"In Union . . ."

Unity, the increasing purpose of Protestant sects, last week received fresh impetus in the U. S.

While merger meetings were being held throughout the land, representatives of six churches (Baptist, Protestant Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, South, Society of Friends, Lutheran. Presbyterian) convened at Washington to discuss the report on Christian unity prepared in 1927 by the International Conference on Faith & Order at Lausanne, Switzerland. Next week, 100 nationally prominent laymen and clergy will meet at Buck Hill Falls, Pa., to discuss: "Next steps toward a united church." Last week's meetings:

Presbyterians. If the hopes of nearly 1,000 Presbyterian churchmen, voiced at the close of their 141st General Assembly last week at St. Paul, are realized, 15,000,000 U. S. Presbyterians, Methodists and Episcopalians will soon be united in common worship. The Presbyterians voted to take steps toward union at once. Said one delegate. "How much more powerful an army could we muster if we churches fought under one banner!"

Somewhat surprising was their action, for it was thought that merger, activities would be confined for the present to the consolidation of the 16 branches within Presbyterianism itself, while "conversations" were carried on with Methodists and Episcopalians. Precipitation to the larger movement came during the assembly's last day, when the report of the Department on Co-operation and Church Union was being droned out to listening delegates.

Congregationalists. Fired with like hopes, closer to realization than the Presbyterians, the National Council of Congregational Churches in the United States voted unanimously last week at Detroit to join with the General Convention of Christian Churches in a union whose leadership will total about 1,080,000 souls. To their proposal Dr. Warren H. Denison of Dayton, executive secretary of the General Christian Convention, who attended the Congregational council as corresponding member, gave hearty approbation. Amid cheers, he expressed belief that the body he represented would approve the merger at its meeting in Piqua, Ohio, in October. If it is completed, the consolidation will be the first ever entered into in the U. S. between two distinct and previously unconnected sects.

Fred B. Smith of White Plains. N. Y.. layman, chairman of the National Citizens' Committee of 1,000 for Law Enforcement, leader in lay religious organizations both national and international, was unanimously elected Moderator by the Congregationalists. Some time ago Moderator Smith retired from gainful occupation with Johns-Manville Corp., famed asbestos makers, to combat Hell's fire through church work.

Reformed, Too. Another group to express the urge to merge was the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the U. S., meeting at Indianapolis. Unanimously passed were resolutions "strongly endorsing'' their proposed union with the United Brethren in Christ and Evangelical Synod of North America.

Lutherans, Too. What other sects sought for, three New York synods of the Lutheran Church accomplished when the New York Ministeriam, the Synod of New York, and the Synod of New York and New England became one last week in Albany. The reason for this juncture, which brought together 390 churches, 454 clergymen, 208,008 communicants, was obvious. All three cover much the same territory.

India, Too. At Lucknow was held a conference, the first in Northern India's church history, to discuss the fusion of the United Church of Northern India, Methodist Episcopal Church, English Baptist Church, Disciples of Christ (American and Australian), Church of Brethren and Wesleyan Methodist Church. "Informal and unofficial" representatives of the Anglican Church were present.