VIII. THE DAYTON DECLARATION

The National Council at its session in Des Moines, in 1904, gave its Committee on Comity, Federation, and Unity, instruction on two special subjects: (1), To advance the federation of Christian churches in this country; and (2), To advance the union proposed between the Congregationalists, the United Brethren, and the Methodist Protestants.

On the subject of union with other denominations the National Council took the following action:

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'Resolved, That this National Council heartily approves the purpose and the general plan for the closer union of the Methodist Protestants, United Brethren and Congregational denominations; and that we accept the plan as presented by the committees of the three denominations, with the earnest hope that it may lead to a complete organic union."

Other action by the Council provided for the election of delegates and the first meeting of the General Council of the three denominations. In accordance with these directions the committees of the three denominations on Time and Place met in Pittsburg, Pa., August 20, 1905, and agreed to call the General Council of the three bodies at Dayton, Ohio, February 7-9, 1906. Accordingly the General Council met at that time and place, delegates having been appointed, in accordance with the direction of the last Council, by the Provisional Committee, the Congregational delegates present being 110 in number. On the opening of this General Council a resolution was presented by the Rev. T. H. Lewis, in behalf of the Methodist Protestants, declaring that "our first and chief business is to provide for the organic union of these three bodies," and appointing large commiteees from each of these bodies on

Doctrine, Polity and Vested Interests, for the purpose of accomplishing this result. Three committees of 21 were thus appointed by each denomination, and were divided in each denomination into sub-committees of seven each. They met together, those of the three denominations on Doctrine, thus 21 in all; the three on Polity in the same way, and the three on Vested Interests. After much consideration, and the approval of each separate report by the combined committees, 63 in all, they were presented to the General Council, and voted on by the delegates of each denomination meeting separately. In this way the three denominations approved the report of the Committee on Doctrine; that on Polity was accepted as the basis for further consideration by the Committee; that on Vested Interests, which simply declared that they found no insuperable obstacles and desired time for further investigation, was approved. The subject of a name for the united body was left to a separate committee. The committees were continued, and with much enthusiasm and deep gratitude to God for the success of their labors the General Council adjourned to meet at the call of the chairman, the three committees on Creed, Polity and Vested Interests being authorized to continue their work in the meantime and report at the adjourned meting.

The reports of the three committees, as accepted by the General Council, were widely published in the denominational journals and received much attention, discussion being especially directed to that on Polity.

The second General Council of the three churches was called to meet in Chicago, March 19-21, 1907, to hear the report of their committees. There were present 118 delegates appointed from the Congregational churches, and a proportionate number from the two other denominations. After full discussion for three days, by the sub-committees on Legal Relations, Publication Operations, Benevolent Societies and Educational Institutions, herewith appended, and the Committee

on Polity, and the further discussion of the reports in the full committee of sixty-three, in the presence of all the members of the Council who desired to attend, the following "Act of Union," reported by the special Committee on Polity, approved by the Committee of sixty-three in accord with the report of the Committees on Vested Interests and Legal Questions, and embracing the recommendations of the committees on Name and Doctrinal Statement, was unanimously adopted by the Council and recommended for adoption by the national bodies of the three denominations, as follows:

ACT OF UNION

Between the Congregational Churches, the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and the Methodist Protestant Church.

We, the representatives of the Congregational Churches, the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and the Methodist Protestant Church, believing that we can do more to promote the work of our Lord Jesus Christ in the world by uniting than by continuing our separate existence as denominations as heretofore, and being of one accord in the desire to realize our Lord's prayer, "that they all may be one," having already at the first meeting of this council entered into a common Declaration of Faith hereinafter set forth, do now, in order to bring about an organic union, propose to our respective denominations the Articles of Agreement hereinafter set forth.

DECLARATION OF FAITH

We, the representatives of the Congregational Churches, the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and the Methodist Protestant Church, rejoice at this time to enter into union with one another, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the love of God, and for fellowship in the Holy Spirit. In this solemn act of faith and obedience towards the great Head of the Church, we do most humbly and confidently make confession of our faith and heartily renew the consecration of our lives to Him and to the service of mankind.

