If there be such a thing as a convention having a soul, then surely the soul of Thomas Campbell lives again in this great gathering. The lasting influence of this Convention will be the subjective influence upon our own lives as we have been asking with real concern, "How far have we advanced in the attainment of our original ideals, and are we keeping faith with the purpose of the fathers?"

      Reforms do not keep pace with the reformers; the followers of a great reformer lose the vision of the leader, and crystallize into a party, using the leader's principles as a party cry. On the face of it, our first one hundred years

W. J. LOCKHART.

of history might indicate that this movement is going the way of all previous reforms. The fathers never dreamed of such a gathering as this, nor did they expect that the defence of their principles would start a movement as distinct and separate in its life and work as one of the then present denominations.

      But a generation does not pass by until the advocates of the new order have been excommunicated, and are engaged in deadly debate with the sects. War is declared, and the clash of theological battle is heard on all sides. And after a century of strenuous fighting, out into modern life moves a mighty religious body, a million and a quarter strong, fully equipped and organized for any and all kinds of religious work. The fighting has now largely ceased; growth in numbers and prestige has come. Organized missionary and philanthropic work has won the respect of all religious bodies. Recognition as a world-force is freely extended. But who are we, and what are we here for?

      From the viewpoint of the denominational world, here comes a great sister church; and to the world at large; we are a denomination among denominations. Deny it as we will, the impression remains. That there has been much of the party spirit characterizing our movement, even we ourselves can not deny. But when God has had a great truth for the world, and the world was not ready to receive it, has he not always preserved it in like manner?

      God has called us into the world, and given us one hundred years of training for a great and divinely ordained work. The world was not ready to receive the "Declaration and Address" when it was given. But, thank God, it is ready now. What a transformation in a hundred years! Then the plea for a closer unity was ignored, and its advocates branded as heretics; then denominational fellowship and co-operation were unknown. To-day the same bodies which forced our fathers from their membership are preaching and urging the need of a closer unity. The great-visioned men in every one of these orders are leaders in all union and co-operative work. The floor of opportunity is open to us. God is calling. The time for which we have been waiting and training is at hand. I hear the voice of our God saying, "Move forward."

      The Y. M. C. A. and Christian Endeavor are but forerunners of the fast-increasing movement of the union of churches in evangelism. The denominations are discovering that alone and by themselves they can not bring the unsaved to Christ; and in every city and town and hamlet there is a growing demand for local union in the evangelism of the lost. Here is the natural place for union. Union will never come upon the theological battleground; but it will come, as it is fast coming, in a common passion to bring the lost to Christ.

      I believe the hour has come when we [598] should take our rightful place as leaders in all union and co-operative work, and not merely give a sort of silent approval to such work. I believe in union evangelism, because it is in part an answer to our Lord's prayer. I believe in it, because it is the logical outcome of all the convictions that have shaped and moulded my ministry as a Disciple of Christ. I believe in it because I love those who love Christ and crave their assistance in the salvation of men and the overthrow of sin. I believe the people who stand pre-eminently for Christian union can not be true to the principles they have urged for one hundred years, and fail to take their place as leaders in this particular phase of Christian co-operation.

      Whenever a true evangelist of our Lord goes into a community, he has a right to expect and demand the sympathy and co-operation of all those who are loyal to Christ and stand opposed to sin. But what does the average evangelist of the Disciples of Christ get? He gets the sympathy and support of one church and the cold indifference or open opposition of all the rest.

      "Why," it has been asked, "have not our evangelists been chosen to lead in union evangelistic campaigns?" Has it not been because we have been so slow in asserting our leadership?

      I believe our right of existence depends upon our ability to foster and promote Christian unity. Can this be done by remaining constantly in the field as a competitor for members and social standing with the denominations? Our mission is so far beyond that of a mere denomination, that our growth in membership and organic strength must become a secondary consideration. We are a voice crying in the wilderness of denominationalism for a closer unity in Christ. But that voice must find concrete expression. The open door to us at the present time is union evangelism. In no other way can we so conclusively prove that our plea is more than s denominational tenet than by fostering and promoting a union of all Christians in the work of soul-saving. There are hundreds of pastors here to-day whose churches are the dominating religious influence in their communities. Who, better than these, could organize a union campaign of soul-winning? And who, better than an evangelist of the New Testament, is fitted to lead in such a union campaign? Our message, when devoid of the bitterness of party spirit, is the message of Christendom to-day. Our methods are pre-eminently fitted for union work and our zeal for evangelism

JAMES E. HAWES.

is the one factor needed to be introduced into union evangelism to make it a compelling force. And what an opportunity for preaching Christian union! A sermon and a demonstration, such as one of our own great preachers only could give in such a meeting, would be worth more to the cause of Christian union than a thousand sermons preached in our own churches to our own people.

      The spirit of this Convention has profoundly stirred me. I have never been so proud of being a Disciple of Christ. I am glad the blood of the fathers flows in my veins, and that my name has been linked with this movement from the beginning. I was born free, and the thing that inspires me to-day is that I see that the danger of our movement crystallizing into a denomination has forever passed. The currents of our thinking lead fair from this. What a plea we have! What a time for presenting it! We need men to-day with the charity of a Stone and the breadth of Thomas Campbell to interpret our plea to divided Christendom, and not men who shall secretly glory in the number of "sectarians they have saved."

