International Congress of Free Christians and other Religious Liberals,

Invitation to Congress in Boston, 1920

International Congress of Free Christians and Other Religious Liberals

This congress was organized at Boston, U. S. A., in the year 1900.

Its purpose is "to open communication with those in all lands who are striving to unite pure religion and perfect liberty, and to increase fellowship and co-operation among them." The International Congress seeks to bring into closer union for exchange of ideas, mutual service, and the promotion of their common aims the historic liberal churches, the liberal elements in all churches, scattered liberal congregations, and isolated workers for religious freedom and progress in many lands.

Its Congresses have been held at London, Amsterdam, Geneva, Boston, Berlin, and Paris. Printed reports of these meetings are obtainable.

25 BEACON STREET, BOSTON, MASS., U. S. A., January 15, 1920

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PROF. E. BOUTROUX, Ph.D., Paris, France, Chairman

REV. CHARLES W. WENDTE, D.D., General Secretary (to whom communications may be addressed).

REV. TONY ANDRE, D.D. Florence, Italy
REV. FREDERICK A. BISBEE, D.D. Boston, U. S. A.
PROF. GEORGE BOROS, D.D. Kolozsvar, Hungary
REV. W. COPELAND BOWIE London, England
PROF. J. ESTLIN CARPENTER, D.D. Oxford, England
PROF. B. D. EERDMANS, D.D. Leiden, Holland
REV. SAMUEL A. ELIOT, D.D. Boston, U. S. A.
PROF. HEINRICH GEFFCKEN Cologne, Germany
REV. GEORGE A. GORDON, D.D. Boston, U. S. A.
REV. KARL KONOW Bergen, Norway
ARCHDEACON A. L. LILLEY, Hereford, England
PROF. E. MONTET, D.D. Geneva, Switzerland
PROF. MARTIN RADE, D.D., Marburg, Germany
REV. J. EMILE ROBERTY Paris, France
MISS M. B. WESTENHOLZ Copenhagen, Denmark
REV. JOHN VIENOT, D.D. Paris, France
REV. A. REYSS Paris, France
REV. T. RHONDDA WILLIAMS Brighton, England
PROF. KIRSOFF LAKE, D.D., Cambridge, Mass.
CLAUDE J. MONTEFIORE, M.A. London, England
PRINCIPAL H. C. MAITRA, M.A. Calcutta, India

ONE of the distressing features of the Great War was the estrangement it wrought between religious thinkers and workers of different countries and church affiliations who had hitherto been associated in mutual confidence and good will for the promotion of their common ideals.

In particular it put an end, for the time being, to the activities of our International Congress of Free Christians and Other Religious Liberals, in which the representatives of different nations and religious fellowships had united for friendly conference and effective endeavors for the increase of religious freedom, sympathy, and progress. It was impossible to hold the seventh session of the Congress, which had been planned for the year 1916. To not a few the continued existence of our Association seemed problematical.

The ethical and spiritual needs of our time now urgently call for the resumption of our international endeavors, and such a rehabilitation of our Congress as will enable it to enter upon a new career of usefulness.

Amidst all the misunderstanding, passion, and violence which attended the terrible struggle between the nations, it has become clear that there are enduring spiritual values which cannot be destroyed by the misdeeds or misfortunes of any single generation. The conviction is reasserting itself that intellectual, ethical, and spiritual issues must again assume their rightful place as the paramount interests of human life. Learning, philosophy, science, art, morals, and religion -- these are not accidental or ephemeral in their nature, or limited by boundaries of nationality and race; much less subject to the arbitrament of war. They will remain forever the common interests of high-minded men and women.

Already it is possible for free-minded, large-hearted religious teachers and believers in all countries, seeking to renew their severed friendships, to meet, as in the days that were, to consider calmly and kindly their mutual interests, and endeavor by united efforts to advance the triumph of reason, freedom and progress in religion, the brotherhood of man, and the peaceful federation of the world.

This is our firm persuasion, which we trust and pray may be shared by the members and friends of our Congress in every land, of whatever religious affiliation.

A favorable opportunity for such a reassembling and reestablishing of the liberal religious forces of the world presents itself in the widespread observance throughout the United States in the year 1920 Of the 300th Anniversary of the Landing of the Pilgrims -and the planting of the Plymouth Colony. This was an event of historic significance, not only for the descendants of the Pilgrims--who now number over twenty millions, and whose influence and institutions predominate in the civic, educational, and religious life of America--but for all Christendom.

