State federations

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Volume 3

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v. 3

Federal council of the churches of Christ in
America, What every church should know about
its community,

General Association of Congregational Churches
of Massachusetts • Advance reports of various
committees, 1908 and 1909

McElfresh, F* The country Sunday school

MclTutt, M. B. Modern methods in the country church

McXTutt , M* B- A post-graduate school with a purpose

Massachusetts Federation of Churches, Quarterly
"bulletin • Facts and factors. October 1910
MThe part of the church in rural progress as
discussed at the Amherst Conference «w

Root, E. T. State federations

Taft, A. B. The mistress of the rural manse

Taf t , A. B. The tent mission

Taylor, G* Basis for social evangelism with rural
applications

Wells, G« F. An answer to the New England country
church question*

Wells, G. F. What our country churches need

Wilson, W. H. The church and the transient

Wilson, W. H. Conservation of boys

Wilson, W. H. The country church

Wilson, W. H. The country church program

Wilson, W, H. Don't breathe on the thermometer

Wilson, W. H. The farmers1 church and the farmers*
i2 college

C55

co Wilson, W. II. Getting the worker to church

Q_

to

Wilson, W. H» The girl on the farm

Wilson, W. H* How to manage a country life
institute

Wilson, W. II, "Marrying the land."

Wilson, W. H. ITo need to he poor in the country

Wilson, W. H. Synod's opportunity

Wilson, W. H. What limits the rural Evangel

949'9 9<3«<*

The church, and country life* Pamphlet issued
hy the Board of Home Missions of the Presby-
terian Church.

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^lJRY of th«t

5" 1912

State Federations

By the Rev. E. Tallmadge Root.*

The State Federation is the keynote of the massive arch of
Christian co-operation now in process of erection.

The National Federation of Churches kindles enthusiasm by

the vastness of its con-
ceptions and constitu-
ency; but it lacks the
definiteness which local
tasks alone can give.
Local Federations, — ■
county, city, village or
township organizations,
face tasks concrete and
definite; but they are
not large enough to
command great enthusi-
asm or to enable them to
escape dangerous fluc-
tuations of interest
through change of per-
sonnel or change of per-
sonal feeling.

In contrast with both,
the State Federation, on
the one hand, has a
scope and field not too large to be defined and grasped; and,
on the other, magnitude enough to fire the imagination and
eliminate the fluctuations caused by the ever-changing per-
sonnel of pastors and church-leaders. Thus the State Federa-

* Chairman of the Committee on State Federations; other mem-
bers: O. P. Gifford, H. M. Bell, W. H. Bolster, S. P. Cresap, E. A. El-
more, Charles R. Erdman, John Galbraith, T. W. Henderson, Walter S.
Hove, H. W. Jessup, George R. Lunn, Wallace McMullen, F. T. Rouse,
S. O. Royal and W. W. Smith.

REV. E. TALLMADGE ROOT.

tion is able to supplement the national movement on one side
and local movements on the other, giving the former definite-
ness, and the latter inspiration and momentum. The success
of church federation, therefore, depends upon the efficiency
of the State Federations. Upon this important topic, your
Committee is asked to report.

It is gratifying to your Committee that it is not obliged to
theorize, but is able to describe the proper organization and
functions of a State Federation on the basis of the practical
experience of successful organizations.

Two types have contributed to the present ideal. The
older is the Interdenominational Commission, organized in
Maine in 1891, with the specific task of avoiding hopeless de-
nominational rivalry in small fields. The second is the Fed-
eration, the name and essential principles, viz : accurate knowl-
edge of the religious conditions and needs, being suggested by
the success of the organization of churches in New York
formed in 1895. The principle was first applied to State, as
to National, organization in 1900. The aims and methods of
the Maine Commission were included.

We append a table of State Federations, so far as they have
been reported to us, giving date and basis of organization, as
well as lines of work developed. From personal knowledge
or correspondence, your Committee submits the following out-
line of what actual experience seems to show should be the
organization and work of a State Federation.

