New-York tribune., 1919-03-04
Bishop Weller
Sees Hope for
Church Unity
Believes Catholics Can Be
Won at This Time to Plan
for Christian Conference
War Left Minds Open
This Time Most Propitious
for Visit to Vatican and
the Churches of the East

thorough reexamination of Chris
tian belief is, according to Bishop
Reginald Hebcr Weller, the immediate
object sought by the Protestant Epis-
copal deputation which sets out on the
Aquitania Thursday on the first stage
OF its mission TO the Vatican and the
Eastern Church
The formation of Il world league of
churches has been spoken of as our pur-
pose said Bishop Weller, who has been
prominently identified with the move
ment for Christian unity since its in
ception in this country. "That, though,
is not, strictly speaking, correct. Our
immediate object is to call confer
ence of all the Christian churches.
Our hope is for an ultimate unity
among them. But the form that such
unity may take. the plan for its active
initiation, rests with the conference
to decide. Our duty is simply to see
that the conference comes together;
that basis for action is established"
The Final Obstacle
Alone among Christian sects. Bishop
Weller said, the Roman Catholic Church
and the Holy Eastern Church have
thus far failed to accept invitations to
a world conference. If the present
mission can secure their cooperation,
the last obstacle viii have been re-
moved.
ALREADY" said the Bishop, 'in this
country the Baptsts, the Congrega-
tonaists. the Methodists, the Presby-
terians, the Moravian Brethren, the
old Catholics of Europe, the Disciples
Of Christ, the Methodist Episcopaians,
we'll as other Protestant sects, in
cluding Nonconformists throughout
Great Britain and all English-speak
dominions of the British Empire, arc
definitely committed to the world CON
ference plan. 1t is true that certain
factions among the Lutherans have so
far held aloof, but | do not think they
will do so much longer. Certain other
Lutheran bodies. on the other hand
have agreed to JOIN us.
These sects already have appointed
their commissions. These commissions
are ready to attend a conference Once
We have secured the adhesion of the
Catholic Churches. there remains only
tho task of appointing time and place
for the gathering and the work of send
ing out the announcements
Correspondence Opens Way
Correspondence between Rome and
the Protestant Episcopal authorities
here has been exchanged, and it is
understood that the Vatican is to-day
IN n receptive mood toward the con
ference plan High hopes of the Co
operation Of the Russian Orthodox
Church are also entertained Arch
bishop Tkhon. Patriarch Of Moscow,
hcad Of that Church aud the mere than
iooooooo0 souls who pay allegiance
p 10 it, formerly presided over the Rus
slan Orthodox Church in New York. At
that timc he took lively interest in
tho Christian unity project and cx-
pressed warm sympathy with it,
I'VE shall also, besides seeing him,
visit the Metropolitan Of Athens. head
Of The Greek Church, and the Pa
triarchs of Coustantinoplo. Antioch
Jerusalem and Alexandria" said Bishop
Weller Probably We shall 90 to
Armenia. too. Then, with the whole
of Christendom prepared to meet Just
a. the diplomats of the world arc meet
ing at Paris in the formation Of the
league Of nations, we shall be ready to
proceed"
How 1t Is to Work Out
Tho plan, the Fon du Lac Bishop ex-
planned, calls for statement Of be-
lief on the part of all sects.
"Thcse statements" he said, "will be
drawn up by authoritative spokesman
by the heads of the churches. They
will represent the body of faith pro-
fessed by each sect We are not max
ing them public yet, because we fear
that that might stir up controversy.
and controversy is what We want to
avoid. Unity, agreement, is the thing
we are seeking.
1--WE want TO get all bodies together
and say not what we disagree on but
what we agree on. There are certain
great principles on which we believe
the Christian churches are more united
to-day than most people realize We
believe that, joining together, looking
eye TO eye, VIC shall find these funda-
mental bases Of agreement, and 80 lay
the rlatform for larger, more CO.
ordinated WORK
Side by side we shall put the state
fnents Of belief brought by the yari-
Gus sects. Item by item we shall 20
over them. We, the Episcopalians. for
example, will say to the Roman Cath
olics. 'Such-andsuch IA item 10. !.
Do you agree with us on that?' If
they do, well and good, we shall pro
ceed 70 the next item. So on We shall
20 through all the list, with each Of
The sects ard all of the sects together.
One Place for Pause
Wher we arrive at some item
where some other sect seems TO dis