methods =
cooperation rs opposed 20 eompetiuo
were utilized.
1.-THE government for ycars,' he AK
"has been crushing cooperation az
encouraging competition. but nov,
this crisis. we have turned agslns
competition"
The war, he thought, was draws
humanity closer together, was sInpa
flying problems that loomed lsrgs
the days when details Of doctrine a.
ritual were regarded as Of supreme n
portance. As natural sequence, ,
saw the time when a small commurir
instead Of struggling 20 support hil
a dozen churches. would have only o.
or two places Of worship, but that %
Of those two would be a stronghold .
the Lord, supported by the entire cor
munity.
Would Bring Fraternity
Preachers. he asserted. would ;
closer 20 their congregations, yersct :
humanity. Clergymeu in the chan
of the future. he said, would be graf
ated from the workshop, the fed :
other situations where they mlnge
with their kind, rather than from lhe'
logical seminaries.
II. y. Mckinney presided at The a
ner. The Rev. Charles II. Sears, |"
ecutive secretary of the society, F'
ceded Mr.. Rockefeller.