Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-28
EUROPE IMPRESSED
BY CHURCH FARLEY.
FIexibiIity of Delegates at
Geneva Shows Obstacles
May Be Overcome.
BY MAMMALIAN HARDEN.

By Radio to The Star.
BERLIN, August 27.-The fleXibil
fly of representatives of Eastern orth
odoX Christianity at the World Con
ference on Faith and Order at Lau
same has profoundly impressed Eu.
rope Ten years of bolshevist rule
which they have been obliged to aC-
cept has taught them the necessity of
accepting change in the physical
'n'ld. They now are ready to under
: ri what does and what does not
imr1.~ insurmcuntable obstacles to an
Glen, tanonical rights and decisions of
councils.
Bishop Charles Brent. who presided
at the conference, perhaps some
times recalls his countryman, DR..
Robinson, who in the finest phrases
eXhorted his congregation unhesitat-
ingly to unite with all peoples in solv.
ing the problems of common humanity.
Little Struggle i'm America.
If Bishop Brent did not quote his
predecessor, it is probably that he
avoided doing so in order to not hurt
the feelings of the assembled church
representatives by emphasizing the fact
that the New World had decided on
unity sooner than the Old World Amer
lea. which, as Roosevelt said, needs
religion for all kinds of people, and.
therefore, never has been restricted by
the fence of state religion, has scarce
ly experienced a serious struggle for
dogma and rites. The work Of her
churches has been not only for prep
sration for a better hereafter. but in
effect to brighten present existence,
even of the poorest and this work has
never been opposed to seeking a COM
mon basis.
The representatives of Christianity
from other countries have fought
against each other and have even des-
ecrated the sacred places of Palestine.
especially since the days of the earliest
reformers, such as Wickliffe, Luther,
Huss, Calvin and Zwingli.
The meeting at Stockholm last Sum-
ner provided a prelude to Lausanne
1t was the first attempt to approach
at least A trif1e nearer the original
spirit Of Christianity by the union Of
churches.
Unity Is Not Easy.
The Anglicans. Lutherans, Metho.
dists, Presbyterians, Calvinists, Bap-
fists, Quakers and others all desire
unity. especially since missionaries re-
port that their work in China, India,
Africa and other countries suffers
from hostility among Christian
churches. Unity is not easy after such
a long and violent fanatical struggle.
Much serious work is needed and
readiness to sacrifice to replace re-
stricted confessional theology by uni
versal theology.
Freedom of teaching the character
of the church sacraments, the stand
ing of the priests office, the apostolic
or Nicene creed. the internationally
of new Christian problems, are ques-
tions which a committee Of 80 men,
bers will attempt to solve, assisted
by collaboration of responsible women.
It is most satisfactory that differences
of opinion have not been covered up,
no foolish compromises have been
sought and that las in other good
things this week, notably the Franco
German trade agreement), the desire
for real peace has become ripe
through honest negotiation. Only
when churches are united can an at
tempt succeed to create new Christian
morality from todays chaos, which
will suffice for reason and science as
we'll as for the precepts Of conscience.
Copyright. 1927As4.iAs "a ..,a