REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CITY CHURCH EXTENSION SOCIETIES.

The Committee on City Church Extension Societies, after careful deliberation, were pleased to join in the adoption of a statement prepared and distributed by the Congregational Home Missionary Society. This statement entitled, "Congregationalism in the City," is presented in a pamphlet of twenty pages or more, in which the ground which would necessarily be covered by any work your committee would do has been distributed among the churches and may be had upon application to the Congregational Home Missionary Society, New York City.

The following subjects are considered in that statement:

1. The Strength of Congregationalism in Cities. It is shown by the United States Census Bureau that there is a relative decline of Protestant strength in the largest cities of the country, and a relative increase in cities of the second and third class. In the larger cities the Congregational churches are not strong numerically, except in such instances as Worcester and Springfield, Mass., Minneapolis, Minn., and Los Angeles, Cal., and others. But even in these cities these churches encounter the fateful down-town problem.

Here is no novelty.

2. Congregational City Organization. The first of these organizations is now in its twenty-eighth year. Twenty-five societies of this order are in existence at the present time. Nearly all of them are incorporated and, with few exceptions, have real property of considerable value. It is interesting that care is taken on the part of these corporations to protect the denomination against ultimate loss of property for any reason which may develop upon the mission field. The reports show a total of 480 churches organized. These have a total membership of 132,740. The membership of assisted churches is 12,616. The financial work of the city societies is both significant and encouraging. The cities in which the work is being pushed with the most vigor have found

it desirable to maintain paid superintendents. In some instances, the state secretary of the Home Missionary Society is also employed as the city superintendent.

The city societies, in no case, appear to have any relationship of a formal character with any of our National Societies, except the Home Missionary Society. Plans are now in operation, seeking to coördinate these two interests.

3. Ideals in Organization. First, it should be understood that there is no one ideal adapted to the widely differing conditions. Second, there is not a basis of experience and of careful comparative analysis of results sufficient to warrant positive conclusions, save on general features. Other questions will have to be asked only as experience will give an answer.

4. Down-Town Churches. The problem of the down-town church is peculiar and perplexing, chiefly because the supporting constituency is not conveniently located. It is difficult to interest a transient population. Consequently churches leave the field. In New York City eighty-seven churches disappeared from the region below 14th Street in nineteen years. One of the first concerns of every city missionary society should be to conserve the down-town strength of its denomination.

5. Institutional Methods. The term "institutional" as now used by thoughtful people means a church which diversifies its methods of approach to the community in which it is located, while resolutely keeping the religious, and often the evangelistic, aim in central place. The one thing required is that a church shall be filled with vital sacrificial Christianity and shall give that spirit expression in forms of service adapted to the needs of the neighborhood which constitutes its parish.

6. Missions Conducted by Individual Churches. In some cases, work of this sort antedates the city society. The question here is, How may mission work be done? The normal presumption is that an organization which surveys the field as a whole, and which is accustomed to the weighing of all the considerations which enter into such matters, will make fewer mistakes than will be made by local church boards.

7. Church Extension in Residential and Suburban Communities. This would seem to be a form of city work in which Congregationalism should be particularly at home. The catholic spirit of Congregationalism will enable various ele

ments to join for service. Much emphasis has been placed by Congregationalists on this type of effort, in connection with which the city extension society should be most intimately associated.

8. Caring for the Immigrant. He settles in the city. For reasons inhering in segregation, evangelization becomes a problem. We meet new forms of religious indifference or opposition. Readjustments of method must be carefully studied. Other religious bodies seek to care for their own as they come to our land. The question is, "Shall we, as Protestants, appreciate our mission to these immigrants?" A federated endeavor to survey the field is desirable. Union agencies, such as the Bible Society and the Young Men's Christian Association, are doing something. It has been found that union missions to immigrants are not satisfactory. Two forms of effort are suggested. (a.) The effort of an individual church to bring the foreign-speaking people under the blessing of its ministers, and allowing the use of its house of worship for assemblies of their own. (b.) The organization of foreign-speaking churches maintained as our other home mission churches. Such efforts will, doubtless, bring favorable results.

The fact that national, state, and city societies in city work touch one another at many and vital points makes it very necessary that carefully considered and complete coöperation should not be overlooked. City extension societies should be organized in every important city. Home mission funds and home mission work should be shown as including all organizations. The unity of the work should be promoted. Larger coöperation in publicity lines appears as possible and desirable. The work should appeal to generous givers. Trained leaders should be increased. The home, the church, the college, and the seminary should be led to furrish men and women for city missions. The consciousness of the urgent need of enlargement should be increased. The city should be gained for the Kingdom.

At a meeting of the Joint-Conference Committee, which prepared the publication of the Home Missionary Society, in Chicago, it was recommended that the finding of this JointConference Committee be presented at the next National Council.

Your committee earnestly recommend that all pastors and

church workers, especially such as are interested in the work of churches in our larger cities, send to the Congregational Home Missionary Society, 287 Fourth Ave., New York, N. Y., for this report, "Congregationalism in the City," and distribute the same, so far as may be possible, among those whose substantial interest in this important work may be provoked.

H. CLARK FORD.
WILLIAM SPOONER.
Rev. H. A. BRIDGMAN.
Rev. HERMAN F. SWARTZ.

Rev. HENRY A. STIMSON.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMITY,
FEDERATION, AND UNITY.

At the last session of the National Council held in Cleveland, Ohio, your committee presented a report covering two subjects, one the acceptance of membership in the "Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America," and the other the approval of an "Act of Union between the Congregational Churches, the Church of the United Brethren and the Methodist Protestant Church." The National Council approved the recommendation as to the Federal Council, and it has been fully organized and is now doing a work for our entire body of Protestant churches of the greatest value. The recommendation made by this committee for the adoption of the proposed "Act of Union" with the United Brethren and the Methodist Protestants was referred to a committee of twenty-eight. Many sessions of that committee were held in the presence of the members of the National Council, and friends and opponents of its adoption were fully heard. That committee presented a unanimous report in which it was said:

"The National Council of the Congregational Church of the United States in session in Cleveland, Ohio, October 8-17, 1907, having heard a remarkable volume of testimony from all parts of the country, hereby records its conviction that our churches will go forward to consummate union with the Church of the United Brethren of Christ and the Methodist Protestant Church.

"We recognize in the Act of Union' adopted by the General Council of the United Churches at Chicago the fundamental principles by which such union must be accomplished. The aim of that act is the desire of our churches. The act provides for a representative Council of the United Churches, combines their benevolent activities, and conserves their vested interests. It makes provision for the gradual amalgamation of their state and local organizations, leaving the people of each locality free to choose their own times and