Evening journal., 1918-12-06
ONE EVANGELICAL
CHURCH PLANNED
Conference on Organi c
Church Union Declares for
Denominational Harmony
MANY CLERGY
APPROVE IDEA

! PHILADELPHIA, Dec. Gone Evan
gelical Christian Church OF America
This Is 10 be an aetuality II the action
taken yesterday at the Conference on
Organic Church Union now being held
In this city. Is 10 be consummated.
Another reformation has swept the
Protestant churches, but unlike the re-
llglOus renaissance OF the past. the
present day reblrth Is not a disruption
and a dissentiOn not a declaration OF
religious Independence. but a declara-
ton OF union and indivislbllity.
With what they declare Is an irresist-
able persuasion. believed 10 be the
touch OF Gods hand upon them. reso-
lutte and Luther-like the members Of
the conference, representative OF every
communion. bishops. clergymen and
laymen, voted 10 adopt the resolutions.
which are the first concrete steps to-
ward a unified organic church.
There was great iubilation among the
dignitaries OF the churches from the
moment the word was announced, and
they stepped 10 the platform one close
upon another, 10 express the felicita-
tions OF their churches for the sue
cess OF the new movement, and they
spoke in eloquent manner their great
Joy that Il Is TO be their privilege
to see the dawn OF the dissolution OF
petty differences and converging OF
the pathways that lead 10 the fulnll-
ment OF what they call "the bringing OF
the Kingdom OF God on earth"
Especially keen was the Joy OF the
two sponsors Of the movement, DR.. VIII
liam II. Roberts, d. d, OF this city,
Of the Presbyterian Church OF the u.
5. A., and Reverend Newman Smyth,
OF the Congregational Church In New
Haven. Both for many years have
worked TO convince their fellow Christ
ians that such a union Is a part OF
Gods program.
Five resolutions were adopted at the
session Of yesterday afternoon, held In
TitherspOon Hall. They focus upon the
appointment OF a committee which will
outline the definite plans for the com
ing together, and which will form the
foundations for a final conference which
Is TO meet not later than 1920
All the well-known Protestant de-
nominations had a hand. through their
representatives., In framing and adopt
ing the resolutions; Presbyterians. by
whom the invitation 10 the conference
was given; Congregationalsts. Baptists.
Episcopalians, Lutherans. the Society OF
Friends and others.
1T is the greatest church movement
since the Reformation" Or. Wilbur s.
Chapman, the evangelist. said when
asked to comment upon the results OF
the meeting. This is an epochal hour.
10 Is a great democratic movement, in
keeping with the spirit OF the times.
a new church grown out Of the rebuild
ing OF a new world.
The spirit Of the church unites to-
day. the organization OF the church win
unite tomorrow. Great Britain issnow
working toward such an end II is on
Its way in Canad and Australia. This Is
a most significant step"
One OF the resolutions provides that |
the members Of the conference each ap-
point one member from his own de |
10 act on an ad interim |
which will be vested with !
the duties OF attending TO the details, 4
legislative and otherwise, and which |
will work out the arrangements OF the
ansl conference on organic union.
Bishop Joseph F. Berry, OF the Metho-
list Episcopal Church, in this city de-
Jared that such union could not have
,een approached flfty years ago, or even
twenty-five years ago. other represent
tlyes expressed similar sentiments.
DR.. z. A. Hanley, Rochester, N. Y. OF