“FEDERAL COUNGI OF THE CHURCHE CHRIST IN AME pl ae te Paani DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Se at genes Bey at Sa x Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2022 with funding from Duke University Libraries https://archive.org/details/federalcouncilof01 fede BISHOP HE. R. HENDRIX, D.D., LL.D., President of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America Report of the First Meeting of the Federal Council Philadelphia 1908 EDITED BY ELIAS B. SANFORD, D.D. Corresponding Secretary THE REVELL PRESS NEW YORK ‘ New York: 81-82 Bible House Introduction This volume contains the record of proceedings and action in connection with a movement which marks a new era in the history of Christianity. The response to the Letter Mis- sive sent to the leading ecclesiastical bodies of the United States in 1903 by the National Federation of Churches and Christian Workers, gave assurance that the time was ripe for the consideration of the possibilities of Church Federation by an officially delegated convention. The Inter-Church Conference held in New York, November 15-21, 1905, brought together the chosen representatives of thirty Christian bodies. After careful deliberation these del- egates from Churches having an aggregate membership of more than seventeen million communicants, adopted a Plan of Federation and recommended it for the acceptance of the constituent bodies through their highest judicatories, confer- ences and councils. By the unanimous action of these great national assemblies the Plan was ratified and has become the working constitution of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. Under its provisions the Executive Committee appointed in 1905, had charge of the arrangements for the first meeting of the Council. These labors crowned with success were made delightful by the hospitalities of the Churches of Philadel- phia. As stated in its Constitution, the purpose of the Fed- eral Council is ‘‘to manifest the essential oneness of the Chris- tian Churches of America in Jesus Christ as their Divine Lord and Saviour, and to promote the spirit of fellowship, service and co-operation among them.”’ The method pursued in preparing the way for helpful dis- cussion and fruitful action during the sessions of the Council secured the garnered thought of mature consideration in Com- mittee work extending over several months. The reports of these committees were submitted in printed form. The resolu- tions appended to the reports alone came under discussion and - 11 4598'70 IV INTRODUCTION. in their final form are sent forth to the world with the ap- proval of the Council. The pages of this volume contain the record of decisions, epoch-making in their scope and influence. On every side it is conceded that the first meeting of the Federal Council opens a new chapter in the history of American Chris- tianity and the cause of Christian Unity. The spirit manifested in the Council and the conclusions reached with practical unanimity after full discussion, give promise that the Churches of our Country will in the future stand together as never before in united efforts for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. The early publication of this volume has been made possi- ble through the co-operation of the Rev. John Bancroft Devins, D.D., Chairman of the Committee on Literature and Education. The report of this Committee, published as the Foreword, indicates to some extent the large amount of work in connection with the details of publication that has been eared for. It gives me pleasure to make grateful mention of the assistance given by my officially appointed co-worker in the preparation and editing of this volume. Exias B. SANFORD. FOREWORD By direction of the Federal Council the Minutes of the various sessions are to be published by the Committee on Lit- erature and Education under the Editorship- of the Corre- sponding Secretary. The plan of this volume is somewhat unique and a word of explanation may serve the reader. Like ancient Gaul it has three parts: one is devoted to the business sessions, telling who _the delegates to the Council were and what they did in busi- ness hours; another shows what the accredited representatives thought about themes concerning the development of the Kingdom of God, and the conelusions which the Council reached after considering their reflections; and the third contains a stenographic report of the inspirational meet- ings, which should stir the heart of Christendom, even as the delivery of their burning messages fired the hearts of those who listened to them. The debates upon the reports, which have to do with exten- sion of the Federation idea—the organization, development and maintenance of the Federal Council and the history of the rise and labors of Local and State Federations are reported fully; two or three gentlemen were invited to speak because of special study of the questions under review—their addresses are also given in full. The Committee of Arrangements following the lead of Mis- sionary