THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
society is to raise funds for the erection and maintenance of churches and chapels in those numerous \V^estern and Southern districts where the Catholic population is so small and scattered that self-supporting parishes are either an impossibility or, at least, can subsist only in distressing conditions. The means adopted to this end is a systematized contribution of two cents per week from all Catholics in the Ignited States. The movement soon became popular, and at present it counts among its governing officers many of the most prominent bishops and archbishops of the country. A monthly paper, Extensioti, the official organ of the society, is published in Chicago under the direction of Father Kelley. James F. Driscoll.
CHURCH FATHERS: A title of honor applied to the early writers of the Christian Church. It was originally given to the bishops; when appeal was made to their testimony as representatives of the teaching office of the Church, it was an easy transition to the inclusion with them of venerated writers of an earlier period, even though they had not held the episcopal office. Thus by the fifth century the term " Fathers " is found used in very much its modem sense. Antiquity alone, however, is not held sufficient to confer this title, as V^incent of Lerins clearly states (Commonitorium, li. 2-1); Hilary of Poitiers (on Matt, v.) says that Tertullian " by his subsequent error destroyed the authority of his approved writings." Accordingly modern Roman Catholic theologians, among whom the title is most strictly used, are accustomed to reqxiire four qualifications — orthodoxy of doctrine, sanctity of life, the approbation of the Church, and antiquity. For the Latin Church the line of the Fathers closes with Pope Gregory I. (d. 604); for the Greek Church with John of Damascus (d. 754). See Apostolic Fathers; Doctor; Patristics.
Bibliographt: G. R. Crooks and J. F. Hurst, Theological Encyclopcedia and Methodology, pp. 396-399, New York, 1894.
CHURCH FEDERATION.
I. The United States.
The National Federation of Churches (§ 1). Its Aims and Achievements (§ 2). II. Great Britain and Other Lands.
The term " church federation " has come into use in recent years to designate the spirit and methods of cooperation and unity that in varied ways are bringing Protestant Churches and Christian bodies into organized affiliation and united action in matters of common interest and service. As a movement it is for the most part confined to the fellowship of the Churches that hold to historical and Evangelical Christianity. As a practical working force it has found expression especially in the United States and Great Britain and in countries where foreign missionary work is carried on by societies supported by these nations.
I. The United States: Historically the federation movement in the United States is linked with the development of the spirit of unity which found expression in the nineteenth century through the American branch of the Evangelical Alliance (q.v.).
A conference held in New York, Dec. 3, 1899, took steps which resulted in the organization of the National Federation of Churches
1. The Na- ^^nd Christian Workers. A letter was tional Fed- then prepared and sent out by the Ex-
eration of ecutive Committee expressing the hope Churches, that it might be the forerunner of
a " National Federation of all our Protestant Christian denominations, through their official action." At the annual meeting held in Washington, Feb., 1903, action was taken requesting " the highest ecclesiastical or advisory bodies of the Evangelical Churches to appoint representative delegates to a National Conference." Thirty denominational bodies having an aggregate membership of over seventeen million members responded and were represented by nearly five hundred delegates in the great Interchurch Conference on Federation held in New York, Nov. 15-21, 1905.^ By a substantially unanimous vote a Plan of Federation was adopted and recommended " to the Christian bodies represented in the Conference for their approval." This plan created a " Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America " and became operative when approved by two-thirds of the constituent bodies. Such approval having been received, the coimcil was organized and its first meeting was held in Dec, 1908.
The preamble to this Plan of Federation expresses the conviction that " in the providence of God, the
time has come when it seems fitting
2. Its Aims more fully to manifest the essential
and oneness of the Christian Churches of Achieve- America, in Jesus Christ as their ments. Divine Lord and Savior, and to promote the spirit of fellowship, service, and cooperation among them." The object of the Federal Council is stated in the Constitution to be: " (1) To express the fellowship and catholic unity of the Christian Church. (2) To bring the Christian bodies of America into united service for Christ and the world. (3) To encourage devotional fellowship and mutual counsel concerning the spiritual life and religious activities of the Churches. (4) To secure a larger combined influence for the Churches of Christ in all matters affecting the moral and social conditions of the people, so as to promote the application
1 The following is the list of Churches represented: the Baptist Churches of the United States; the Free Baptist General Conference; the Christians (Christian Connection); the Congregational Churches; the Disciples of Christ; the Evangelical Association; the Evangelical Synod of North America; the Friends; the Evangelical Lutheran Church, General Synod; the Methodist Episcopal Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; the Primitive Methodist Church; the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America; the Methodist Protestant Church; the African Methodist Episcopal Church; the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; the General Conference of the Mennonite Church of North America; the Moravian Church; the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America; the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist or Presbyterian Church; the Reformed Presbyterian Church; the United Presbyterian Church; the Protestant Episcopal Church; the Reformed Church in America; the Reformed Church in the United States of America; the Reformed Episcopal Church; the Seventh-day Baptist Churches; the United Brethren in Christ; the United Evangelical Church.