Unity if not Union

Important Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Methodist clergymen secluded themselves for two days last week at Atlantic City and made a reasonable effort to find means of merging their churches, of phrasing a simple creed acceptable to their coreligionists.

When the churchmen left their retreat, led by Episcopalian Bishop Edward Lambe Parsons of San Francisco, they could say (it was an important pronouncement): "In the matters coming before us for consideration, we find ourselves and the communions we represent in their formal pronouncement in substantial agreement.

"So far as other than theological and ecclesiastical factors were causes of the original separation of the bodies we represent, we are agreed that they are no longer operative in any such degree as to block the way to an organic unity.

"Our three communions are as one in recognizing the authority of the Church to teach and guide individuals in the development of Christian life, and to exercise discipline in cases of violation of the fundamental precepts of that life. We find that in all three communions the tendency is obvious to substitute for such discipline as excommunication [the Roman Catholic method] the methods of love, persuasion and voluntary penance as being more expressive of our Lord's teachings."

Organic union of religious bodies is not so simple as creedal agreement. Churches are corporations. Altering their constitutions is a lengthy, unwieldy business.

They have great wealth. Much of that wealth they have received for specific purposes. To change those purposes normally requires the permission of probate courts. Hence when the Methodists and the Presbyterians hold another conference at Philadelphia next March (Episcopalians may attend), Methodist Bishop William Fraser McDowell of Washington may have something good to report on his topic--matters of doctrine and polity. But on his topic-- matters of administration and trusts-- Presbyterian Dr. Henry Chapman Swearingen of St. Paul will have, it was discerned last week, little more than intentions.

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