Councils in India and China, whose methods were somewhat modified, requested sixteen men to prepare papers on specified topics. Ordinarily these would have been given as addresses before the Council as similar papers were at the meeting of the Inter-Church Conference on Federation in 1905. Experts on the various subjects were chosen to prepare the papers and a set of resolutions, both to be printed in ad- vance of the meeting and delivered to the delegates at the opening of the session in a Gray Book prepared by the Ex- ecutive Committee. Associated with the designated writer on Vv 458870 . ~ VI FOREWORD. a given theme were from fifteen to twenty other experts, to whom the paper with its resolutions was submitted, the report - with its conclusions being the product, not of one mind, but of many. The resolutions only were discussed; results and not methods concerned the Council. The chairman of a com- mittee had ten minutes in which to open the discussion and five minutes in which to close it—the remainder of the time, from thirty to fifty minutes, was occupied by the delegates, and it was fully occupied. Only one report was aecepted without discussion—after the Council found itself, the chair- men were kept on the alert to note points from their re- joinders. Several of the series of resolutions were modified, one being sent back for a recasting and verbal changes being made in others. The papers and resolutions as finally adopt- ed are bound together as Part II. The reports of the popular meetings appear as Part ITI. The chairman of this committee has for once set aside the judgment of the Editor and without his knowledge prepared a full page cut of him. The Christian bodies are nearer to- gether than they were a decade ago and they are seeing things more nearly eye to eye than they were at that time; while many men have aided in this nearness and closer range of vision, the one man whose praise is in all the churches is the Corresponding Secretary of the Federal Couneil. And now that the story is told it is sent forth with the feel- ing of the man who at the close of another convention was asked: ‘‘Is it all done?’’ ‘‘No,’’ was the intelligent answer, “it is all said—the doing remains to be done.’’ That the “*doing’’ may be the easier and the result be in accord with the Saviour’s prayer for His disciples, this volume is given to the Churches of Christ in America. In behalf of the Committee on Literature and Education. JOHN Bancrort DEVINS, Chairman. Table of Contents Page LUST. ath Je ogee SEASGoe © SC Soe R Io ae eae ae aera Til SRITOWOTES bo o.5 cso 3 = = 5 mpoi= nim eins winimiepmciniminis eines eee wns eh ain se v LLP SPC os OTS Gs pe eenOns 38 ee Ae - XI PART I WH USS Sit ee ee Bees Sb Wedncidazyevenme (welcOMe), 22... <2. 22. cee ces essence ees 1 Thursday morning (business)— URLS TRUS. hese Bea Ri os ein eae ae 3 PERE ANP OMEN ES FON: MCC 6 UIs wiles ve Sos ses cise ess ss tise 3 Brechiive Committee, Repork..Of, <<. <4... eee e mse to 4 ESEHECE AMINA PIECSC RUC ed oct. <2 lees cists 147 Farewell, Words of, .........-..- @ wos ne ce en Bee ee Prayer, Closing, «... ei. ees. cere noe wu ce = weer wiateiotenes SLO Adjournment, «...5. 54 60.032 3 veces se srr so epee: PART II. Papers Prepared for the Council, .2.. 2... .. cnn ice eee 153-318 Interdenominational Organizations, .................- Ne ee 155 Foreign Missions, Co-operation im, ...... 22 0. smilies 166 Federations, State, 62... 6. cc cle weswee aces 0a 0 eee 187 Organization and Development, .....2.....-an>-- ese ws 206 Council, Maintenance of the, ...........2.... +) ssn 214 Home Missions, Co-operation im, .......2... 22ers 216 Modern Industry, The Church and, ......2.....5. 0 see 226 Sunday-School Instruction, .).5.i......2...0. «00s ee 244 Immigrant ‘Problem, The, <2... 0... 20sese0 1 6) ee ie 25d Sunday Observanée, 22. v.s.s'.. os cua vente sien ok een 263: WEMPCTANCE,.,.% siavaercgarevatere cotencic nag cles ares Oo eases * 267 Federations, Local, 2.2.8.5 oistcee ot cots colchester ee 274 Week-Day Instruction in Religion for School Children, ........- 278 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 1D:@ Page Higher Institutions, Religious Instruction in, .................. 288 Himremmarlonaly HRCIAtIONS: 2... sucess eis sic vis oslo s vieles ese ciie sees 296 TPaviatiiy ILMh@5. np Set Slat. citr SECIS: eNO OGL OTE RCE CIPLC a 312° PART ITI. atop Mca TieM VLCC HUI OSs Sues yonet shes eve s,!ai(e.eiiceueisiaetenvesie Sia Sites) eid teres oe 319-502 irelcormemtOminem COUMeI ete .sctsr., oo sfoie ale steredsta eicinie)ceisie sles «/eevvieveceo 321 Chnistian! Umity on the Horeion Wield) s:220...: <6. ---- stesees 343 Byangelism and Home: Missions, 011520. 222. asec sce cce ents 380 Mouns Peeople and Hederative: Work, 0:2 ...226. 