The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-09
SUGGESTS NAME TO BE THE
CHURCH OF AMERICA
DISCUSS MATTER.

Columbus, Ohio, May 9.-Two OF
.he most important topics coming
before the general assembly OF the
Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America at Columbus,
Ohio, MAY 1926. will be an over
mre proposing an organic union OF
all evangelical churches under the
name The CHURCH of America, and
an overture reviewing the proposal
If the union of the Northern and
Southern branches OF the Presby-
.erian Church.
The latter overture has come up
in several general assemblies in re-
cent wears, both in the Northern
and Southern churches, and while
the spirit OF reunion apparently has
prevailed on both sides, some OBJ
stacle each year has arisen to pre-
vent reunion. Progress was made
toward reunion in 1917, when the
Northern church held its general as
sembly in Dallas, Texas. In 1915
all four branches OF Presbyterian
ism held their general assemblies
simultaneously in Atlanta, Ga.
The overture proposing an or
ganic union of all evangelical
churches OF America was originally
introduced in the Presbytery OF
Madison, Wis. by DR.. George +,
Hunt of Madison, on March 2,
1918. Since then this same over
ture has been endorsed in many
other Presbyteries over the country.
Preamble Outlines Facts.
After reciting its reasons for de-
manding such a union the overture
appeals to the general assembly ito
renew its former most worthy ef-
forts toward practical church union
Of the American evangelical bodies.
In its preamble the overture
states that the divided state OF the
church has not only made it hith-
erto impossible for her to be the
messenger OF peace to a warning
world, but also impossible for her
to meet the needs of any great world
crisis. so that the religious needs OF
our present world upheaval are be-
ing met chiefly by lay organizations
under the church control
It observes in the allied forces
fighting in the trenches OF Europe
for a common cause, the breaking
down of national walls and sectarian
walls among millions facing death
and giving promise of new world
more unified and brotherly and in
creasingly impatient Of artificial bar
riers," all of which call for organic
solemn reason for such union the
church union. 1t recalls as another
burden of Jesus prayer for His fol
lowers the night before His death,
FIVE times repeated that they might
be one, in a perfect unity
1t is proposed that the general
assembly shall name time and
place for an iuterdenominational
council of other churches to be rep
resented by lay and clerical dele
gates to work out basis of union,
and that the Presbyterian assembly,
IF the way be clear adopt a def
ME pan -Ol OlSdllIC uliiOli'
Here Is Proposed Greed.
The following is proposed as the
creed for the united church:
OD I'VE believe in the God and
Father of Jesus.
~ I'VE believe in the historic
Christ as the Divine Savious and
Master of all men.
(3) 1--WE believe in the Holy
Spirit of God present in and work
ing upon the hearts OF men, the Di.
vine guide to the essential truths OF
the Bible and of life
(4) I'VE believe in the word OF
God as contained in the Bible.
(5) 1--WE believe in the Kingdom
of God on earth, founded on the
Fatherhood of God and the Brother
hood of Man and that the Christian
church is the Divinely appointed