      Brethren, the battle is on. Fierce charges against the common enemy are being made. Men with as great faith as we, with as completely surrendered lives, are dying for our Lord. Great Christian bodies are pouring out their life and their treasures to advance the kingdom of our God. And the battle goes hard because of the lack of unity of purpose; and shall we fight alone, or train our guns on those who unselfishly, though in some things misguided, are [599] giving their lives for our common Lord? or shall we not, with a faith as large and a vision as broad and a heroism as superb as that of our fathers, spring into the midst of the fight with the battle-cry of "Christ our all and in all," and take our rightful place as leaders in this world-wide crusade against sin? God will not hold us guiltless if in this crucial hour we do not prove our plea is something more than a shibboleth or a party cry. During these wonderful Centennial days my soul has been quickened, my vision has been cleared, and, as I have looked toward the future, I have seen the people I love excelling all others in charity, surpassing all in brotherliness, leading all in fraternity, and by conduct so magnanimous as to compel the admiration of all Christendom. I have seen them practicing their plea for Christian union and taking their God-ordained place as harmonizers of the divided church, as leaders in the world's conquest.

      The Chairman: There is one word to me in this great Convention that is going to stand out. I have been delighted that every speaker, no matter what his theme has been, has upheld one great, all-consuming word--Christ. [Applause.] Christ! [Applause.] Some one came to me the other night and said, "What has impressed you most?" I don't know what has impressed you, but I know what has impressed me has been the loyalty of this great brotherhood to the one Christ. [Applause.] Above all else we do, let us still say to the world, "We will go with you when you will go where Christ wants us to go." [Applause.] I am thankful for the spirit of the addresses.

      J. V. Coombs was called to the chair, and presented many evangelists.

      Song: "The Way of the Cross Leads Home."

      Mr. Coombs: I am going to call on Brother Martin.

      Mr. Martin: I have been thrilled throughout these days in listening to the great messages, and especially to feel that undercurrent, all the way through, of deep desire to see God's people at last in one great solid phalanx. I think more and more that the great message that God has, imposed upon us is to be faithful any time to hear his voice and to declare his great message to the world, and leave some things for God to bring about in his own way.

      Mrs. Thompson: I bring you greetings from Wapello, Ia., and the message is this: We who are many are one body in Christ.

      Mr. Violett: My business is to preach the gospel. I preach the Word always in love.

      Mr. Coombs: Miss Cheney, singing evangelist; Miss Dunwiddie also, who sang for you last night.

      Mr. W. H. Book: I am a friend to every pure-hearted, clean-handed, consecrated man or woman, whether pastor, evangelist or private worker in the church of the living God. I like this work, because I believe in evangelizing. I believe that the way of an evangelist is to preach out of the Book. It may not be all right, but listen: When I stand in the presence of God at the last day, if I have been true to the Book, and God gave me the wrong book, he is not going to hold me responsible. [Applause.]

      Mr. Cooksey: I certainly feel very humble this afternoon before this great audience in this army of evangelists and singers. We younger men certainly ought to feel humble as we look into the faces of those who are preparing the way for this great communion. I am only glad to add my word and promise to try to maintain the sacred trust that they have given us in lives which show forth to the honor of the Master in service for him.

      Mr. Coombs: I want Brother Legg to arise so that we can see him. Here is a man that has held 245 meetings in one State and never held a meeting out of the State until he started for here.

      Mr. S. T. Martin: I come from California, and it has been my delight all my life to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, most of the time as a regular minister, but for several years as an evangelist.

      Mr. Nicholson: What we are needing is more evangelistic pastors in county-seat towns and other influential towns, who will be ready to go out into the bare places, riding long distances to preach the gospel.

      Mr. Coombs: I want to introduce Miss Lucile Mae Park and her sister Pearl. [600]

      Miss Park: Just a love tribute to all of those who have made possible this Convention, and as we go from here we are determined by the help of almighty God, the strength of Jesus Christ our Saviour, and the power and the influence of the Holy Spirit, to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ until the whole wide world shall be brought to the feet of our Master.

      At this juncture of the proceedings all the evangelists who were present on the platform were introduced to the Convention.

      Mr. S. M. Martin presented the following: "Resolved, That we hereby put ourselves on record as disapproving the sentiments expressed by Col. Samuel Harden Church in his address to this Convention, and we further protest against its publication along with the other addresses of this Centennial Convention unless this protest is printed with it as the positive sense of this meeting."

      Resolution carried.

      Mr. Kendall: The committee recommends that a committee be appointed to secure the names of all singers and singing evangelists and prospective ones and the names of songs good for great conventions like this to be placed in the hands of the program committees of the several boards in time for them to consider them when they are making up the great plans for the Topeka Convention. It was suggested in the committee that we ought to have a great chorus in Topeka, and that chorus might be made out of a number of choruses from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and so on. [Report adopted.]

      Hymn, led by Mr. Hackleman.

      Prayer by C. S. Medbury.

      Session adjourned.

[CCR 598-601]