26+... +--+ ees ees 419 Miorkimomian, “Mhe: Church amd they i. ..0 2. we ee scence ce ewes 440° EOHNETMOO CS wHOT SCT VACEN icin muscle «4.6 clens wsietedecsisieideisiersiae eieieiese ce 6 460 Hee leo ten COMME Sircycysis wlercicre tier eisis el(aece! a. ave sieve cfeeie ne so. 479 . APPENDIX A. ANDDBICHES- NDS en Goa Biomac < € Coane oun DOORS OG oe np aE one tia rIae 503-518 TLeatineie NITSTstoy@ had Boece areas Air Grice ene Re ener ar Cee RTO y Se atc eg 505 erlmotany Nem CO OUMGCU LS varcenerie rea So eyee sis iateiedivce © sia\jsharaielerete sia.e eevee 509 Congintutronot the Coumeily i... 2c see acwicccee cee wees 510° Haya SmoOtmb he COUNCIL, ms vier S wets ce siete trait ine ste vieis e's i Giele Sie s/s 513 InWLaS- Gi OS Soop eteecrOere Corton Sc ob oh noe crace Fro tome ote 516 APPENDIX B. OG Or Sm OnmL MCMC OUNICU cot acsiele) cpeusjeieys\0 © . $ 4 5 ; P : by * . 7 * . t . . a: * . 3 d a og ws 3 PART I. Minutes of the Business Assembly of the Federal Council. Wednesday Evening. Thursday Morning. Thursday Afternoon. Friday Morning. Friday Afternoon. Saturday Morning. Monday Morning. Monday Afternoon. Tuesday Morning. SED IS Se De bet dated. ee tn kt , ce? CROSS OF CHRIST. ABOVE ALL THE Scene on the Platform of Academy of Music in Philadelphia, at the Opening Session of the Federal Council. Minutes of the Federal Council Proceedings of the Business Sessions at the Meet- ing in Philadelphia, Dec. 2-8, 1908 WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 2 . Academy of Music The meeting of the first Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America was opened in the Academy of Music in Philadelphia at 7:45 P. M., the Rev. William Henry Roberts, D.D., LL.D., Permanent Chairman of the Inter-Church Con- ference of 1905, and the Chairman of the Executive Commit- tee having charge of the Philadelphia meeting, being the pre- siding officer. After an anthem by a choir of a thousand voices, led by Mr. H. C. Lincoln, the Rev. Floyd W. Tomkins, D.D., rector of the Holy Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church of Phila- delphia, invoked the divine blessing. After the reading of the Scripture, and prayer, the presiding officer delivered an address upon ‘‘The Nature, The Purposes, and The Spirit of the Couneil.’’ (See page 321.) Addresses of welcome were then delivered by two Phila- delphia pastors: the Rev. George E. Rees, D.D., of the Taber- nacle Baptist Church and the Rev. Stephen W. Dana, D.D., of the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church. (See pages 327, 331.) Responses were made by two New York pastors: the Rey. . Wallace MacMullen, D.D., of the Madison Avenue Methodist -Episeopal Church, of Manhattan, and the Rev. A. J. Lyman, D.D., of the South Congregational Church, of Brooklyn. (See pages 333, 339.) The following also took part in the service: The Rey. S. M. Vernon, D.D., the Rev. H. P. Milliken, D.D., the Rev. L. C. Batman and ‘the Rey. E. H. Delk, D.D. The Rev. Rivington D. Lord, D.D., of Brooklyn, offered the 2 FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. following resolution, regarding the appointment of commit- tees, which was adopted : Resolved, That in order to expedite the business of the Council, the President be empowered to appoint Committees on Credentials and Nominations, provided for by the action of the Executive Committee, and also a Committee on Business, of which the President shall be the Chairman. The following committees were appointed : COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS: E. B. Sanford, Chairman, Rivington D. Lord, Asher Anderson, Edward 8. Wolle. COMMITTEE ON. NOMINATIONS: Levi G. Batman, Chairman, Howard B. Grose, A. W. Wilson, A. 8. Zerbe, G. L. Davis, John B. Hurst, James Y. Boice, W. D. Samuel, C. R. Harris, ' Arthur E. Main, H. C. Herring, M. L. Jennings, Charles E. Tebbetts, Samuel A. John, Isaac Lane, J. B. Landis, W. H. Bucks, John Bath, W. M. Stanford, George C. Chase, A. D. Thaeler, Samuel R. Lyons, John J. Young, William H. Black, John M. Hammond, A. B. Shelly, Edwin Muller, William Tracey. H. C. M. Ingraham, Irving H. Berg, COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS: Wm. H. Roberts, Chairman, Wm. A. Creditt, S. W. Bowne, S. C. Breyfogel, J. H. Stotsenburg, Arthur B. Pugh, George C. Chase, Edward G. Read, George W. Clinton, George U. Wenner, John E. Roller, C. H. Phillips, Wm. Tracey, J. B. Steward, M. W. Leibert, G. Nelsenius, L. A. Platts, W. N. Hartshorn, G. H. Bridgman, R. L. Kelly, H. H. Oberly, A. W. Wilson, : G. M. Mathews, O. W. Powers, T. W. Henderson, H. B. Hartzler, E. T. Rouse, D. 8. Stephens, J. C. Seouller, C. A. Young, J. M. Bateman, R. T. Roberts, E. A. Steiner, George H. Shields, Wm. C. Stoeyver, W. T. Moore, A. J. McKelway. N. B. Grubb, Adolf Schmidt, The benediction was pronounced by the Rey. Edward S. Wolle, of the First Morayian Church, of Philadelphia. MINUTES OF THURSDAY MORNING. 3 THURSDAY, MORNING, DECEMBER 3 Witherspoon Hall The Rey. Rockwell H. Potter, D.D., pastor of the First Chureh of Christ (Congregational) of Hartford, Conn., pre- sided. The Rey. George S. Bennett, D.D., rector of Grace Protestant Episcopal Church of Jersey City, N. J., read the Seripture lesson, and prayer was offered by the Rev. Wil- ham V. Kelley, D.D., L.H.D., of New York, Editor of ‘‘The Methodist Review.’’ The report of the Committee on Credentials was submitted by the Chairman, the Rev. E. B. Sanford, D.D., in two parts, one containing the list of officially appointed delegates and alternates by the several bodies approving the Plan of Fed- eration adopted by the Inter-Church Conference on Federa- tion in Nov., 1905, and the other containing the list of the delegates and alternates who had presented their credentials to the Committee. (For the list of delegates appointed to represent the con- stituent bodies, see page 552.) (For the roll of the Council, see page 521.) The report of the Committee was adopted. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MEETING The report of the Local Committee of Arrangements was presented by the Rev. William Henry Roberts, D.D., LL.D., the chairman of the Committee. The Committee on Arrangements, located in Philadelphia, reported as follows: 1. It is recommended that the hours of session of the Council be from 9:30 A. M. to 12:30 P. M., and 2:30 P. M. to 5 P. M.; that one-half hour be devoted at each morning session to religious exercises; that there be no session Saturday afternoon, and that the popular meetings be held at 7: 45 P. M. 2. The Committee submits to the Council an invitation for a reception at the Academy of Music on Monday evening, December 7, with the recommendation that it be accepted. 3. The Committee reports with pleasure that Witherspoon Hall has been placed at the disposal of the Council for its business and other sessions, so far as necessary, by the Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-school Work. 4 FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. 4. The Committee also arranged for the Welcome Meeting, in the Academy of Music, the evening of Wednesday, December 2d. 5. The Committee, in the name of the Churches of Philadelphia, wel- comes the Council to the city and its hospitality. Respectfully submitted, Wo. H. RoBeErts, Chairman. After brief addresses by chairman of sub-committees of the Committee of Arrangements, the report was accepted, and the recommendations were approved. The Hon. Robert N. Willson, President of the Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, made an address of welcome, to which the presiding officer responded. Action of the Executive Committee The report of the Executive Committee having charge of the Arrangements for the Council under the Authority of the Inter-Church Conference of 1905 was presented in three parts: one by the Chairman, another by the Corresponding Secretary, and the third by the Treasurer, all of which were adopted. REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN The Rey. William H. Roberts, D.D., LL.D., the Chairman of the Executive Committee, presented the following report: DEAR BRETHREN: The Executive Committee whose Report is herewith submitted, was empowered to act for this Council, first, by a Resolution of the Inter-Church Conference on Fed- eration, which met at Carnegie Hall, Nov. 15-21, 1905. The resolution reads: “‘That the Executive Committee of the National Fed- eration of Churches and Christian Workers is hereby requested and authorized to act for this Inter-Chureh Conference, as the organizing committee to carry forward the work made necessary by the adoption of the Plan of Federation, report to be made to the Federal Council in 1908.’’ The Executive Committee thus instructed was increased by authority of the Conference by the addition of one represen- tative for each constituent body. MINUTES OF THURSDAY MORNING. 5 The second source of the Committee’s authority is found in the action of the Churches represented in the Council. By the terms of the Plan of Federation, approved by the Inter- Church Conference of 1905, it was provided that said Plan should become operative when approved by two-thirds of the constituent Churches. The Plan went into operation by ac- tion on the part of the churches early in the present year, and as a result the following provision became of force, viz: ‘“In ease the Plan of Federation is approved by two- thirds of the proposed constituent bodies, the Executive Committee of the National Federation of Churches and Christian Workers, which has called this Federation, is requested to call the Federal Council to meet at a fitting place in December, 1908.”’ The Committee has carried forward the work entrusted to it under the direction of its officers, and of sub-committees duly appointed. The officers are, Rev. Wm. H. Roberts, D.D., LL.D., Chairman; Rev. Frank Mason North, D.D., Vice Chairman; Rey. Elias B. Sanford, D.D., Secretary, and Mr. Alfred R. Kimball, Treasurer. The Secretary will report as to certain details of the general work of the Committee. This Report deals with the following matters: I. THE CHARACTER OF THE COUNCIL AND ITs RELATION TO THE CHURCHES. It is important that there should be a clear understanding upon these two matters. When the constituent bodies represented in the Council were first approached with a view to their co-operative work, it was clearly stated that what was “‘proposed was a federation of denominations to be created by the denominations themselves.’’ It was also defi- nitely announced in connection with the first proposal for Federation, that it was addressed to the Churches which were already in fraternal relations and in substantial agreement as to fundamental Christian doctrine, and the invitations to the Conference were extended only to such Churches. The objects of the Federation, further, were indicated in the following words: ‘We believe that the great Christian bodies in our country should stand together, should lead in the discus- - 6 FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. sion of and give impulse to all great movements that make for righteousness. We believe that questions like those of marriage and divorce, Sabbath desecration, social evils, child labor, the relation of labor to capital, prob- lems that are created by foreign immigration, the better- ing of the conditions of the laboring classes, and the moral and religious training of the young,—coneern Christians of every name, and demand their united and concerted action if the Church is to lead effectively in the conquest of the world for Christ.’’ ‘‘Tt is our conviction that there should be a closer union of the forces and a more effective use of the re- sources of the Christian Churches in the different cities and towns, and when feasible, in other communities and fields, with a view to an increase of power and of results in all Christian work.”’ ‘“We doubt not that all will agree that the different Christian communions, largely one in spirit and devoted to one Lord, should by united effort, make visible to the world their catholic unity that the world may know ‘Him whom the Father hath sent,’ and that at length His prayer for the oneness of His people may be more fully answered.”’ In addition, in view of the fact that the Plan of Federation has been adopted, it is important to draw special attention to Article No. 4 of the Plan, which reads: “‘4. This Federal Council shall have no authority over the constituent bodies adhering to it; but its province shall be limited to the expression of its counsel and the recommending of a course of action in matters of com- mon interest to the Church’s local councils and individual Christians. ; ““Tt has no authority to draw up a common creed or form of government or of worship, or in any way to limit the full autonomy of the Christian bodies adhering to it.” It is clear, therefore, by the history of the Federation move- ment that the Council as to its character is an organized body, officially connected with and representative of the several de- MINUTES OF THURSDAY MORNING. 7 nominations adopting the Plan of Federation, and holding to historical and evangelical Christianity. Whether other than denominational bodies shall be represented therein is a ques- tion which has been referred to the several constituent bodies, and also to this first meeting of the Federal Council. Further, the Council in its relation to the Churches is simply an advisory body, depending for the approval of its acts upon the reasonableness of its conclusions, and also upon the good will of the constituent bodies. II. CHurcHES REPRESENTED. Twenty-six of the Christian bodies represented in the Inter-Church Conference at New York City, in 1905, have adopted the Plan of Federation, through action of their Supreme Governing or Advisory Bodies, and are duly and officially represented in this Council. The General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, which met in 1907 in Richmond, Va., while not adopt- ing the Plan, yet authorized its Commission on Christian Unity to appoint delegates to the Council, and these delegates have been duly enrolled. The Welsh Presbyterian Church, through its General As- sembly, has declared its adherence to the principles of Fed- eration, and the members of its Committee on Closer Rela- tions and Union have been seated as delegates. Churches Received into Membership. The General Assem- bly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. 8., commonly known as the Presbyterian Church, South, adopted the Plan of Fed- eration in 1907, and it is reeommended that it be received into membership, and its delegates duly enrolled. The General Conference of the Congregational Methodist Church, through the President, Rev. J. B. Steward, requests to be allowed to be represented in Council. It is recom- mended that the delegates be enrolled as corresponding mem- bers, and that upon the adoption of the Plan by the General Conference, the Church be enrolled. III. Puace or Meetine. The Executive Committee, as al- ready stated, was authorized, in case the Plan of Federation was adopted by two-thirds of the constituent churches, to fix the place of meeting for the Council. It was felt that no place could be more appropriate than the City of Philadelphia, as- + 8 FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. sociated as it has been with both the religious and political history of the country, in notable ways. Representatives