The gist of the matter may be compressed into the follow-
ing definition : "A State Federation of Churches is a joint
committee, officially representing the denominational bodies,
to learn all the facts and ally all the factors, and thus to over-
come our overlapping and our overlooking."

A State Federation is a joint-committee of officially ap-
pointed representatives of the State denominational bodies.
The essential requirement is that the federation must in some
way officially represent the denominations. If it does not do
this, if it is a council of selected individuals, or of delegates
from local churches or councils of churches, it may be an
excellent thing, but it is not a federation of churches. The
fundamental theory is that the denominations are accepted

as they exist, without debate as to their justification or perma-
nence, and the admitted evils of this form of ecclesiastical
organization are to be remedied by a federal union which
leaves unimpaired their independence. The theory may be
illogical, but it accords with the characteristic methods of the
Anglo-Saxon as contrasted, e. g., with the logical French
race.

This requirement is accepted by all existing State Federa-
tions. They make denominational representation the basis:
although, as we shall see, some add representatives of inter-
denominational organizations or local co-operative councils.
Differences in application may be noted.

(1) Quota of Representation. The commissions give all
denominations an equal representation, usually three.* The •
federations recognize the equality of all denominations by

^giving to each one a representative, and the justice of a repre-
sentation proportionate to strength, by allowing one addi-
tional delegate for a specified number of communicants, vary-
ing from 3,000 in Rhode Island to 15,000 in New York. Wis-
consin combines the two plans by giving each denomination
three members, to begin with.

(2) Definition of "State Body." Some difficulty arises
from the fact that denominational organizations do not al-
ways coincide with State lines. Thus, many Methodist Epis-
copal conferences overlap, e. g. six conferences, only one
lying wholly within the state, are asked to appoint delegates to
the Massachusetts Federation. The yearly meeting of many
smaller bodies embraces several States. This difficulty is
overcome by asking such bodies to appoint delegates to each
state federation in proportion of its communicants within the
State.

(3) Scope of invitation. The Commissions have been con-
fined to a group of denominations kindred in conceptions and
methods of Christian work. Some of the federations make it
their avowed aim to include every ecclesiastical body recog-
nized as Christian, the term in some cases being defined doc-
trinally and in other cases practically.

*The Methodist Episcopal Church, having two conferences in Maine,
has four, to allow equal division.

The State Council thus formed of official denominational
representatives, alone or with other members, constitutes the
governing body, to which officers and committees are respon-
sible, and whose members in turn are responsible to the de-
nominational bodies respectively appointing them. In most
States, the whole Council meets only once a year, or at call.
In others there are both spring and fall meetings. An ex-
ecutive committee, sometimes consisting of a representative -
from every denomination, is authorized to act in the interims.

In some States, the council has decided that, in order to
secure steady and logical development, some one man must
be enabled to devote his whole time to the work. Two States.
by jointly employing the same man, secure the advantages of
economy and of sharing each other's experience. The chief
hindrance is the difficulty of raising sufficient funds. It
may also be said that the employment of a salaried executive
will prove a disadvantage, if it weakens in any degree the
sense of responsibility felt by the members of the council. In
the very nature of Church Federation, the deliberations of the
council as representing the denominations are the essential
thing, the work of the executive being only preparatory and
supplementary. In proportion as this is realized, it is to be
expected that the sessions of the council will grow in dignity,
importance and volume of business. It is the Senate of the
Federated Churches of the Commonwealth.

The only serious embarrassment in the development of a
State Federation now arises from the side of finances. We
believe that the proper method of providing adequate income
is by appropriation of its just quota by each denominational
body, from its general or special funds. By this act, a dig-
nity is given to the organization which it can receive in no
other way, and which it deserves in view of its unique nature.
It is the Hague Tribunal of the Churches; and like that
international bureau, should be directly supported by the
ecclesiastical states composing it. This principle is slowly but
surely establishing itself, in spite of admitted difficulties. The
risk of establishing a precedent, to which other interdenom-
inational organizations may appeal for appropriations, is
eliminated, if the uniqueness of Church Federation is clearly

5

held. The next best method, prevailing in one State, is to ask
for appropriations from the funds of the stronger local
churches. Both methods must at present, probably, be sup-
plemented by personal contributions from individuals who
recognize the far-reaching significance of the movement. The
New England federations have raised the question of the
endowment of each State. A moderate endowment would re-
move all embarrassment, relieve the already overburdened
churches, and stimulate progress immensely. In what way
could a*ny man of wealth do to-day more for every church
and every good cause in his commonwealth?

