Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-06
BewiIdered BY Church Council

DsWItuSJGu Ny AHuISU SVuiiSu
The second session Of the World
Council Of Churches at Evanston GER
tainly had full publicity. ! followed
the reports with deep interest. And ]
confess to being more than q little
beWildered.;
At the meeting In Carnegie Hall. New
York City. In 1905, to explore the pos
siblity of church unity. was among
those present. 1t was the forerunner
of the Federal Council Of Churches in
this country, now developed into the
National Council and affiliated with the
World Council. Since then there have
been numerous such meetings here and
abroad, but 1t Is difficult to discern any
perceptible progress toward real unity.
The 17-day meeting at Evanston
ended with prayers of gratitude for
"togetherness.' But those of US who
followed the reports with care failed
to discern very much which truthfully
could be called "togetherness." There
were 1853 Protestant and Eastern Ortho-
dox communions represented from 48
countries. The nearest they came to
being together" was strictly in q
physical sense. They sat together But
they were not together In belief, in doc
trine, not even on the great theme Of
the assembly, Christ the hope of the
world They split into opposing parties
on that. They could not agree on the
return of Christ. European representa-
tives opposing American delegates.
They claimed to be together" on
world brotherhood. but displayed little
of it. They found it impossible to fell
lowShip each other even at the Lords
Communion table. Why recommend
brotherhood to the rest of the world
when, even in their own Christian ranks
they exclude each other from the Com
munion table?
There was constant talk about church
union, but the closing address OF the
assembly, that by Bishop Elvind Berg
graf of Norway, cautioned the church,
men that those seeking and expecting
"a speedy reunion" are bound to be
disappointed.
The delegates were forced to recog-
nize that all of Roman Catholic Chris
tendon remained apart from them, and
they were told plainly by Rome during
the session of the Assembly that there
could be no possible church union unless
has no appearance OF unity" The
Eastern Orthodox representatives at
Evanston insisted that the reunion OF
separated Christians required return
to the Orthodox creed, polity and forms.
That looks little like Christian unity"
From this gathering of Christian
leaders who could find no way to fellow
ship one another at the Lords table,
there went forth an impressively worded
Message to the Churches" admonish-
ing them to consider seriously your
relation to other churches IN the light
of our Lords prayer that we may all
be one" It inquired. us your congre-
CATION in fellowship with sister con-
gregations around you. doing all it
can to ensure that your neighbors shall
hear the voice of One Shepherd calling
all men into the one flock?" What
thing to ask others when they could not
themselves sit with each other around
the Lords table.
They split on communism, some de-
nouncing, others apologizing. They
could not agree on capitalism, some
criticizing, others approving.
They occupied much time admonish-
ing the governments of the world how
to run governmental affairs. passing
resolutions on economics, labor rela-
lions, militarism, war. the atom bomb,
disarmament, and many other govern
mental concerns, and apparently forgot
that the Divine Head Of the church
had declared, MY Kingdom is not OF
this world" and that the sole commits
sion He gave His church. constituting
its sole business, was go We into all
the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature" If they gave that
commission any attention at all it
evidently escaped the notice Of the
largest staff of press representatives at
any public occasion, either secular or
religiQus.s in history
The Second Assembly carried the
hopes Of millions that it would set
before the world the greatest DEM
onstration of united Christendon1. 1t
disappointed those hopes grievously.
It provided the greatest exhibition Of
church disunity which we have ever
seen. or heard. or known, or read
about.
Now that this is over. how about get
ting back to the true mission OF the
church. preaching the gospel?
CARLYLE h. HAYNES