New-York tribune., 1922-01-08


tempting to explain to an outsider thi.
smazing schigm were extraordinary.
The hand raised with the palm out
ward, the lifted forehnger. the HANDS
approaching one another with spread
fingers, the vibrated hand with fingers
clcsc and thumb extended were sir-
nificant of thrilling earnestness.
Before man elected to this mighty
post actually has been crowned he, is
without the right to call himself or
function as a patriarch. Admitting
this mans election, which is impos-
sible, he yet has not been crowned
But he holds his court in the United
States as if he were an emperor.
when seven of the Greek bishops
cabled him: please refrain from cali
ing yourself Patriarch. for we fear
that that might bring the Church 10
disrepute,' he made no answer. Later
he declared in substance: \ wish to be
Patriarch and shall do as l ike
"IIis connection with the Protestant
Episcopal Church Of the United States
began when Venizclos. then in power,
invited the American Bishop Darling
ton - come to Greece, with the
thought of bringing about the ad-
nlirable desidcratum of cooperation
between the Greek Church and the
American Protestant Episcopal body.
"The American Bishop naturally ac-
cepted the Venizelist claims without
u question, for Venizelos was in power.
and some cooperation was agreed to.
The American Episcopalians. of course,
unable to foresee the Venizelist down.
fall, cndeavored, as they ever do, to
do whatever might be done for the
good of general religious thought.
Unfamiliarity With Greek
Rules Fooled Americans
"Unfamiliar with the Greek Church
governmental rules it was not strange
that this was carried further after
strategy had brought about the
recognition of Venizelos's patriarch
by the Russian Church in New
York City. Metaxakis, driven out
of Greece, was in America and
called a meeting at this Russian
church at which this affiliation of the
Protestant Episcopal Church Of filc
United States with the Greek Church
was announced. The Episcopaliars
were deceived. The meeting was con-
Quoted and its decisions reached with
out the slightest reference to the Holy
Synod, which alone has power for sneh
procedure.
Even were the man the actual
Patriarch of Constantinople. his sphere
would remain limited. There are five
other patriarchs, and no one Of them.
alone, could consummate such an al
fliation. None could have power "a
perior, not even veto power. over the
action of the twelve bishops Of tho
Holy Synod who form the authority of
the Greek Church as q whole.
Contrary to belief here, the Patri-
arch of Constantinople does not, Ike
the Pope, control his entire church.
The Pope cannot be asked to resign:
many patriarchs have been required to
give up Office. No one Of them nor al
of them has or have autocratic power.
"In this lies tragedy Of magnitude.
Creek Church Christians. through
many generations, have kept up as close
o friendship as they could with all'the
other Christians Of the world. thing
especially necessary for them, for they
alone have been continually prosecuted.
ut is not the day for nsrrowness.
for creedism, for fences between pso-
ple loving God. In Greece all the
Christian churches have their repre-
sentatives, and there are the Mahom-
etans. The good in all is positively
good; the bad is much less positively
bad.
"There is far more union among Ma
hometans than among Christians.
"Regardless of our dogmas, we must
get together. forgetting all but that
we do believe in the divinity Of Christ.
His words, not those of creed or doc
trine, must be accepted as the teach
ing.
"And it is borne in on all Of us, as
it was borne in upon that great Greek
churchman. Bishop Nicholai Of Serbip,
who recently was so magnificently re-
ceived in the United States, that this
union of religious thought can be .ac
complished only under the free, blue
skies of the United States.
at is out Of North America that the
future leaders Of the Church Of Christ
must come-that Church of Christ in
the largest sense which will reconcile
all churches processing q belief in
goodness as the basis Of religion.
America must tell the world what mcst
be done; America must give the guild
ing hand to all humanity as to how
best it may find the goal.
ITO me, 10 rL, the good man Is
Christian, regardless Of his creed. I
have more respect for the Mahoms-
tan. who does we'll than for the man
who claims to be Christian and does
evil.
"All religious thought must cease its
creedish propaganda. We must make
people good, not make them Catholics,
or Baptists, or members Of the Greek
Church, the Episcopalian Church or