New-York tribune., 1919-07-21
Minister Predicts
Many Reservations
In Accepted League
DR.. Barton Finds Bitter
Hatred on Beth Sides of
senao, and Is Himself
Distressed Over Sllantung

Tf e Rev. DR. William E. Barton. pas
tor OF the Congregational Church at
Oak Park. Chicago, preached yesterday
IN he Broadway Tabernacle. Broadway
and Ffty-sixth Street. Following his
ser o1on he was asked what ministers OF
the Middle West think of reservations
on rhe league Of nations covenant and
Asst he as Congregationalist thinks
Church unity. He had remarked in
us sermon that he had spent several
days IN Washington. doing so in part to
ascertain the feeling on the league ana
the effect of that feeling upon Chris
tlan plans in the immediate future.
, Intense and bitter hatred" he said.
u found on both sides Of the Senate
toward President Wilson and his plans
and deep and unyielding resentment
over his course since last November |
am not myself employing hese terms.
they We're the terms used by a certain
Senator. wtose name | prefer not to
give without his consent This was not
the description OF Republican senti-
mont, but Of Democratic sentiment.
with perhaps an exception or two. The
situation is grave. ana il seems to be
the opinion IN Washington that it IS
almost Who. IS Of Mr.. Wilson'S making.
Distressed Over sshantung
Speaking Tor myself. may say that
. am IKE tne m en- OF my church's Bible
class- divided. These men, numbering
l20, debated t>le league for four Sun
days, and found themselves hopelesslv
of several minds. | am grievouslv dis
tressed over shc Shantung decision, and
belleVe Am' riea must guard herself
well 10 avc'd falling into grave moral.
or rather JAmoral, completely.
at seems to be the Judgment Of
WASHINGTON. a least the Judgment
given 10 Christian leaders, thlt the
league covenant VIII be adopted event
ually. 1t viii have 10 he. But there
will be many resorvations'
As may be known, there is just now
under discussion an agreement between
EplscoDalans and some Congregations
allsts about ordai ining second time
some Congrogati onal ministers thai
they may serve in Episcopal churches.
ASK ed concerning the proposition, DR..
Barton said:
"Ihcre is certainly a growing ten
dcHcy among moat Protes,ants 70 get
toge -her an! stop the waste OF past
yeal :. All mentioned as leaders in the
no cment believe to be honest in
then convictions, but some are wofully
wrong in thoir method.
Method DELAYS Union
81 mean nothing personal. but ! do
not hesitate to say that gentlemen who
are falling over each Other to get the
Roman Catholic Chunch 70 recognize
, them are doing more ,han anybody else,
more than all others together. to pre-
vent the union they seek to further.
Either Earl Taylor and those Meth
odiSts who are acting with HIM are
hopciessly crazy or else there is just
ahead of the Christian Church the
, greatest achievements in all her his
tory. And the way MetNodists are put
ting things across do not believe they
are quite insane. ] find that what thev
do affects helpfully the big business
men of Chicago who are not Method
lists. These men are not frightened by
/ big plans. They like and commend
them. And 50 ! say that it 3 q thou
sand pities that a league Of nations.
with tremendous moral issue at
stake, and a church unity, With kinks
IN its leadership, are more to be de-
plored at this time than orc can wit
ness without real Distress