1. Our bond of union consists in that inward personal faith in Jesus Christ as our divine Saviour and Lord on which all our churches are founded; also in our acceptance of the Holy Scriptures as the inspired source of our faith and the supreme standard of Christian truth; and further, in our consent to the teaching of the ancient symbols of the undivided Church, and to that substance of Christian doctrine which is common to the creeds and confessions

which we have inherited from the past. But we humbly depend, as did our fathers, on the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all the truth.

2. We believe that God, the Father and Lord of all, did send his son Jesus Christ to redeem us from sin and death by the perfect obedience of his holy will in life, by the sacrifice of himself on the cross, and by his glorious resurrection from the dead.

3. We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God and Christ, moves in the hearts of men, calling them through the gospel to repentance and faith, awakening in them spiritual sorrow for past sin and confidence in the mercy of God, together with new desires and a new power to obey his will.

4. We believe that those of the sons of men who, hearing God's call of divine love, do heartily put their trust in the Saviour whom his love provided, are assured by his word of his most fatherly forgiveness, of his free and perfect favor, of the presence of his spirit in their hearts, and of a blessed immortality.

5. We believe that all who are, through faith, the children of God, constitute the Church of Christ, the spiritual body of which he is the head; that he has appointed them to proclaim his gospel to all mankind, to manifest in their character and conduct the fruit of his spirit; that he has granted them freedom to create such offices and institutions as may in each generation serve unto those ends, and that for the comfort of our faith he has given to his Church the sacred ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

6. We believe that according to Christ's law men of the Christian faith exist for the service of man, not only in holding forth the word of life, but in the support of works and institutions of pity and charity, in the maintenance of human freedom, in the deliverance of all those that are oppressed, in the enforcement of civic justice, in the rebuke of all unrighteousness.

Possessed of these convictions, both as truths which we do most firmly hold and acts of faith which spring from our hearts, we do, therefore, in the happy consummation of this union, and in the name of all the churches which we represent, commit ourselves, body, soul, and spirit to the faith, love, and service of him who made us and saved us, the everlasting God, our Father, Redeemer, and Lord. To him be ascribed all praise, and dominion, and glory, world without end. Amen.

This Declaration of Faith, almost if not entirely the work of President W. Douglas Mackenzie, of Hartford Theological Seminary, met with immediate favor, and had the merger of the three denominations taken place, this would have been their confession of faith.

The Committee on Comity, Federation and Unity presented a full report to the National Council in Cleveland.

The action thus taken was widely published in the denominational press and elsewhere. The Congregational delegates in attendance appointed a committee, consisting of Dr. Washington Gladden, President W. Douglas Mackenzie and Dr. Asher Anderson, to prepare a letter to the churches detailing what was done and what was its purpose and bearing. This was done and the letter was widely distributed. Various conferences and churches took action on the subject in 1907, and recommended the following action:

Voted: That this National Council heartily approves the proposed Act of Union between the Congregational Churches, the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and the Methodist Protestant Churches and recommends that our conference and churches and our benevolent societies accept such corporate union between the three denominations.

Voted: That the Committee on Federation, Comity and Unity be authorized to act in behalf of this National Council for the purpose of aiding in the consummation of this proposed union and in the further advancement of the cause of comity, federation or unity of our various Christian bodies.

The proposed merger, however, did not meet with favor in the Council on the terms proposed. The final action at Cleveland was embodied in the report of a Committee of twentyeight, as follows:

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF TWENTY-EIGHT

The Committee of Twenty-Eight, to which was referred the report of the Committee on Comity, Federation, and Unity, begs leave to report that it has had that document under prolonged consideration. We express our high appreciation of the admirable rehearsal of the Federation movement and the Tri-Church Union movement, and the distinguished services of the committee to both causes. The resolution concerning federation, presented by the committee, has already been reported by the Council. For the rest, your committee now reporting recommends the adoption by the Council of the following minutes and resolutions:

The National Council of the Congregational Churches of the United States, in session at Cleveland, Ohio, October 8-17, 1907, having heard a remarkable volume of testimony from all parts of the