To learn all the facts and to ally all the factors is the only
method of usefulness open to a federation.

I. To learn all the facts. A voluntary federation of de-
nominations, some of which, being centralized in government
cannot admit any external authority, and others of which in-
sist on the autonomy of the local church even within the de-
nomination, in the nature of the case, can possess no au-
thority bu the logic of the facts. To this, it may appeal ; and
it needs no other authority. As a joint bureau of information,
it will avoid prejudice and suspicion, and soon win a recog-
nized place of growing usefulness, securing necessary co-
operation and readjustment, without coercion, by the mere
force of the facts and their appeal to Christian public senti-
ment.

Among the facts, which its office must collect and make
available, in order to perform this function, the following may
be named :

(1) A list of all the pastors in the State, and possibly
church-clerks and laymen of prominence, in every local com-
munity. The federation requires such a list for its own use
in distributing information to form public opinion ; and can
serve all interdenominational causes by furnishing duplicates^
for which there is frequent call. To compile and keep up to
date is no small task.

(2) A list of all churches in each city or township, with
location by ward or village, membership, and income. This
information is necessary both for statistical investigations, the

discovery of overlapping, and the intelligent promotion of
local co-operation.

(3) A compilation of statistics, civil and religious, State and
local, as the basis for the study of the task and degree of
success of the churches in reaching the entire population.

(4) A file of letters, reports, and documents, giving further
information about localities and local churches, especially
their experiments in co-operation. This should include an-
nual reports of all denominational bodies, the histories and
anniversaries of local churches, newspaper clippings of any
permanent importance. All denominational papers should be
on file.

(5) Diagrams, charts and maps, to present the common
tasks of the churches to the eye, should be prepared and made
available for all.

(6) A list, of interdenominational organizations for reli-
gious education or evangelism, philanthropy or reform, with
information as to their organization, income, and work.

(7) A reference library of books on practical methods es-
pecially of co-operation and service to the community.

In short, the federation should, and may, become a com-
plete bureau of religious information, to which in time every
Christian worker will get into the habit of turning, because
he can there learn what he needs to know as nowhere else.
Since knowledge is power, it will, in this way, secure, without
any suspician of infringing upon denominational or local inde-
pendence, a recognized place and influence. It will, further-
more, create the motive.

II. To ally all the factors. This is its real task. By its
progress in allying the factors, its success is to be judged.
The inertia which it must overcome is the traditional lack
of co-operation between ecclesiastical bodies. By the logic
of the facts, it must convince the denominations of the state,
•and the churches of each community, of the imperative neces-
sity of concerted action in order to accomplish their common
tasks, e. g., in Rhode Island, a study of the missionary needs
•of the State, especially among the foreign-born, was furnished
"to every Congregational pulpit for a sermon on a given Sun-
clay. The next day, a leading business man remarked: "]

see that the churches of the State never can meet these needs
unless federated." That remark made possible a laymen's
luncheon, to which through his generosity, 100 leading men of
all denominations were invited, and at which was secured an
advisory finance committee of leading capitalists. "When the
churches are thus convinced, the federation must be able to
furnish them with information as to organization and meth-
ods and to render any other assistance needed.

Let it be noted that the federation itself is not a "factor."
When asked: "What is your federation doing?" the proper
answer is: "Nothing! It, does not exist to do anything. It
is not to be efficient, but a coefficient. If it did anything by
itself, however efficiently, it would defeat its own end, which
is to enable the churches themselves to act together so as to
secure greater efficiency in their own distinctive work. ' ' Some
local movements, to emphasize this, have hit upon the happy
term: "The Federated Churches" instead of "The Federa-
tion."

