The Washington times., 1935-12-27
FREEMAN HIT :
AT CHURCH
RIVALRY


many bodies that constitute the
Protestant churches rem der
them impotent in any concerted
attack on the existing evils Of
our day."
The Right Rev. James E. Free
man, Episcopal Bishop Of Wash
ington, said that today in COM
menting on the latest move BY
a small group Of Episcopal clergy.
men and laymen looking toward
reunion with the Roman Cath
olic Church.
This group, the American Com
mittee of the Church Unitey OC-
tave Council, yesterday iSSue,. a
letter to bishops and clergy. in
which they branded Protestanisln
In the United States as bank
rupt culturally, morally and re-
ligiouSly." Commenting on that
attack, Bishop Freeman said:
Professionalism represents mil.
lions of loyal and devoted
Christian men and women, and
to maintain that it Is bankrupt
Is so wild and exaggerated a
statement as to be unworthy Of
the respect of Thoughtful men
and women"
PERIL IN DIVIDED CHURCH
Admitting that there is peril
in a divided church, the Bishop
explained:
Perhaps this is best illus
trated by the failure Of the
church to promote the ends Of
peace and abolish war.
"Were the churches Of every
name united, and were the
IS million affiliated members
in this country Of one mind con-
cerning the iniquity Of war.
their voice would be potential
in determining the course Of
the nation.
II disagree heartily with the
statement that Professionalism Is
bankrupt. Such a statement Is
born Of ignorance and arro-
gance.
at is true that PrOtestantiSm
lacks the force that 1t would
have were its ranks cOnSOli-
dated. Certainly unity, in what
ever form it may come, VIII not
be obtained at cOntemptuOuS re-
gard for one branch Of the
Christian Church.
URGES COURTESY
However we may de ire
unity. it will be achieved more
largely through Christian cour.
tesy than through arrogance
and pride.
81 have the prOfOundeSt re-
gard and affection for the great
Roman church, and / have had
close relations with many Of its
leading expOnents.
But 1 do not believe that
unity will come through flatter-
ing one body, however, eStimable
and worthy it may be, by dis
paraging others, whose record
for Christian service is deserving
of the highest praise.
II doubt whether unity can
be set forward through con-
cOrdatS and agreements. When
1t comes it will be through that
kind of love and respect that IS
sues from the spirit Of fraternity
and Christian courtesy.
UNITY DESIRABLE
'Unity is desirable. That the
churches are seeking it is con-
spicuOuSly evident. Today there
Is a far better spirit Of fellow
ship between Christian bodies
than at any time in the Chris
tian era"
Bishop Freeman is not impressed
by this latest movement, explain
ing:
There is nothing new about
this prOnOuncement. It is q
repition Of what has been at
tempted on other occasions and
always by one element in the
Episcopal Church"
The appeal was signed by a
group of 20 members, including
20 clergymen, two members Of re-
ligious orders and seven laymen,
one Of whom was Ralph Adams
Cram, the distinguished architect
who has designed many of the
great churches in the United
States and is an internationally
known authority on ecclesiastical
architecture.
Headed by Rev. Joiner
All are members of the Anglo
Catholic" or High Church" wins
of the Episcopal Church. The
committee is headed by the Rev.
DR.. Franklin Joiner, rector of st.
Clements Church in Philadelphia.
In urging church unity the
letter stresses the fact that I'VE
must allow nothing to obscure
the salient fact that Rome has
been the heart and center of
ChriStendOm ever since the days
of the Holy Apostles"
SCHOOL