CHRISTIAN UNITY COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 11

CHRISTIAN UNITY COMMISSION.

A WORLD-WIDE MOVEMENT. At the recent general convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of tho United States, the commission appointed to bring about a world conference on Christian unity submitted its report, through tli© Rev. Dr. William.T. Manning, rector of Trinity Church. Tho report states that it lias been successful in establishing relations with other agencies within ' tho Episcopal Church working for world-wide Christian unity, and it has also enlisted the co-operation of both Catholic and J?rotant bodies. A deputation consisting of the Bishop of Chicago, tho liishop of Southern Ohio, tho Bishop of Vermont, and tho Rev. Dr. Manning, was sent by the. commission to Great Britain and Ireland, where they obtained I.lio cooperation of the Church of England, the Episcopal Church of Scotland, and tho Church of Ireland, in the movement for a conference of Christian communions.

Cardinals, archbishops, bishops, mid priests of tho Roman Catholic Cirarcli in various parts of tho world havo expressed themselves as keenly interested in tho proposal of tho commission for ft world conference, and tho American cardinals, Farley and Gibbons, liavo added their praiso of' tho movement. Tho plans for the world conference on "Questions' Touching Faith and Order" are to bo arranged in a preliminary conference of committees appointed by tho different denominations.

ill* report says: "Whether unity can bo brought about in the present generation may bo doubtful, for tho attitudo of largo bodies of men is changed by a slow leareiring process rather than by suddon magical methods. But wo aro convinced that tho movement towards a genuino unity of Christian Faith and. Order has actually begun, and that visible factors aro making for this glorious consnniniali'ion." That former asperities between Christians of different organisations aro gradually giving way to mutual respect, and often to real friendliness, is patent to every thoughtful observer. That the thinkers and investigators of all Christian bodies aro learning more and more to'compare notes with each other, nnd that scholaily and capable presentation of Christian truth, from whatever quarter, is apt to secure world-wide consideration, can hardly be denied. A new Christion cosmopolitanism has arisen, accompanied. no doubt, by tho exploiting of many destructive vagaries, but certainly affording conditions which must facilitato tho victory of truth mid the bringing about in God's tiroo of substantial agreement concerning Christian faith and order. Car part scorns to lie, not'to force things, and not to formulate schemes for reunion, but 1o help 011 this growth of mutual friendliness and <v mutual understanding." Tho commission asked far tim continuance of its oxistcnco by order of the general convention, so that it tnaf be ready to rcarosent ib Church at a'l

times iii tho event of <jvoTtures for ri> union being reccsived by tho Episcopal Clmrcli. "Whenever such reunion can. bo achieved without betrayal oi trust, which each conceives to bo given from above," is tho clause whicfc"coiii. miis the Episcopal Church to bo ready for this reunion. HELPING ALONG THE COLLECTION. Does tk> Church put as much im* agination into her financial methods us might ho possible? A correspondent tolls us of a suburban Methodist «m----gregation. each member of which has just been invited to contribute sa much ior "every_ year during which ho has wen. a Christian"—a ieftt mercifully intended (we suppose) to date from "conversion" rather than Baptism. A 4 any rato tho idea is ingenious and piausiblo, justifying tlio high reputation that Wosleyans litn-o a3 "beggars." Perhaps their most formidable rivals in this bravo art may bo found whew Salvationists foregather. Wo. know of a, _ "captain" who, being dissatisfied with tho look.of a collection, informed his soldiers that "this would not do; lie must have more than tint," and sent- the bc-ses round once more—tet us liopo with results proportioned to his courage. Often, too, Nonconformity has displayed, a pretty wit in devising arguments for liberal giving. Nothing, for instance, conk! be neater than the way in which" Rowland Hill turned a-, case of conscience ta the advantage of his chapel. "I havo heen asked," ho said, "by a man who is lmnblo to pay his creditors whether he has a rirjht to put anything into tho plate. Ho has not: so I advise every one else hern present to be careful not to pass t-hn plate by, or he 'will hear it 'That's tho 'bankrupt.' "—"Guardian."