Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-05
DISCUSS PUBLICITY
FOR Church UNITY
Organic Union Leaders Differ
Upon Advlsabiity of "lrenic"
Literature on Issue
200 AT CONVENTION HERE

Seven important measures designed tt
further the creation Of ''leaguc oi
! churches and foster Christian unity
ono of which evoked much discussion
were laid before the Tntcrchurch Council
on Organic Union today.
More than 200 clcrgymen, among thc
most influential in the twenty denomi
nations they represent. are meeting in
Witherspoon Hall This is the third
day of the conference.
The resolution which aroused discus b
sion was that recommending the publ
citation of ircnic or noncontroversia
literature as II campaign of education
for church unity.
Bishop Questions Publicity
Bishop Ethclbert Talbot, of the Epis
copal Diocese of Bethlehem. questioned
the advisability of a widespread publ
cation of tracts and other forms of pub
licity.
The bishop maintained that such pub
Icity would create n storm of contro %
versy that would not be helpful to the
rausr of organic unity. lie declared
that the necessity and the methods of
church unity should first be understood
thoroughly.
Bishop Talbot explained that his
own position in the conference was
unique inasmuch as his presence
was entirely personal, and that he did
not represent the Episcopal Church nor
the church's general convention.
Tho In UuDprol bn aIJo1
ruled that. Episcopal clergymcn should
attend meetings for church unity. but
at the same time the convention made
1t clear that such attendance was per
Sonal representation only.
Tho Episcopal Church. the bishop
continued, has a Joint commission on
Christian unity and joint commission
on social service.
'Irenic" Eliminates Controversy
The Rev. Henry W. Jessup. Pres
byterian. New York, reminded the con
ference that the word ''irenic' elimin-
atcd the idea of controversy.
The Rev. Peter Ainslic. Disciples Of
CHRIST, Baltimore, recommended con
troversial discussion of unity. He said
corporate thinking and corporate prayer
were needed 10 prepare the way for
unity.
The Rev. Reuben Hartley. Presby
terian. Quincy. H.. who said he had
been ''rockcd in Quaker cradle" de-
rlared he favored "dynamics as we'll
as irenics, and urged the widest pub
Iicity on the question of church unity.
DR.. Ainslic. editor of the Christian
Union Quarterly. arose and offered the
use of his publication for the councils
advocacy of church unity. He was
given rising vote of thanks for his
offer, but no action was taken in the
matter.
An assertion that too much time is
spent looking through telescopes to find
he mote in the other persons eye was
made by the Rev. Robert Gardiner,
Protestant Episcopal, Garducr. Maine.
He said he would drop the word
'ircnic' and substitute for it the old
Christian word love"
49, Other Resolutions offered
The other resolutions offered to the
conference by the committee on resolu-
ions We're:
Providing for the continuance of tho
nd interim committee on the basis of
as in fhc present COM
nittce.
AuthOrElnT the al interim committee
o present plan of church unity.
should ono be adopted, to the governing
bodies of the constituent churches
Giving the ad interim committee
power to rccOnvpne when the committee
members deem it necessary.
Extending the committee to groups of
hnrches seeking to merge or unite in
he union.
Giving hearty approval to the as
emily of preliminary conference
which would meet before the proposed
world conference on faith and order of
he Episcopal Church at Geneva. Switz-
rlund, next summer.
Urging a special day of prayer to
'e observed in all churches for "the |
nifty of ChriSt's people.