Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-29
Editors Letter Box
An Appeal for Prayer

Christ. the manifestation Of the love
Of God. ID waiting TIL those who cal
themselves by his holy name bring the
world. by their unity, seen and known
Of all men everywhere, to believe that He
was sent by the Father to redeem all
mankind. To be Christian should
mean. to dwell in Christ continually and
SO completely as to be filled with His
love. And love Is unity. the complete
surrender and forSetfulness Of self to
find ones self enriched. enlarged. COM
pleted. The mystery Of the Blessed
Trinity il the glory and perfection Of
infinite love in God who Is Lover and
Beloved and Love proceeding. eternal
Three in One. To those churches which
will participate in the World confer.
Christian unity has infinite meaning. for
it is that perfect love which Is unity N
the church. the body Of Christ filled
with the life and presence Of the son Of
God made man. And II we are true
members Of that body there will be no
room in heart or mind for suspicion or
hostility toward our brethren.
The World conference on the faith
and order Of the Christian church Is the
effort to create conditions Of mutual
love and understanding in which the
way of the true unity which Is the evi.
dence of Christ indwelling in His
church may be revealed. And that way
is Christ's own way Of boundless, tire
less. all-patient love. Only by trying
to understand and appreciate one an
other and all the great truths for which
each separate communion stands, can
we comprehend Him who Is the truth
for all men everywhere, however diverse
they may be. Only In His life of love
for all mankind, however ignorant they
may be Of Him. can we lind that COM
pletion which is perfect peace.
There is an increasing recognition in
every part of the world of the duty Of
Christians to be one that the world
may be made new by faith in Jesus
Christ and by obedience to Him. What
but the compulsion Of common faith
and a common devotion can bind the
nations of the world and the classes of
society in concord and brotherhood, ex-
polling mutual jealousies and suspicious,
and teaching mutual forbearance and
helpfulness Accordingly we rejoice
that families Of churches which separat-
ed from one another years or genera
tions ago are recognizing that the
causes which seemed to justify that
separation were not suficient, or no
longer exist. and that churches. near OF
kin, are seeking to approach each other.
The World conference Is now assured.
The invitation to join in arranging Tor
it has been accepted generally by
churches throughout the world which
find their hope in God in three persons
our Creator. Redeemer and Sancdher'
the manifestation of infinite life and
perfect love in One, transcendtng all
worlds, yet ready to dwell in every
humblest heart. The Church Of Rome
is an exception. for the Pope has found
himself unable to accept this opportuni.
t. to make clear the faith and claims
of the Church Of Rome and to try to
appreciate the position Of other COM
munions.
The Commission appointed nine years
ago by the American Episcopal church
to issue the invitations to the confer
ence does not feel that its task is COM
plete ill it urges thanksgiving and
prayer. 1t therefore legs all who bear
the name Of the Son of God 1ncarnate
to offer constant thanks to God for His
grace which is stirring the hearts OF
men to unity, and to pray regularly and
earnestly that God the Holy Ghost will
guide AMI strengthen every movement
for reunion and all the preparations fol
the converting Of the World conference
so that. when Its members assemble all
in one place. they may be prepared to
receive all Of one accord. sthe guidance
of the Spirit Of Truth and Love in all
their deliberations.
We ask especially for the public as
we'll as private observance Of the Octave
next January 1873. January sig in the
Eastern Calendar). A copy OF suggest
tive notes for that observance Is en-
closed and additional copies may be had
on application. But we ask also for
daily prayer by every Christian and for
weekly public prayer in all the churche-
that Gods will of unity may be done on
elrth as it is in hea< en-. Pamphlets ex-
planning the object and methods OF the
conference may be had from the secre-
tary Robert H. Gardiner. ia Water
street, Gardiner, Maine. U. s. A.
By order Of the Commission.
Charles p. Anderson. Bishop Of Chicago.
President.
william. T. Manning, Chairman Of the
executive Committee. -
Robert H. Gardiner. Secretary.