Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-18
METHODIST URGES
CHRISTIAN UNITY
Trumpet Call Sounded at
Conference by Alexander
Simpson, Jr.
PASSING OF HAT ASSAILED

trumpet call for united world
Christianity irrespective Of denominational
differences. and ridicue for methods OF
financing church work by passing the hat
at church services. or by holding church
entertainments. came from two speakers
today, at the Methodist mobilization" con-
ference at the Arch Street Methodist
Church, Broad aNd Arch streets. Five hun
dred or moro Methodist laymen and min
listers are Attending the conference. which
began yes:erdar and comes to an end
tonight
The call for n united world Christianity,
not for Gods Methodist or Gods Episcopal
children, but for all men, whatever be their
belief" was sounded by Alexander Simpson.
Jr., a Philadelphia lawyer and member of
the joint commission negotiating for tn,
union Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
North and South. His address, which closed
the morning session, brought out a burst OF
applause and a risn- vote of appreciation.
Manv declared il was the speech of his
life"
The Rev. George :. Conneh, Woo has just
finished his sixth year at the Methodist
Church Of Waver!y. y. Y, voiced the con-
demn0tlon of the pass the hat program"
denunciation which was received with
unanimous approval
Mr.. Simpson outlined the differences be.
tween the two Methodist bodies. which split
In 1874 over the slavery question. There
are four million in the northern and two
million members in the southern Church.
The same dispute exists today said Mr.
simpson. as to 'he relation of the negro TO
the unified Church. and forms one of the
main obstacles TO the unihCaton of the two
organizations. He spoke in the highest
terms Of praise Of the two negro members
of the commission adding that one of them
had made address at the last meeting
that C1u not h. e"up ed bV any other
member, and that both had conducted
them elves with the utmost propriety.
". t seemed at times az though there
could never be any unifcation. he said
that the door would suddenly open through
which oil cOd'd see their way clear to
ng c"n'Ft one thing was paramount, he
a Gei ,h'- thor we're but two governing
" % he chT Ch tOday-that we love
God lone and that we love our neighbor
as ourselvas-and he believed the unlflca-
tion would be accomplished on those lines
alone. He closed his address with a stir
ring plea for world unifcation of all the
bodies as the universal children of
God.
In explaining the so-Called Waverly finan-
cial plan Dr. Connell firmly derlded the
"present-day penny-collection pace" the
holding Of suppers, entertainments. sales.
etc. for moneymaking purp ses, and plate
SOlitCllonS III All pTtdCnlnE SeTNlCtS
and meetings Of the Sunday school, Epworth
and junior leagues. OF the plate collections
he said they were a fond device which men
have tried to decorate with a bit of prayer
or music"
The basis of the Waverly plan is the
formati n Of "tithers' association" and the
use of duplex envelopes, free-will offerings
and tthers envelopes, which shall be
dropped into n three-part glass receptacle in
the church yestibule The obligations of all
church organizations are assumed by the
a 'ocIaton.
A strongly optimistic view of the moral
conditions surrounding the men OF the Ma
tional Army in the sixteen great canton
mert was expressed earlier in the
session. The praise OF the moral tone
p ovaieIt at the draft arIay cantonments
was sounded by Dr. d. ID. Forsyth, corre-
spending secretary OF the Board Of Home
Missions and of Church Extension Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.