Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-15
Meeting OF the Society fOr the Promotion (
of Christ Ian UNlOn.

anniversary Was held. The meeting took place in
the vestry room Of DR.. Springs Brick Church. The
first blush Of things oy no means inviting. At
the desk were seated three four odd looking
geniuses, whose visages might be said, 6gurativey
speaking to keep up perpetual whining. One Of
these presently arose, and in most lugabrious in
tonation of voice, gave out hymn, commencing
oh, how deiightfol IT'S to see
The audience were elderly respectables, with here
and there youthful visage showing the said and
demure countenances around them in strong refec
ton, like the light on the sun-burned visages OF
Salvador Rosa's thieves.
After the hymn had been droned through one of
! the Reverends, a Mr. Slocum rose and addressed
the meeting His discourse did not belle his ma ne
for he was terribly sioU in coming to any rational
conclusion from the premises he advanced After
dwelling on the beauties of bro.herly and ssterly
love-the sublime spectacle of antipathies living in
harmony, which he compared to the sight sometimes
seen OF various animals trained to forget their nat
raj hostilites and, like the lion and lamb lying
down together-he Suddenly plasged in medias res,
and informed his auditory that differences Of opinion
had existed from the very beg inning of the Christian
era. He quoted CELSIUS and Origin to show the truth
Of his theory bat, said Mr Slocum, CELSIUS was an
enemy TO Christ, and therefore his relation Of the
disputes Of the early church is 10 be received with
/
evidently got hey ond his depth; he seized on he
Apostolic Greed, the preserver te keep him above
water. This creed, said the speaker, we are all
| acquainted with. II was the universal confession
Of faith among the Nazarines, and apostles, and all
the first followers Of Jesus. No religious differen-
then existed for four centuries all was peace,
| and harmony, and love IN the church. 1t was the
! golden age Of Christianity.
! Then came the Nicsne creed, and TO this is
ing all the dssension of the apostolic church Not
thai there is any difference contained in this creed
| for hat is IN be n of
| faith This difference is mere verbal disagreement
| In fact differ no more now, than did the print
tive dis iples; but i admit that these verbal diff
cnlties did not exist among the early Christians.
The reformation was adherence, but it was not
the intention OF the reormers to split up the Chris
t,an church. The Purtans differed with the church
Of England, and coming to this country, brought
their differences with them. Now, what is to be
done 10 heal these dissensionsl The only way, it
appears to me, to drop all differences Of tar
nature and get the clergy Of all denominations to
unite in grand principle of christian discipline.
II is evident the various modes of worship OF the
present dav, did not exist in the Apostolic age
What is then the occasion for this now? Our sOcie.
,y mpates the doing away with all these thing
"What!' exclaims brother, who does not believe
! precisely as another, give up my cherished opin-
ion for one that is wrong-that will never do" But
il will do, and by the efforts of society, hops
! soon to see II done.
Look at the Christian church g. See what troubles
and dissentions there are among them. And all be-
cause one believes he has the right TO control tho
conscience of another We have no right to dsci-
! pline brother-evtry one should be at liberty To
believe Just as he pleasss without reference to any
| particular creed.
! Christians should unite in some universal doc
trine Bible Societies, Tract aud Temperance Soci-
cites should have no dispute points of d. ctrine.
Missionaries when they 20 abroad should carry with
| them ms sectarian creed. What beauty, what har-
mony, would then pervade the entire Christian
| Church Clergymen would then no longer scowl at
each other, for fear innovation might overset
his doetrinil discipline, and deprive his family of
| their daily bread.
| After Mr.. Slocum had thus mystifed his hearers,
Mr.. Rennie rose to give his notions the matter.
lie possessed most delicious Eastern brogue, aud
| twanged his sentences forth without mercy. 60
have my beloved hearers, great reluctance TO ad,
dress you-frst, for my youth, and secondly, from
the very peculiar situation lind myself placed IN
jus, now, sonnt of matter wi pretty quick.
ly relate TO you. ! came from the green his Of
Vermont, and will tell you how happened to get
here among you. I'D heard OF the Union Soeie v,
and said to myself. I'll Jest travel TO York and
what kind OF folks these Unions's may be. SO here
I am, good two hundred and City miles from m
heme. I've got now to tell you how came to take
this Journey Six months belonged to the society
Of nv place called Union Baptists. j differed with
NV people on some doctrnal points, and hey parted
with me in anger: II came about thuswiss We
had glorous revival Of religion in parts-there
was a great excitement in all our churches. Many
hardened sinners showed signs Of piety. But the
enthusiasm was chiefly among the youax. Now,
when these young lovers Of Jesus came for admis
| sion into the church, they were ranged around the
altar Of the sect to which their parents belonged,
and compelled To recite certain creeds according 10
the rites of the church they were joining, whether
Baptist, Methodist, Calvinist, or any other demon
| iuation, was Of opnisn that young children could
| not understand these doctrinal diihc ultes, and
I freely expressed my opinion TO that sfftct-
NY people took offence at this, and cast off At
| parting told them would nsver abandon my be
Low ed flock. I'll hold on 10 your skirts said to them
I will not abandon you. l will not account OF this
| disagreement cast Of my faith and Join other
| de ne minatiea. No, viIl hold on awhile I will
not quit you. I will hold little longer.
! This my brothers and sisters is my diem
| ma. What think ye is best to be donef can
not yield TO my people. they renounce me. Its fit
| any way
| Mr. Renne here sat down but almost INN diatey
started again and said Z" hold a bit my friends,
forget TO mention that had written pamp hlet
one To read IL and do little more; I'm poorman;
| every dollar sounts."
Some purchasers went TO the desk and obtained
MIR. Rennie's lucubra ions. hymn was then sung
Scarcely was it ended when "h old a bit, don't be
| in hurrah was heard from Mr. Rennie. The
dience waited to learn what next They were not
kept long in the dark "I forgot said Mr. Repnie to
Of my work here, so that they who have purchased
the first, by buying these two, can have the work
complete
At this announcement there was general roar OF
laughter. Many seemed to admire the 'cuteness Of
Mr.. Rennis's plan Tor selling his pamphlet, and
joksd the buyers Others made OF as fast possible
and while the indefatigable seller was yet excaimipg
=" hold on bit" the audience dispersed
mr. siooum hss euriou. method OF sringng together
multitude Of nesaty, often - direct OPPOSITION The one TO
discover ~ ne
Foreign Evangelical Association.