Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-19
BISHOP DISCUSSES
CHURCH UNITY
Episcopal Church, Diocese Of
Washington, Meets in
25th Session.

Church unity cannot be produced by
mere mechanical aggregations." but
has its basis "in the faith and in the
spirit of truth and peace and love-"
declared Bishop Alfred Harding in
the course of his address before the
twenty-fifth annual convention Of the
Episcopal Church. diocese of Wash
ington, at Whitby hall. National Ca
thedral School today. The first business
session was preceded with services at
Bethlehem Chapel, st. Alban's.
Church Union "fn Air.o
The subject of church unity is in
the air as never before" said Bishop
Harding. ut is much talked about,
which Is good. In the minds Of some
1t means the mechanical federation
of seperate denominations represent
Ing protestant christianity for various
forms of cooperation. Yet in an Off
cial publication Of the Federal Coun-
Gil Of Churches it is admitted that
may be welded together for some
common ends. denominational differ
ences are sharply accentuated.
"One cannot but feel that the most
hopeful efforts along these lines are
those that seek to reunite those bodies
of Christians whose beliefs and govern
ments are practically identical and who
are divided on merely sectional lines or
issues now no longer considered vital.
Basis In Unity In Faith.
But unity such as our Lord prayed
might be the convincing evidence to the
world of His divine mission and His au-
thortty and claims cannot be produced
by mere mechanical aggregations. Those
yf1n aRo x,iv f<.
shall embrace all who profess and call
themselves Christians. Greek and Roman
and Anglican and Protestant, know and
Zee! that the basis Of 1t must be unity
In the faith and in the spirit of truth
and peace and love. however diverse may
be the outward expression of the faith
in forms of worship OF in ritual OBJ
servances.
I'VE cannot agree to the essential
oneness of bodies holding and teach
ing diverse views as to fundamental
things. This church in loyalty to our
Lord and to His apostles and to the
scriptures, cannot agree with what is
put forth as one of the cardinal prin-
ciples OF large body Of Baptists re-
regard to the sacraments. who, in a
notable advertisement published in
our washington papers, say frankly ana
unreservedly. The two church ordi-
nances. baptism and the Lords Supper,
are symbolical and memorial and are to
ence to Christ's commands, but they
neither save nor help to save mems
souls
Belief OF Baptfats.
And again, .Baptists steadfastly hold
that all true believers in Jesus Christ
have been born again and are saved,
whether they be members Of any or no
religious OenOmfnatiOn
This represents one extreme" said
Bishop Harding. as he finished reading
these extracts. Equally we cannot
agree to the demands of Rome for alb
solute and unqualified submission to her
authority.
Il am not now proposing to argue
these matters. but simply to illustrate
the great obstacles in the way of real
Christian unity. And. for this end,
that l may affirm my personal con-
viction that the underlying plan and
the present efforts of our commission
on faith and order are along the lines
of real hopefulness and deserve our
unlimited confidence and our support.
This way seeks to unite us all in
prayer. and to bring together a con-
ference of all believers to discuss
what things each considers funda-
fervent desire to supplicate the spirit
of truth to guide US into all the truth
Brings Signs Of Promise.
This way does not look to i'm
mediate attainment of the great end
in view. but it has already brought
to light signs of great promise In
the east and in the west the proposed
world conference on faith and order
and for prayer has met the approval
of almost all the Christian bodies,
except those of the Roman obedience.
call your earnest attention to the
fact that a preliminary con-
ference along these lines is planned
to be held in Switzerland August IL,
and to ask you to remember it earn
estly and consistently in your pray
ers."
Bishop Harding called to the atten-
tion of the meeting some social prob
lens of immediate and pressing i'm
portance discussed at the annual
meeting of the archdeaconry of Wash
ington held last week. That meeting.
he said, considered "the great and
growing evil of race-track gambling
with it's demoralizing influences on
the young of both sexes and on the
adjacent to the places
where the racing courses are sit
uated."
Another and even more pressing
subject, Bishop Harding said. 10 tho
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