THE CHURCH ABROAD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 495, 28 August 1912, Page 3

THE CHURCH ABROAD.

! UNITED STATES. I CHRISTIAN REUNION. The movement for the union of all Christian bodies has taken hold of the American people. The goal may be distant, and the time not yet ripe, but we are nearer that goal to-dav than the most sanguine had expected, when but a short time ago our Church took up the subject and appointed a "Commission on Faith and Order." Our Commission has succeeded in gaining the interest and sympathy of more than twenty religious bodies who have in turn appointed {their commissions. It may bo some time before these comiasions are called together, or a world conference be brought about, but at least sentiment has been aroused, and sentiment ia a mighty force here. Christian sentiment should be irrestible. The following recommendations were adopted by our commission—1. That our clergy preach upon the subject of Unity. 2. That buth and laity study the distinctiva tenets of faith and order which are understood to lie at the foundation of their position, and to constitute the justification for their senarateness.

3. That such studies be critical and thorough, in order that the subject may become well understood and that the vital points for which the particular Church stands as distinct from other bodies may be clearly distinguished from the general body of Christian doctrine.

4. That denominational standards of doctrine, where such exist, receive special attention, particularly in their relation to currant teaching.

5. That the distinguishing doctrines of other Churches be examined, not for the purpose of disparaging them but for the purpose of understanding their value to those who hold them.

6. Finally, and in order that these, or any methods may be efficacious, that prayer be made habitually and systematically, \by clergy and laity, for the unity of God's people, and for the guidance Holy Spirit in all efforts to bring about a world conference.

At the date of my writing, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and four others will be receiving the represntatives of our Commission, who are Bishop Anderson, of Chicago, Bishop Boyd Vincent, of Ohio, Bishop Hall, of Vermont, and Rev. Dr Manning, of Trinity Church, New York. The New York "Churchman" says that while this delegation represents immediately only our own communion, it is essentially representative of the other Christian bodies, who have expressed officially their sympahy with the movement. The delegation hus has three-quarters of all American Christians behind it. There is a noticeable tendency in the United States, as elsewhere, towards Christian unity. The following are some of the conditions which help:— The equal social position of the ministers of practically all religious bodies.

The regular meetings of associations of ministers, in which our clergy very generally take part. The marked success of the "Men and Religion Forward Movement" which has stimulated the interest of laymen all over the country, especially in and in which men of nearly all religious bodies combine.

The real unity below all differences which makes the Chirstaina of America more united then Republicans and Democrats or even than the great Republican party itself. There are other conditions which help, but the last which I will mention has a bearing upon our leadership in the movement. It is the remarkable unity of our Church in itself. There are no parties in the Episcopal Church such as are known in England and Australia. While what might be called elsewhere "moderately High" ritual is almost universal in our churches, we do not speak of High Church or Low Church. Ada to this the leading part our Church has played in works of social reform. Not less than eighty-five per cent, and probably more, of these workers, according to the Encyclopaedia of Social Reform, aro members of churches. The majority of these workers come from our Church. No wonder that our leadership in this country of a "great movement for Christian Unity should have been instantly welcomed by Christians of all denominations. —Church Standard.