As previously explained, the denominational bodies are
allied by their appointment of representatives on the State
Council. Time and effort are required to see that the request
is presented to every ecclesiastical organization, delegations
appointed, and the annual reports made to it, by the delega-
tion of the field secretary, so as to sustain and increase the
interest.

There are also many scattered undenominational or union
churches, of varying strength, but all lacking the broader
sympathy, counsel and backing, and the outlet for missionary
zeal, which a denominational connection gives. Ascertaining
the existence of these by its knowledge of every community,,
the state federation, without infringing their independence
or forming a new denomination can bring them into touch
with each other and with the Federated Churches of the
State.

Some federations invite interdenominational organizations
like the Sunday-school Association, Anti-Saloon League, etc.,
to appoint representatives, with the design of making the fed-
eration a clearing-house and alliance of all the moral and reli-
gious factors of the state. Practically, the advantage of this

8

has not always been apparent; possibly owing to a natural
jealousy on the part of these older organizations toward an
organization with more comprehensive claims. But this al-
liance has been conspicuously successful in the Wisconsin
Federation, which makes it a marked feature, by joint conven-
tion and joint periodical. In Rhode Island, the representa-
tives of Brown University and the State Agricultural College
have proved of inestimable service. "All "the factors" may
wisely be defined to include more than the denominational
organizations.

Some federations, e. g., "Wisconsin, invite also local fed-
erations to appoint one representative and one additional for
each 2,000 communicants in the membership of their con-
stituent churches. The advantage is that the interest of the
local organizations in their own and the state movement is
stimulated, and the plan of organization made "theoretically
complete. Other States have rejected the proposition, as an
attempt to combine two incompatible bases. of representation,
and to make organization unnecessarily cumbersome. But
whether it "gives them representation or not, a large part oi
the task of the State Federation is to organize the churches in
every minor political division, i. e. city or township. By po-
litical divisions, rather than villlages, for several reasons:

(1) Only by covering every political division, can we be
sure that the whole State is covered.

(2) To ascertain the task before the local churches and their
efficiency in meeting it, religious and civil statistics must be
compared ; and the latter are for political divisions.

(3) Civic action on the part of the churches, i. e. in law-
enforcement, must proceed on lines of township, etc.

(4) Even if the churches could otherwise accomplish their
own ends otherwise, they owe it to the community to strength-
en the local civic life, expressed in the town-meeting, etc.,
too much weakened to-day.

When it has convinced the churches of any community of the
necessity of alliance, the State Federation must be prepared
to give them information as to methods of organization and
work. There are now tested types of co-operation adapted re-
spectively to jcity, village, and rural township. The full dis-

9

cussion of these methods belongs to another of your commit-
tees, and we shall refer to their work under our third head-
ing. It is sufficient to note here that local organization may
belong to either of two types. These are known in Massa-
chusetts and Ehode Island as "The Westerly Way" and
"Methuen's Method."

(1) "The Westerly Way" assumes that the pastors ex
officio represent the churches, and may, without formal au-
thorization, organize and act in their name. In some cases,
such a ministerial body has even adopted the name "The
Federated Churches." The advantage of this plan is its sim-
plicity and economy of time and organization. Pastors know
what is needed, and it can be done with less discussion. The
success and permanence of the plan, however, depends on the
personality and mutual confidence of the ministers.

(2) Jn "Methuen's Method," the churches join the League
by formal vtHe, and agree to certain lines of co-operation, as
stated union meetings, a periodic canvass, etc. They may ap-
point pastors and delegates to constitute the voting body; or
all the members of the churches may be entitled to vote at the
annual meeting. The advantage of the plan is that it com-
mits the churches themselves, and renders permanence less
dependent on the personality of the pastors. In one or other
of these ways, the State Federation should ally the churches
of every subdivision. Where there are too few churches in
a township, neighboring towns may of course be grouped.

But organization is only a means. The challenge of a busi-
ness man remains to be answered: "But what can the
churches do together ? ' ' This involves our third head :

III. The work to be done. Prof. Commons has aptly said
that the two great faults of our American denominationalism
are its overlapping and its overlooking. Work is overcoming
resistence along a line. The work which Church Federation
has to do is this : To overcome our overlapping and our over-
looking.

