A GIGANTIC TASK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13166, 10 September 1910, Page 4

A GIGANTIC TASK.

Twmkty-fouk American F.piscopalians have undertaken a task so big that not one of iheni expects to live to see it completed. Their undertaking, which has been formally incorporate!., is to bring about a union of Christians all over the world— Proles*ant, Greek Catholics, Homan Catholics, everybody, everywhere. The “Christian Unity Foundation,’’ as the .society is called, would discard all names and sects, and make simpiy 0.10 big religion:: body. Twelve of the twenty-four are clergymen and twelve laymen. Of the first twelve half are bishops and the other half presbyters, and all schools, High, Broad, and Low. arc represented among the laymen, who include lawyers, men of science, business men, capitalists, and one each from file Army and Navy. The bishops are those of New York, Albany, Newark, Chicago, fionthern Ohio, and Jlishop Courtney. formerly of Nova Scotia, now rector of St. James's Church. New York. Thu first meeting which led to the launching of the project was held in New York some time ago. About twenty persons were present, and a committee of organisation was appointed, llishop Courtney presided, and after flic incorporation will he elected president of the foundation. One layman has underwritten Hie initial expenses to the extent of ,£2,000, and a campaign to establish an endowment will he begun forthwith. No scries of public, meetings will be undertaken just yet. only research work will he done, and conferences of the leaders hold. An effort is being made for a conference o) the leading Presbyterians this autumn. Greater hopes arc entertained of bringing the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians logoi her than any other;;. The tremendous difficulty of the task is indicated when it is explained that in the United Slafe v s alone there are nearly 200 independent Protestant bodies, and each year .secs additions. Organic Christian unity is recognised almost as an impossible, perhaps an undesirable, ideal. Not a few declare that ono organisation would be nnwieklly imd probably tyrannical, and that more divisions would result.