of the ministers and churches of Philadelphia, connected with the Federation movement, tendered a cordial invitation for the meeting of the Council. The invitation was accepted in the same spirit in which it was tendered, and a local Committee of Arrangements was appointed with the following officers and sub-committees : Chairman, Rev. W. H. Roberts, D.D. Secretary, Rev. L. B. Hafer. Treasurer, Gen. Louis Wagner. Chairmen of Sub-Committees: Finance—Mr. John Gribbel. Reception—Rt. Rev. Alexander Mackay-Smith, D.D. Hospitality—Rev. C. A. R. Janvier. Pulpit Supply—Rev. J. Henry Haslam, D.D. Music—Mr. H. C. Lincoln. Press—Rev. R. W. Miller, D.D. Halls and Meetings—Rev. W. H. Oxtoby, D.D. This Committee will submit its own report, and it is recom- mended that a Special Committee be appointed by the Council to prepare appropriate resolutions of thanks to the ministers and churches of Philadelphia in the matter of the arrange- ments for the meeting. IV. ENROLLMENT oF Mempers. A Committee on Enroll- ment was appointed, with the Secretary of the Executive Com- mittee, the Rev. E. B. Sanford, D.D., as Chairman, and the names of the Delegates will be presented at the time indicated on the program. The Executive Committee recommends that the alternate delegates who may be present, the members of the Committees of Arrangements, and the speakers who are not delegates be made corresponding members. V. ProGRAM AND PROCEEDINGS. The Committee submits with pleasure the Program for the Council. Much labor was bestowed thereupon, and in all their work the Program Com- mittee received from the representatives of the churches hearty encouragement and most cordial support. Special acknow- ledgment is made of the services of the Program Committee, THE REV. WILLIAM HENRY ROBERTS, D.D., LL.D., Permanent Chairman of the Inter-Church Conference of 1905, and Acting President of the Federal Council in 1908. MINUTES OF THURSDAY MORNING. 9 Rev. Wm. Hayes Ward, D.D., Chairman, and Dr. Sanford, Secretary. Believing that the proceedings of the Conference should be put in permanent form, the Committee empowered a Sub-Com- mittee on Publication, Rev. John Bancroft Devins, D.D.. Chairman, to prepare for an appropriate volume, and to re- ceive subscriptions. The Committee is under obligations also to the Chairman of this Committee. VI. Commirrees or THE Councm. The Deore Com- mittee, in order to prepare in an adequate manner for the business of the Council, appointed sixteen Special Committees, composed of the Delegates to the Council, and has arranged to have their reports presented in printed form. Nothing in these Reports is of force until approved by the Council. The names of the Committees and of the Chairmen appear upon the Program. yet VII. Fryances. The Treasurer of the Executive Commit- tee and Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. Alfred R. Kimball, will present a Sco e aa Report at the time indicated in the Program. RECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations are presented for adoption : 1. In view of the fact that the Executive Committee was au- thorized by the Churches represented to make the preliminary arrangements for the Council, and in view of the respousibility of the Committee for the full performance of its duties, Resolved, That the Committee be continued in the manage- ment of the Program throughout the sessions of the Council, and that the Philadelphia Committee of Arrangements also act upon matters entrusted to it until the business be com- pleted. 2. Resolved, That two committees be appointed by the Council for the consideration of such miscellaneous business as may come before the body, viz., a Committee on Business,* and a Committee on Correspondence; the Committee on Busi- ness to be composed of forty persons, and that on Correspond- ence of ten persons. *See proceedings of Wednesday, Dec. 2, page 2. 10 FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. 3. Resolved, That the appointment of the Special Commit- tees to report to the Council, and the printing of their reports be approved. Also that ten minutes be allotted to the Chair- man for the presentation of Reports, that five minutes be given to each other speaker, and five minutes to the Chairman to close the discussion. 4. Resolved, That the reports of the Committees, in such detail as may be necessary, be printed in the Volume of Pro- ceedings. 5. Resolved, That all resolutions and communications of any and every character presented to the Council by members or addressed to its officers, shall be considered before action is taken thereon, by the Committee on Business, and shall be reported by said Committee to the Council. 6. Resolved, That the Committee on Correspondence shall prepare a letter to the Churches represented in the Council, presenting in an appropriate manner the results of the de- liberations. 