1. To overcome our overlapping. This was the first need
to be realized. To meet it the Maine Interdenominational
Commission was organized in 1891, and has blazed the way
which the whole country is now beginning to follow. The

10

five denominations represented adopted at the outset these
seven principles :

That church extension into destitute communities

should be conducted, as far as practicable, according to

the following considerations :

1. No community, in which any denomination has any
legitimate claim, should be entered by any other denom-
ination through its official agencies without conference
with the denomination or denominations having said
claims.

2. A feeble church should be revived, if possible, rather
than a new one established to become its rival.

3. The preferences of a community should always be
regarded by denominational committees, missionary
agents, and individual workers.

4. Those denominations having churches nearest at
hand should, other things being equal, be recognized as
in the most advantageous position to encourage and aid
a new enterprise in their vicinity.

5. In case one denomination begins gospel work in a
destitute community it should be left to develop that
work without other denominational interference.

6. Temporary suspension of church work by any de-
nomination occupying a field should, not be deemed suffi-
cient warrant in itself for entrance into that field by
another denomination. Temporary suspension may be
deemed abandonment when a church has had no preach-
ing and held no meetings for an entire year or more.

7. All questions of interpretation of the foregoing
statements, and all cases of friction between denomina-
tions, or churches of different denominations, should be
referred to the Commission through its executive com-
mittee.

During the first thirteen years of the Commission's exist-
ence, there were fifty-one communities on record, where en-
croachment, friction or competition of some kind had called
for adjustment. In three new villages, the order in which
churches ought to enter was amicably settled. In one-half of
the twelve cases of formal arbitration, the decision of the

11

committee has been accepted, the denomination so advised
withdrawing; and in six cases, the decision has been disre-
garded, in thirty -seven cases, consultation and friendly con-
ference have sufficed to adjust the strain. Many other in-
stances have shown that the very existence of the Commission
prevents aggression or insures voluntary adjustment. In
1908, the Commission decided to make a comprehensive study
of the whole State, to discover all existing cases of overlap-
ping, and to take the initiative in proposing adjustment. By
this comprehensive survey, it hoped to be able to point out op-
portunities for mutual exchange, so that "in one town de-
nomination A may surrender to B its church interests, and in
another town, B may surrender an equal interest to A. " Not
merely the commissions but the federations as well have gen-
erally adopted the Maine methods.

A somewhat different line of approach has" been adopted
by two federations which face a more complex situation be-
cause of the larger number of denominations represented, re-
spectively fourteen and seventeen, and the larger and more
heterogeneous population, foreign and urban. The following
"Plan to Promote Comity" was adopted by both in 1905:

(1) To form public opinion, publish the facts, both
general and typical.

(2) Call conferences of denominational authorities
that acquaintance with each other's work and personality .
may prevent or remove misunderstandings, and secure
voluntary readjustments.

(3) Urge upon denominations anywhere found over-
lapping the importance of adjusting their work by ne-
gotiation and where possible by exchange of fields.

(4) Provide arbitrators, where this is required and
requested, whose decision shall have only the authority
of its own obvious wisdom and the Christian public senti-
ment back of it.

Gratifying progress has been made in all these lines. The
publication of facts is rapidly forming public sentiment. The
conferences have proved happy and helpful. Increasing will-
ingness to yield for the sake of readjustment is manifest on
the part of denominational secretaries; the chief difficulty

12

^arising from the inertia of the local churches. The aim has
been to avoid putting any denomination in the position of a
■defendant. The watchword is negotiation rather than arbi-
tration. A complete list of all the churches in the State is
being made to discover every case of overlapping.

