Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-08-12
NUMBER 9.

.W. Spectator One of my friends a man of
excellent sense and charitable feelings, is in the
habit OF entertaining together several ministers of
different persuaslons, and to take great pleas
ure IN this method Of promoting harmony among
their respective flocks He tells me that at first he
found them rather averSe TO such frequent inter
course; but BY degrees he succeeded in RENDERING
them more disposed to meet with one another, and
exchange friendly greetings under roof where all
were equally welcome, and that he now begins to
perceive considerable abatement of those preudices
which narrow education and early habits had piy-
en- rise to. was coed deal interested in this ac
count, and expressed hope that his noble DESIGN
would result In great good to the which has
so long suffered from the animosites Of its advo
Gates Before parted he cordially invited me to
be present at one Of these conferences that might
have an opportunity TO observe the happy spirit that
was beginning to prevail.
1t was not long before this pleasure was afforded
me, and found myself pleasantly seated in my
friends house, where, with his usual aability he
was dispensing lis inequalities 10 number of the
neIghborlng clergy. The stiffness commonly OBJ
served In the manners of ministers of different sects
towards one another had already given place to
more agreeable familiarity, and experienced no or
binary degree OF satisfaction whilst remained in this
company. and refreshed myself with the. delightful
| How OF charitable feeling to which all seemed de-
sirOus to contribute. 1t even amused me to see
with what facility they had already learned to round
Oil their expressions and soften the terms i'm which
| Their differences were intimated though at the
same time there appeared TO be no disposition to
conceal them On the contrary, a manly firmriess
was exhibited by all present in avowing and main,
tanning their opinions but was particularly pleas
ed to notice that the dOgmatism prevalent in the
schools entirely wanting and that points Of diff
ference touched in the course of their CONVEX
satIon in casual manner, rather than bv design
the points of agreement forming the principal sub
Jects OF their remarks.
II did me good TO hear Mr. Jordan. the Baptist
minister in our neghborhood express his conviction
| that the communion table in heaven would be sur
rounded by thousands who on earth were refused ad-
mltiance; and Mr. Wardrobe the rector of ST John
parish, took occasion TO say, in merry way pecu
liar TO him. that the Apostolical succession stood
much more in need of confirmation than those of his
brethren who consclentiOUsly dissent from that sol
enn rite. thought Mr.. Knox, the pastor Of Mt
Hermon Presbyterian Church seemed especially
tckled and gratified. He thought there was bn
one thing needFul and that included all things in it
self; and that faith without works is dead - bu
living faith is always accompanied by works which
are the evidence Of life. When our Methods
friend Mr.. Camp heard this, Inc rose with emotion
and seemed ready to shout aloud but was interrupt
ed by the appearance of the tea-tray, over which
he asked a blessing with grea! fervour
The Christian host has been aptlv compared TO :
large army engaged in common cause. but serving
different leaders. Now the efficiency Of an army
depends very much upon the good understanding
and brotherly feeling which ought to prevail among
the commanding and subordinate officers. Their,
would be little hope in campaign in which petty
Jeaiouses and preudices should interfere with tht
intercourse Of those upon whose harmonious move
ments depend the success of every maneuvre anc
the issue Of every battle. And by reverting to his
& L
indebted for their conouests and triumphs rather
the united enthusiasm Of their troops, than to thei
superiority Of numbers; aud this union arose from
the fact that all private grGdgcs We're completed,
oblitersted by feeling Of devotion 10 the common
cause. How foolish Il would lie, if in such an ann,