7. Resolved, That a Recording Secretary and five other Secretaries shall be appointed, whose duty it shall be to keep the record of the proceedings of the Council, file and preserve papers, and perform such other duties as may be assigned to them. - 8. Resolved, That the customary rules of order for legisla- tive bodies shall be for the present the rules of the Council. In closing this Report the Executive Committee desires to express its feelings of heartfelt gratitude to many brethren in all the churches for the cordial support which has been given in connection with all the work of the Committee. Without the assistance of these brethren it would have been difficult to accomplish any valuable and far-reaching results. It is to be emphasized that no one man has been dominant in the Fed- eration Movement, but that it is the work of a great number of sympathetic and willing co-laborers. Chosen leaders there have been and are, but the leaders would have been useless apart from their vast and consecrated constituency. The Executive Committee likewise feels impelled to express its joy over the spirit which is abroad in the Protestant and Evangelical churches of our country in connection with the MINUTES OF THURSDAY MORNING. allt movement represented by the Council. In the great ma- jority of the governing and advisory bodies of the churches represented, the action taken upon the Plan of Federation was unanimous, and in no church has there been a distinct nega- tive given to any proposal looking towards the co-operation of the Churches in the work of their common Lord. LEvery- where is their recognition of the statement found in the pre- amble to the Plan of Federation, ‘‘That in the Providence of God the time has come when it seems fitting more fully to manifest the essential oneness of the Christian churches of America in Jesus Christ as their divine Lord and Saviour, and to promote the spirit of fellowship, service and co-operation among them.’’ The Committee also desires to emphasize the fact that the chief power operating within the Churches in support of the movement for Federation and Co-operation is the Spirit of God. We acknowledge humbly, as our Guide and Strength, that Holy Spirit who is the Lord and Giver of Life, the source of all good thoughts, pure desires and holy counsels in men; and as the Father is ever willing to give the spirit unto all who ask Him, we invoke upon the Council the manifested pres- ence of the Third Person of the Trinity, by whom all believers are vitally united to Christ, who is the Head, and are also thus united one to another in the Church which is His body. We have the divine promise that through the Holy Spirit the Church will be preserved and increased, until it shall cover the earth, shall be purified, and at last shall be made per- fectly holy in the presence of God. Having this hope, let us then keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and go forward in Christian work as one body, even as we are called in one hope of our calling. In behalf of the Executive Committee, Wn. Henry Roserrs, Chairman. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY The Rev. HE. B. Sanford, D.D., Corresponding Secretary of the Executive Committee, reported on the work accomplished during the last three years, as follows: 12 FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. Philadelphia, the city of ‘‘ Brotherly Love,’’ in the annals of the Church Federation movement in this country, holds a place of historic interest. At a meeting of the Open and Institutional Church League held in this city, November 5, 1895, the writer of this report ventiired the prophecy ‘‘that Christian unity as a spiritual reality and practical factor bringing the denominations into federative relations through which they could work out the problems of Christian service in city, country and abroad without waste of forces,’’ might be greatly aided by the Open Church League seeking in its counsels to exalt the work and mission of the Church of which Christ was the Head. It was through action taken by this League that the Con- ferences held in New York in 1899 and in Philadelphia in 1900 brought about the organization of the National Federa- tion of Churches, through whose activities the Inter-Church Conference of 1905 was called together. These activities under the direction of this Conference have continued until this hour when again we meet in Philadelphia under cireum- stances that fill all our hearts with gratitude and thanksgiv- ing. The official Minutes of twenty-eight National Church Bodies that have held delegated assemblies since Nov., 1905, contain the record of action through which the Constitution of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America has been approved and accepted. These Churches, with the ad- dition of one that is represented in the Council through an of- ficial Commission, have an aggregate membership of over sey- enteen millions. Before the assembling of the second quad- rennial of the Federal Council we have reason to anticipate that substantially all of the Protestant Church bodies that hold to Christ as the Head will be included in this great fellowship. A fellowship that recognizes differences of ad- ministration but pleads for oneness in spirit, and united ac- tion in matters that pertain to the welfare and advancement of the Kingdom of God. In behalf of the Executive Committee appointed under the action of the Inter-Church Conference of 1905, I am charged with the duty of making a brief report of work initiated and a ee ere eee ek MINUTES OF THURSDAY MORNING. 