The readjustment of our overlapping is doubtless a long
and difficult task; but it is one which will in time be com-
pleted. It is the negative and temporary side of church fed-
eration. The permanent. and positive work is:

2. To overcome our overlooking. In spite of •churches so
numerous that they duplicate and interfere, there are multi-
tudes of neglected neglectors both among the incoming multi-
tudes, the crowded population of the cities, and the scattered
habitants of declining rural towns. They neither attend nor
•care for the Church. Present methods seem powerless to
reach them, Unless the Church can find a way to make the
indifferent different, it must confess future progress impossi-
ble. If it despairs of reaching the last, least and lowest of the
lost, it is false to its Master ! In seeking the true method, two
principles seem obvious :

(1) Knowledge of men alone gives power over men. The
"time has come when the churches may and must know every
individual in the entire community as accurately as they now
know their own membership.

(2) This must be done co-operatively ; both because the
task is too vast for any one church or denomination, and be-
cause the churches are so close together, that unless they in-
tentionally co-operate they will inevitably compete.

These principles may be adapted and adopted in every type
■of community. It is the work of the State Federation to see
that their importance and adaptability is understood, and
that they are put into practice by each local group of
churches. To the cities it may recommend the co-operative
parish plan. To large villages and suburbs, the Jamaica
plan of a joint visitor ; and to rural churches, town or county
federation. It thus becomes possible, as in two States already,
to announce the watchword : ' ' Some church responsible for
each square mile!" Responsible, i. e. to know and seek in
-some way every individual therein, mutually reporting pref-

13

erences to sister churches. The area of each "responsibility
district," of course, varies from one city block to a whole
town of forty square miles. The keynote is responsibility !
Dynamite is in that word ! Its significance once realized, it
will revolutionize the relation of the churches to the com-
munity and to each other.

Of course, knowledge is but the fundamental prerequisite of
persistent evangelism, using invitation printed, penned and
personal, as well as the mass-meeting; and evangelism is but
the beginning of service on the part of the federated churches
to the community. But such systematic knowledge of men and
conditions is the indispensable first step in all lines of service.
It will discover the real problems, rouse the churches, show
them the defects of their work and guide them to new tasks
and new methods. The churches have as great an opportunity
as ever to-day, if they will combine to meet the real needs of
each community, from building roads and organizing indus-
try, like John Frederick Oberlin, to swinging the thought of
a whole great metropolis to religious things by concerted evan-
gelism. The State Federation, like a general, taking in the
whole field, can suggest what is needed at each point, and
make possible what we have never had before, a systematic
campaign to Christianize every phase of the life of the entire
Commonwealth !

But overlapping and overlooking do not exhaust the needs
that call for Church Federation. We summarize other possi-
bilities under a third topic :

3. Co-operation in common tasks. The chief, and only-
serious objection to Church Federation is the multiplicity
of existing interdenominational organizations. ""Why an-
other?" is often asked.

The objection, upon examination, turns into an argument.
Why have we so many organizations? Because hitherto the
churches have co-operated piecemeal, forming a new agency
every time they have discovered a new need for co-operation.
The peculiarity of federation is that it is an organization, not
to do any specific thing, but whatever the churches need and
desire to do together. It will, therefore, not only render un-

14 .

necessary further multiplication of agencies, but will make
possible elimination and consolidation of those now existing.

It is necessary to enumerate only a few of the lines that
have been taken up by state federations to illustrate the pos-
sibilities.

As a bureau of information, the federation may render
valuable service, not merely in making a study of missionary
needs, as the number, increase and location of the incoming
multitudes; but also by investigating special problems like
the boarding-house population, religious education, and by
making known new methods, like the Vacation Daily Bible
School. Upon the basis of a study of the multiplicity of phil-
anthropic organizations, one federation called the attention
of the public to the danger of duplication and the wisdom of
investigation before forming new organizations, if not, of
merging those existing, — an address which struck fire at once.

The enforcement and improvement of law often becomes the
imperative duty of Local or State Federations, especially in
regard to Sunday-rest, liquor-selling, sexual immorality and
child labor. The policy of the federation should be to use
and back up the organizations existing for these specific ends.
But it should emphasize the importance of .the ' ' responsibility
districts," which it establishes. "When these cover the State,,
and the churches so appreciate their opportunity and respon-
sibility, that each church will know the position of every voter'
on moral issues and tirelessly work to place every one upon the-
right side, moral reforms will come swiftly and permanently.
The fort is then built, the guns placed, ready for any emer-
gency.

