Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-08-24
Novel Proceeding.

Novel Proceedings.
M. v.
A MEETING Of the preachers in the town Of
Unity, May 27,h,to discuss the subject Of Chris
tian union. Present. n Baptist, Methodist,
Presbyterian. Lutheran. Episcopalian aud
Christian. Prayer by brother NJ. Brother E, in
the chair and brother Secretary.
P. have felt strong determination to bring !
my church to an acknow ledgment Of the injus-
tice Of their course in derrving me of my sup
port yet feel that IL ought to be done. but
how to do it is the matter.
M. Yes, sir, how TO do II is the matter! have
though, the sanl but find that my church is
! n good SOLD earnest. md. too, that they
can do as well without my preaching as can
do without their support.
| L am not prepared to admit that am
| driven into measures by the withdrawal Of my
stipends.
E. am not willing to make any such ad.
mission neither: but am willing 10 admit.
tha; having the subject Of union forced upon my
attention and given it a thorough examination
have seen the evils Of division more clearly
than ever before,
B. Brother L. has expressed my mind pretty
fully. Having my salary Withdrawn, my pas
tora lat ors being suspended ,affording me album
dant opportunity to examine the whoe pre-
misses, have been led to see things that
never thought Of; fel. this at the close Of our
last meeting. and consequently expressed my
self favorable to a union. E
C. Brethren, l have attended the prayer.
meetings of the private members of"ur church,
es, and am sorry You cou'd not have all been
present to have seen the love, piety, and zeal
manifested at these meetings. a'n sorry that
you were not present to hear .hem pray for us
, in these deliberations. that We might agree
, upon the scrpiural basis for union, unite upoI
, il and enter into the great work Of converting
the world to the one Lord, one faith and on
. baptism" formerly delivered 10 the saints
/. They are already united and determined neve
y to be separated again, in this world CT tn
. world to come.
n P. Isuppose they are making great show
). in repudiating all ministerial authority!
g b. was present at their meeting a few ever
II ings since, and, from remarks in several spirit
:. ed exhortations, gathered that they do nj
ii repudiate all ministerial authority. They sa.
ID that they repudiate our authority. because
ID conflicts with the authority Of Christ and u
,n Authority of his apostles. They insist tn
e Christ Ind the apostles required them to he o'
ii. Ito be perfectly joihed together, in the sar
or mind and in the ssrne judgment:and that the
n. be no division among them, and that We init
y. pose our authority. and prohibit them from
Of ing one. and consequently that they were col
PEELED 20 yepudiate our u;horty, or the o
thority of Christ and his apostles. They pl
r. fer repudiating our authority and bowiLg to /
authority Of Christ.
~ P. And did you listen TO such an imr slati
.rs and make no feplyr
-, B. did for know Of no reply that cos
=, be made. could not deny that Christ a
n the apostles required them to be one, and Il
they were willing to yield to the recurrence
40 On The other hand l could not tell them u
nm we were willing that they should be one.
=, when saw them all ubited in worship, cor
"A not but wish that we were indeed and in tru
r.. one. Besides, the word Of God thundercd it
|
90 die wall of partition between the Jews a
~, Gentiies, and Of the twn made one new mi
,er SO making peace-that there is one body
,,, one church, one Lord. one faith, and one b
,ns tism. thought of the holy prayer OF Jes
-, for the oneness of believers, an the comma
va. Of the apostles. to be of the sau,e mind, aud
Peter once said, What was ], that sho
Withstand Gody'
90, p. They have converted you then! ant
suppose you will Join Mr.. c. and uph
,ho them, in their reputation Of ministerial
in, ihorty!
-. b. have not said what shall do. do
,,o know that can, at present say what l 81
noe do. desire to do right. What would J
bo SIR. have replied. had you been IN my pl
,., when our brethren showed that the autho
-, Of Christ required them to unite. and that
Tho authority required them to remain divided
,shv P. What would have done? Why, 81
,oJ should--I-I should have shown
TO-, Christ did not mean that.
,... b. That he did not mean wlatf
p. That We should DC one in that sense.
, B. But he prayed that We should be on
80, he and his father are one. The union il
4 :, same us that existing between him and
,u;. Father How could you get over itT
,s;y. p The passage does not mean that.
b. What does il Dea1f
p. II means-the Grcrk-I am not
caught in the "gu'ltra2s Of Campbci'is'
the fact is
~. NJ. Brethren, | do not know why tits.
49,. this subject is a very exciting one.
much of the time almost afraid to speak,
col. 1 should say something wrong On the
hand, agree with brother p that it is
a.. erable that our ministerial authority shou
.: so tvampled under foot. But on the other
VIXEN l have attended the meetings o.
brethren, witnessed the love that PR
among them, the ardor. the zeal, the
~ and the large numbers that attend, ] ca
but feel the conviction almost like q reye'
INV from God, t..at the work is Of God and ih
cannot Withstand 1t. Aud ! confess
ny - brother b. that when have heard these
passages of scripture quoted, setting forl
"0u authority Of Christ for Christian IN
''' "'' could scarcely retain my seat thought u
ica"s' reply, but what to say was the difficulty.
shefy now, since this matter has been put
"ouio brother p. whom respect. las man Of d.
eh 40 learning and ability, and he has shown
sell incompetent to answer, begin to s.
n ter that no man can answer. ] at first sus