13 accomplished under their guidance and with their support. The publication of the volume ‘‘Church Federation’’ con- taining the proceedings of the Conference of 1905, with two full annual reports covering the years 1906 and 1907, with other newspaper and leaflet literature represents work that has given wide circulation to the history of the Church Fed- eration movement and the methods and practical activities of State and Local Federations. As this literature is at your command I venture to refer you to its record for details while I confine my report, for the most part, to a concise summary of practical results that have followed action, the origin of which in some eases can be directly traced to the Conference of 1905 as their source. In other cases they are a part of the history of the Church Federation movement of which this Council is now the leader in these United States. In the beginning of their work the Executive Committee, that makes its report to-day through its Chairman and Sec- retary, decided that they were empowered to give aid in furthering action that had been recommended by the Inter- Church Conference. Among the resolutions adopted by the Conference I note for special reference those that refer to ““The Family,’’ ‘‘The Social Order,’’ ‘‘ Religious Activities,”’ and “‘International Affairs.’’ Every delegate to this Council has rejoiced in the tidings that South Dakota has by a large referendum majority ended the divorce industry in that State. Hitherto those seeking di- vorees could go to South Dakota, live there three months, get a secret hearing, and be separated. Now they must have re- sided a year in the State and the hearings will be public. The papers have not informed us regarding the instru- - mentality and organization that was the source of action and guidance in arousing public sentiment in South Dakota and bringing to the attention of its legislators their responsibility in removing an eyil that had become a national scandal. It gives me pleasure to announce in this presence that the instru- mentality that gave initiative and labored unceasingly until the victory of the ballot box was won was the Federation of Churches of South Dakota. It was a victory won by the United Church of Christ in that Commonwealth. A Federa- 14 FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. tion of Christian forces that in its origin is a part of the history out of which this Federal Council has come into ex- istence. Resolutions adopted by the Conference of 1905, regarding the ‘‘Social Order,’’ deplored the increasing prevalence of the evil of gambling. Under this resolution the attention of the Executive Committee in the autumn of 1906 was called to the iniquitous character of the so-called Perey-Grey law that virtually protected race track gambling in the State of New York and by its provisions allowed the violation of the man- date of the Constitution of the Commonwealth which forbids gambling. At the request of the Executive Committee this matter was taken up by the National Federation of Churches in connection with the New York State and City Federations. Literature explaining the entire situation was sent to every | pastor in the State. The response to this appeal carried pe- titions to the Assembly at Albany signed by thousands of voters. Various voluntary organizations had before this sought to arouse public sentiment but now for the first time the forces of evil realized that the Churches in a united way were back of this appeal for the righting of a great wrong. In his message of December, 1907, Governor Hughes, a char- ter member of the Executive Board of the National Federa- tion of Churches, sounded a clarion note and gaye the splendid leadership under which the forces of righteousness, civic and religious, rallied to his support and secured the victory that is now world famous. In resolutions concerning ‘‘International affairs’’ the Con- ference of 1905 made special reference to conditions existing in the Congo Free State and expressed the hope that the existing situation might be investigated by a tribunal beyond the suspicion of partiality created by the Powers through whom the care of the Congo State had been placed in the hands of the King of Belgium. The Executive Committee having charge of this and other matters placed in their hands authorized correspondence and an interview with the Secretary of State at Washington. The attention of national ecclesiastical bodies was called to the matter, and favorable action secured similar to that which had MINUTES OF THURSDAY MORNING. 15 been taken by the General Conference of the Methodist Epis- eopal Church at its session in the spring of 1904.