Evening star., 1920-02-17
START FEDERATION
| OF D. c. CHURCHES
Protestant Ministers, Repre-.
senting Sixteen Denomina'
i tions, Take Action.

At a representative gathering oil
nearly $50 Protestant ministers ana
laymen. representing sixteen denomi-
nations, at the Mount Vernon Meth
odist Episcopal Church South. last
night, a movement having as it's OBJ
ject federation of churches in Wash
ington was started. A resolution pro-
Viding for such a federation was IN
Dowen of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and overwhelmingly adopted.
In this resolution the plan was em :
bodied that action at an early oate
be taken by each individual church,
whose acceptance would make the
Washington Federation of Churches
n reality. Temporary committees
were chosen by each denomination 10
present the matter to it's congrega-
tion.
Constitutiea Is PrOpOsed.
A proposed col s,ktution for the op-
Grafton of the federation also was
adopted, subject to the approval oval o. OF
that the name of the organization
shall be THE Washington Federation
of Churches" and the object shall be
TO promote the welfare. comfy ana
cooperation of the churches and to
foster religious movements and COM
munity betterment.
The federation will be composed OF
those churches in Washington and vi
cinity that shall by vote agree by
their respective authorized methods
church will be represented in the
council by the pastor and two lay
members, and one additional lay men,
ber representing each 900 members or
major fraction thereof over and
above the first 800 members.
Previsisn for Withdrawals.
Provision is made that any church in
the federation unwilling to cooperate
In movement determined upon by the
council is to be excused therefrom upon
its request to that effect in writing duly
presented to the council. Any church
that shall vote according to its author
lied methods to withdraw from the
federation shall duly certify in writing
such action to the council.
A governing body, to be know as the
Council Of the Washington Federation
Of Churches" composed of the officially
appointed representatives of the
churches in its membership, together
with the officers of the federation and
the chairmen of the standing committee,
is provided.
Provision is made for corresponding
members. such as representatives of
denominational- city missionary socie-
ties. the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation, the Young Woman's Christian
Association. the Salvation Army. the
Volunteers Of America and such closely
allied organizations.
A budget Of expenditures will annually
churches Of the federation will share in
the same proportionate basis. 1t is
further understood in this connection
that the federation has no powers Of
taxation. and that denominational con-
tributions must be voluntary.
Ministers State Objections.
Rev. Henry W.hO. Millington. repre-
senting the Baptist churches of the
city, and Rev. George A. Miller, pas
objected to the, plan Of federation on
the grounds that 1t was a needless
expense and would not work we'll in
Washington because of the large COL
ored and floating population of the
city. Their objections, however, were
overruled and promises of financial
support began pouring in.
The meeting began by a supper at
5:iS o'clock, served by the ladies of
the church. Prayer was offered by
Bishop John W. Hamilton Of Amer
lean University. A short address was
made by Rev. Earle Wilney. pastor of
the Vermont Avenue Christian
chairman. He introduced Rev. Clovis
@. Chappell, pastor of the church
where the meeting was held. who
gave q short address of welcome.
Rev. Roy. b. Gaild Main speaker.
Rev. Roy B. Guild. executive secre-
tery OF the Commission on Interchurch
Federations, who has helped start
cities. was the principal speaker. He
said 1t was not his purpose to put
anything across on the churches Of
this city-that there was no steam
rolling in it,; 1t would be organized
in Washington only IL the churches
wanted it. He spoke of the. growth
and good work of the Federation in
organization to the Chamber. Of Com
merce. which did not merge the BUSH
ness of each member. but broadened
IL and strengthened ii. DR.. Guild
stated that the system enabled any
kind of information to be obtained,
work in religious education. moral up
lift and would cooperate with the
Associated Charities. The idea, he
said, was a "recruiter'' for churches
The speaker described the duties of
nm executive secretary, whose salary
that was necessary was an office
building, an ONCE secretary, telephone
service and stationery. aggregating to
the total of about $4,000 per annum.
Federation Benelts shown.
DR.. Guild stated that he had found
a small federation of churches just
outside of the city-namely Bethesda
and that he had asked members of
this federation to attend the meeting
here. Rev. James kirkpatrick Of st.
Johns Church, Norwood paris, at the
request of DIR. Guild spoke on the
growth of church membership since
the federation had been formed, and
the close cooperation it effected with
each of the other churches.
Monday evening, March Is, was set
as the date of the next meeting, which
will be held in the Mount Vernon M.
l.. Church South. At this meeting
delegates from the various churches
will be present. providing favorable
action is taken. and the real organi-
sation of the federation will be held.