In one State, a committee on public opinion, feeling in-
competent to express what it has no means of ascertaining, is
forming a body of counsellors, covering every community,
class and denomination, who may give voluntary or requested7
expressions of opinion.

One committee on comity has attempted to define the prin-
ciples which should guide pastors and church workers in pas-
toral visitation and invitation.

The usefulness of an official organ, regularly mailed to every
pastor and to as large a number of subscribers as possible, in

15

order to report facts and form public sentiment, is suggested,
by the practice of several States.

The usefulness of the field secretary in reflecting back to '
the churches, in sermons and addresses, the impressions made
upon one given the unique opportunity of studying the reli-
gious needs of the commonwealth from the standpoint of all
the churches combined, should also be noted. In all these
ways, the State Federation may, and already does, make the
practical unity of the churches of Christ in its commonwealth
a tangible reality.

Our conclusion, from this review of the actual experience
■of existing State Federations, is that such organizations are
both practicable and necessary, and that there has already
been worked out a practical program of activities as definite
and comprehensive as has ever been proposed for any religious
or civic campaign. We have planned the work; let us work
■the plan.

And furthermore, we feel that far more important than
any concrete results in moral reforms, ecclesiastical growth,
or even the deepening of the religious life of individuals and
communities, will prove the demonstration of the essential
unity of the Christian forces of the Commonwealth. They do
not need to be made one. They need only to be convinced that
they are one, — one, not in polity, but in purpose; not in doc-
trine, but in the practical effort "to do," as Christ said, "the
will of mv Father which is in Heaven."

1G

TABLE OF STATE FEDERATIONS

The following table of State Federations and the definite
lines of work in which several of them- are engaged will be
read with interest :

a

to

« ft

a

O

State

o

• M

"SI
N

'3

a
be

Sh

CD
N

'a

OS)

a

a

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§•2

"a

a

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o

CD

a 03
a o

CD -iH

£ N

■S 'a

• H a
OS) .

o

a

«H CD

•H i-Tj

«H S

° "S

o o 5

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o

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CD

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cd a a

a ri,

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o £

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CD

a ' "*

p- +^> p-<

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£

£

Connecticut, Fed.

Maine, Com.

Massachusetts, Fed.

Montana, Com.

Nebraska, Fed.

New Hampshire, Com.

New Jersey, Fed.

New York, , Fed.

North Dakota,

Ohio Fed.

Pennsylvania, Ev.Al.

Rhode Island, Fed.

South Dakota, Fed.

Utah,

Vermont, Com.

Wisconsin, Fed.

1906

1 to 10,000

1891

3 each

1901

1 to 15,000

1906

3 each

1909

1903

3 each

1900 1 to 15,000

1901

1901
1905 3

1899

1898

1 to 3,000
&1 to 5,000.

3 each
1 to 10,000

17

5
11

6 Invited

'Being organized.

Lines of Work.

Maine. — Comity. Local co-operation recommended.

Massachusetts. — Comity. Three types of local co-operation. General

co-operation. Investigation.
Montana. — Comity.

New Hampshire. — Comity. Local co-operation recommended.
New iTork. — Comity. Local Federations. Moral issues. Investigation.
Rhode Island. — Comity. Local co-operation, three types. Investigation.

General co-operation. Monthly organ.
South Dakota. — Comity. Local co-operation. Moral issues.
Vermont. — Comity. Investigation.
Wisconsin. — Comity. General co-operation. Organ jointly with other

org.

17
Declarations and Recommendations.

The Committee recognizing the practical efficiency of State
Federations in allying forces and. allaying friction, in ascer-
taining religious needs, and applying the principles of co-
operation to the statesmanship and diplomacy of the Church,,
desires to make the following declarations and recommenda-
tions :

I. DECLARATIONS

1. By an experience beginning in Maine in 1890, we deem
it to have been proven that Christian denominations, in the
spirit of mutual respect and confidence, evincing broad and
charitable toleration each toward the other, can co-operate, by
courtesies extended and received, by combination of work and
worker, and by concession and surrender of advantage and
privilege in concrete cases. The recognition of the individual-
ity and the parity of denominations has been demonstrated
to be not a dream, but a reality.

