The Washington herald., 1920-02-02
LAYPLANSFOR
CHURCHLEAGUE
Federation Of Churches
In Sight as Pastors
Start Ball Rolling.
As ATTEND MEETING
Washington Said to Be Last
Large Community to
Organize.

Washington, the last large city
OF the country to start co-ordina-
tion Of its religious activities, will
soon have a Federation of Churches
which will be to its religious life
what the Chamber of Commerce is
to the commercial and industrial
life, IL plans which have been con-
sidered at interchurch conferences
during the past week are consum-
mated.
At an informal conference last
Thursday between representative
clergymen and laymen of the city
and Rev. DIR. Roy b. Guild. of the
Commission on Interchurch Fed
Grafton of the Federal Council of
Churches, il was decided to hold
the first public meeting to discuss
plans on February 16. Rev. Dr.
Erie Wilhey, of the Vermont Ave-
nue. Christian Church, was appointed
chairman of the temporary commit
tee In charge. The conference was
attended by forty-five ministers and
laymen Of Washington.
Letters will be sent today ask
ing each church to send its pastor
and two or more lay delegates to
the meeting, the place of which will
NC announced later.
Series of Conferences.
In the meantime a series of group
conferences, the first of which will
be held by the Methodist ministers
tonight at the McKendree Church.
Massachusetts, avenue, between Ninth
and Tenth streets northwest, are
scheduled.
A brief outIina ~ tha rIo, - -.
ganization which has been carried
out successfully in thirty-five of the
largest cities of the country. was
given yesterday by DIR. Guild at the
morning service IN the Trinity
Methodist Church. His subject was
Christian Conquest Through Co.
operation"
The text Of the sermon was taken
from John, 17:21. That they all
may be one that the world may
believe" In the course of his ad-
dress DR.. Guild emphasized that
Christian conquest of the world de-
pends upon unifcation of all be-
levers.
The following statement of the
purposes of a federation of church.
es. such as is proposed for Wash
ington. is based on thg work that
Is being carried forward success
fully in different cities. 1t is not
complete program. as other
things will be done when the oc-
easion demands. Such a program
makes clear the tasks of the ex-
ecutive secretary. who will be to
the federation what a captain is
to a football or baseball team.
To make a continuous religious
survey to furnish reliable informa-
tion and a basis for intelligent
action.
To prevent unnecessary overlap
ping and competition between the
denominations, and to see that
all communities are adequately
churched.
To endeavor to arrest the atten-
tion of the city with the claims of
Christ through a strategic pro-
gram of evangelism in all the
churches individually and unitedly,
where possible.
Industrial and social needs of the
city. and to apply Christianity in
an effort at solution.
To effect a policy of recreation
which will afford to all the people
as much as or more than the sa-
loon has given and to make all
the recreations wholesome and up-
lifting.
To present a program of Chris
tan education that will meet the
needs of the city.
To interpret Christian democracy.
especially to the alien, on-EngIish
speaking groups in our city.
To give proper publicity to Chris
tlanity. to the churches and the re-
hSious interests of this city.
To make religion effective and