Among the celebrations of this historic event during the coming year, those of the churches of the Congregational inheritance will naturally have the greatest significance. Its observance by the Unitarian Congregational churches of the United States will have special appropriateness, since the original church of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, while still retaining their broad covenant,* is now Unitarian in belief and denominational connection. The same is true of the first Puritan churches founded in Salem, Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, Cambridge, and other early settlements in New England.

The American Unitarian Association, whose headquarters are in Boston, Massachusetts, is preparing an impressive celebration of the anniversary which commemorates the birth of religious and civil liberty on the American continent. This celebration will take place in Boston and Plymouth in September, 1920.

But not only the United States, all nations of the earth have felt to a greater or less extent the impulse of the Pilgrim movement. Some of them, notably Great Britain, Holland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Bohemia, Italy, and Scandinavia, made important contributions to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century Reformation of Christian doctrine and worship which made the Pilgrim adventure possible. The American Unitarian Association desires to give an international aspect to its celebration of the Pilgrim Tercentenary, and extends a fraternal invitation to the International Congress of Free Christians and Other Religious Liberals to meet with it on this occasion, share in its program of addresses and festivities, and accept the hospitalities which it will gladly extend to accredited delegates from other lands.

* "We, the Lord's free people, join ourselves by a covenant of the Lord into a church estate in the fellowship of the Gospel, to walk in all his ways, made known, or to be made known to us, according to our best endeavors." -- Pilgrim Covenant, 1620.

There is a peculiar appropriateness in our acceptance as a Congress of this generous and fraternal invitation, since our Association itself was born twenty years ago in Boston, at an annual meeting of the American Unitarian Association; and in 1907 our Congress also held its Fourth International meeting in Boston. It is earnestly desired that delegates shall be sent and individual participants appear from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the isles of the sea, and from all the organizations that share our general purpose--"to maintain communication with those in all lands who are striving to unite pure religion and perfect liberty, and to increase fellowship and cooperation among them."

Members and friends of the International Congress of Religious Liberals! A new world is being created, a new era is at hand. Shall not we of liberal faith and progressive spirit come together again to bear our testimony and serve our generation by united counsel and endeavor for the universal and enduring religious needs of mankind? Let us become latter-day Pilgrims of the Spirit--like the Fathers of old seeking "a city which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God." Let us lay the foundations at least of a League of Religions which shall be the counterpart and ally of the political League of Nations.

It is requested that all to whom this invitation may be sent and in whom it kindles responsive sentiments may communicate with the General Secretary of the Congress at as early a date as possible, that they may receive further information.

Religious Associations, Churches, and Communities of whatever name or creed, who are in sympathy with our spirit and aims, are invited to send delegates to the Congress and to announce their purpose well in advance of their coming.

EMIL BOUTROUX, PH.D., Chairman
CHARLES W. WENDTE, D.D., Secretary
J. ESTLIN CARPENTER, D.D.
FREDERICK A. BISBEE, D.D.
B. D. EERDMANS, D.D.
GEORGE A. GORDON. D.D.
J. EMILE ROBERTY, D.D.
H. C. MAITRA, M.A.

Executive Committee

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IN behalf of the American Unitarian Association and its Commission on the Celebration of the Tercentenary of the Landing of the Pilgrims, I very cordially invite the members and friends of the International Congress of Free Christians and Other Religious Liberals to meet at Boston in September, 1920, and to participate in the celebration of one of the most significant events in the history of civil and religious freedom.

All religious liberals of constructive temper and disinterested purpose share the rich inheritance of the Pilgrim spirit. All are endeavoring to express in the terms that befit the twentieth century the principles and hopes that animated the Pilgrims at Plymouth. We believe, as they did, in liberty under law, in religious toleration, in popular government, in industrial cooperation, and we seek to make these principles vital in the life of modern commonwealths.

Let us hear the song of the Pilgrim adventure ringing in our ears, summoning us to the pioneer duties of the new age. Let us revive and transmit the potent moral impulses and spiritual ideals that shed undying luster upon the voyage of the Mayflower. Let us renew our fraternal relations and pledge ourselves again to the increase of religious freedom and fellowship and the rebirth of brotherhood and peace.

SAMUEL A. ELIOT

BOSTON, January 15, 1920