The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1920-02-13
VIVA. xssso4s Of chsrehss sisnifys

BY the action taken at Louisville,
by the joint commission of the North
ern ard Southern branches of the
Methodist Episcopal church, those
bodies will soon become united as the
Methodist church, thus changing some
what the name of both of them. Al
the action Of the commission was un-
|animous. there remains only official
Of both bodies next summer and the
union will be complete, with q com-
munion Of approximately 5000 ,000
people. There will also be some
change in the governing system. an
nual regional conferences taking the
place Of the single annual national
conference in regulating the general
affairs of the church, subject to refer
|ence 20 a q~uadrennial supreme gen.
eral council. For 40 large a body
this plan would seem to simplify the
governing work and bring it closer to
the churches themselves. This is the
first great step in that phase of the
new government Of concentrating the
forces of the church which is now
well under way. It seems likely that
tIlG IiCA( IuVtC VI IAlS hIuV VIII UO
a like union between the Northern
and Southern branches of the Pres
byterian denomination, although the
Baptists have also made much pro-
press in that. direction. With these
three leading Protestant denomina-
lions reunited and strengthened, and
with the Episcopalians already well
knit together, the better organization
of the forces that are uniting to COM
bat evil and irreligior in the world
seems well advanced.
The forces of the Protestant church
are much disorganized through null
tiplicity of Independent organizations.
The denominations, for instance, are
like an army corps whose separate
divisions are operating as independ-
ent commands. Consolidating the d.
visions into a unified corps under one
leadership is a great move towards
effectiveness of action. When the
other large corps shall have been in
a like manner consolidated, then the
great Inter-church World Movement
will have to do with q few we'll Or
gained army corps instead Of having
to deal with a multitude of independ-
emily commanded divisions. It will
be much simpler to get unity OF ac-
ton and cooperation in one large
general plan of campaign, and that
is what the large movement has in
contemplation.
The breaking down of the barrier
to unity of action caused by doctrin-
al and governmental differences and
the concentrating tendency Of all the
varied forces combating irreligion,
immortality and selfishress in the
world is the most heartening sign of
times that are dark. Without the
support Of these forces the world
would plunge instantly into anarchy
and social chaos. There is but n
hope of universal peace. That hope
is founded upon the principle which is
upheld by these forces and condemned
by their opponents. This principle
is fundamental in peace. Without it
there can be no peace 1t is the
principle of the golden rule, imper-
fectly applied, too weakly held and
too hesitatingly advocated as it is.
1t is to create machinery for the bet
ter application of this principle in in
ternational relations that the league
of nations has been created. Yet we
must recognize that the league is ma
chinery only and can accomplish moth
ing unless the spirit be in the ma
chine. What can be relied upon to
impart that spirit to it if it be not
the one force which openly proclaims
it and seeks to be guided by it?-St.
Louis Globe Democrat.