The Washington times., 1930-10-24
WORLD SESSION
Of DISCIPLES
CLOSES

The first World Convention of
the Churches of the Disciples Of
Christ closed last night with
Q mass meeting at the Washing
ton Auditorium.
A majority of the thousands Of
delegates have been in the Ma
tional Capital two weeks, for, al
though the church conference
lasted only five days, the repre-
Sentatives had taken part III the
sessions of the International Con-
vention of the Disciples of Christ
held here last week. A feature
was the dedication of the National
City Christian Church last sun.
day.
WEAKNESS resulting from COLI
slant attendance at the morning,
afternoon and night sessions Of
the program was forgotten last
night as the delegates and mem.
bers of Washington churches filed
into the huge auditorium, filling
1t to overflowing.
The meeting climaxing the
world conference opened with the
singing by the audience of a
favorite hymn, 20, for a Thou
sand Tongues to Sing" The pro-
gram included an address by DIR.
Hugh Mcclellan, of Winchester,
KY, Grown Him Lord Of ALL" a
brief talk by I. S. Prokanoff, presi-
dent of the AllRussian Evangel-
ical Union, on conditions in the
Soviet Union and the rendition Of
1.-THE Hallelujah Chorus" by q
choir of 800 voices, directed by w.
T.. Braithwaite, leader of the Na-
tional City Christian Church
choir.
10000 Attended
Although DIR. Jesse M. Bader,
president, announced that $500
persons had registered for the
convention, chairmen of the va
rious committees estimate that at
least 10000 persons took part in
the meetings.
Founded 100 years ago, the Dis
ciples of Christ have as their de-
clared goal the eradication Of sec
tarianiSnn and a return to the
form and practice Of the earliest
days of Christianity, when the as
ciples who had followed the
Saviour went about spreading the
Gospel.
DR.. John Wycliffe Black, of
Leicester, England, was chosen
president of the next world con-
vention, which is to be held in
England in 1885. The business
meeting was held Monday after
noon at the start of the con-
ference. At that time officers
for the coming convention were
elected.
IndOrSe Prohibition
A resolution expressing the un-
qualified conviction that "prohi-
bition is the only successful
method of controlling liquor"
and advocating a program Of
education concerning alcoholic
liquor was adopted.
In his address last night DR..
Mcclellan dwelt upon the out
standing features Of the life Of
Christ upon earth and His teach
ings. He called attention to the
universally of the appeal of the
Masters teachings.
The Russian leader, Mr.. Proka-
noff, had been scheduled to
speak earlier in the week, but
his arrival was delayed until yes
terday due to belated departure
from Germany. where his pass
port had been held up.
Although he warned his audi
ence that his brief talk would
shun political and economical
issues and would be confined to
O relation of spiritual progress
and expression Of greetings from
Christians Of the Soviet Union,
the speaker found it necessary to
refer to the other subjects. He
said:
"Great suffering has been ex-
perienced by the Christian re-
IigiOus leaders and their follow
ers in Russia since the enforce
ment of the Government de-
cree Of April, 1929, placing
great restrictions on religious
societies.
"Synag gOsueS. mosques,
churches and prayer houses
were closed. Many rabbis.
priests, mullahs and preachers
were sent into exile. Others
were deprived Of their bread
cards.
Violence Adopted
"The original program OF
peaceful propaganda by the
Militant Union of Atheists was
unsuccessful and was replaced
with one of violence.
''But it has failed Of its OBJ
jective. Russian Christians are
loyal to their political govern
ment but they will not fOrSake
their spiritual life. They have
been holding meetings in secret
places-basementS Of buildings
and in forests.
forbidden to teach youths
under Is religion in a school
way the parents have given
home instruction. Abolition Of
Sundays by the government wit
messed the holding of daily re-
hgiOuS meetings. Followers gave
of their Scanty supplies Of food
tn missionaries and preachers