2. We regard the federation of the churches of Christ in
the various States of the Nation as indispensable in the real-
ization of the Federal Idea of Christian Forces for which this
organization stands. The State Federation is neither too large
to lose sight of local conditions, nor too small to fail of the
best leadership and the highest ideals.

3. We do not approve of the formation of so-called " union
churches," independent of denominational association and
supervision, although we recognize their utility in many
places and would not wish them disturbed wherever they are
useful. But the denomination should be the unit of inde-
pendency in federation, for it alone maintains agencies for
missionary activities at home and abroad; for Christian edu-
cation; for the publication of Christian books, tracts, and
periodicals; and for the maintenance and supervision of an
approved Christian ministry.

4. We do not advise or expect men, under the inspiration
of the federative principle, lightly to exchange denomina-
tional connection and lose the bond of peculiar devotion and
attachment which unites them each to the denomination of

18

Ms own choice, but we do expect each Christian, while pecu-
liarly of one branch of the Great Kingdom, to recognize all
other branches as branches, and himself in right relation to
the whole. The principle of federation, while unsectarian, is
still consistently denominational.

II. RECOMMENDATIONS

1. We recommend to the several denominations, affiliated in
this Federal Council, that they either formally recommend,
or at least authorize, their constituent bodies in the several
States to enter into co-operation and federation with the con-
stituencies of other denominations m their States, for the
more efficient extension of the Kingdom of Christ, and the
fuller expression of His spirit among His disciples. It seems
desirable that State Federations should have the approval and
sanction of the highest ecclesiastical authorities to which the
several federating members are amenable, and that State
Federations be thereby recognized as orderly and authorized
expressions of comity and co-operation, known and approved
by each denomination at its headquarters.

2. We recommend that each denomination, through its ap-
propriate organizations and agencies, direct that its superin-
tendents, missionaries, or agents, as its official representatives
in the home field may be designated, should seek to foster the
organization of State Federations, and should observe, in deal-
ing with other religious bodies or in planting new churches,
and in sustaining weak churches of their own faith and order,
the principles of comity and co-operation usually embodied in
the platform of a State Federation.

3. We recommend to the leaders of denominational enter-
prises in the several States in which now no State Federation
exists, that they investigate the operation of the federative
idea in other states and examine conditions within their own
States, in order to ascertain whether a federation of churches,
or interdenominational commission, might not promote the
interests of the Kingdom in their own States. Far better is
it for the principle of federation to spring up within the limits
of a State, or at least to find receptive appreciation within the

19

State, than for it to be brought in from without the State by
any propaganda, however persuasive and convincing.

4. As for the character of a State Federation we recom-
mend:

(a) That membership in it be elective, or appointive, so
that each member shall be a delegate from, and a representa-
tive of his own denomination within the State :

(b) That membership be continuing, to the extent at least
that all terms of membership shall not expire in the same
year:

(c) That the functions of the federation be plainly stated
and described as an advisory council without ecclesiastical
authority so that each State organization of a denomination
may clearly understand the federal compact and. know that
by sending delegates to the federation, or commission, it is
surrendering no powers or responsibilities inherently its own.

(d) That the federation be regarded as a common meeting
ground for the denominations, not a new organization, but a
new point of view; not a federation, so much as the churches
federated; it is not to divert energy or consume energy, so
much as it is to direct the energy of the denominations into
more useful channels and more promising fields, and thereby
save energy and make it more productive of good, and spe-
cifically it is to make churches and Christians more efficient
in their own distinctive work and to see that the whole com-
monwealth is so ministered to and cared for that some church,
or group of churches, shall be responsible for every square
mile.

(e) That the federation be deemed the proper center for
co-operation in doing whatever may be wise for the churches
to do together either in civil, moral, philanthropic, or reli-
gious lines, and by its existence and its use for this purpose
the further multiplication of organizations akin to the Church
may become unnecessary and their combination and consolida-
tion at some time be rendered possible.

Mk-i

t&Ki

m