The Portland daily press., 1867-02-12
Lessons Drawn from the Recent Christian
Convention. ..

COmvemt1Ons
I'VE print below the opening portion of a
sermon written last week by the Rev. Mr.
GAGE for the State street pulpit, but not
preached in consequence of Illness All who
are interested in the Christian Convention
held last week will read it with pleasure. ED. I
AoTs, xI. 26-And the disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch.
The same tendency to follow men and bear
the names of men W hich we find in the dsci-
pies of Christ in our time, was experienced at
the first. just as men say am Of John Cal
vim, or am of Francis Wayland, or am of
John Wesley, so at the first men said 1 am OF
Paul, or | OF Peter, or / of James. Sectari-
anism is as old as the Gospel. 1t formed in
stantly around the apostles, according as each
man saw his own nature, temper, accomplish
ments, character reflected in some one Of
those whom the Lord had chosen as his ar
NOR bearers. Nor were they united, those
sectarian leaders, in the bonds OF love; teuds
were as bitter, party names as odious, religious
distinctions as burning, as any that we have
ever known. The most euvenomed hate pos
sessed the leaders OF the sects which at the
very outset distracted the church. Yet in
time they did come together, the followers of
of Antioch; and there, forgetting all party
ties, all narrOwness, all bigotries, they were
first called by the highest name of all-Christ-
tians; they rose above the distinctions of
disciple rank and stood under the sheltering
protection of the Master; "and the disciples
were called Christians first at Antioch"
That was momentous day in :he ancient
world; but we have seen another memorable
event in the week just closed When the his
tory of Maine shall one day be written there
will stand this illustrious sentence: and the
disciples OF Maine were first called Christians
at Portland. For the first time in the history
OF this State, have ministers and laymen of all
denominations laid aside their theologies and
differences, and foregone all denominational
distinctions, and met, calling no man Master
but Christ 1t is an event whose significance
the Portland people have by no means telt
The great crises Of the world have no specta-
tors; they are as unobServed as the sunrise:
history alone sees and records their grandeur.
Many have glanced over the accounts OF this
series OF meetings and regarded them with
net half the attention which an agrcultu-
raj fair would call out; many professed
Christians have hardly taken pains to
inquire what the Convention has meant
And yet it has been the tolling
OF the bell which ushers in new era for
Maine; it is the accomplishment of what men
twenty-five years ago longed for, but looked
forward to as dream only to be accomplished
in the sunny millennium. Within the past
week, men hitherto sundered by barriers
which seemed inexorable, have found them
selves side by side, heart to heart, hand in
hand, speaking OF the great things in which
they agree, but not lspmg of the little things
in which they differ. Baptists have forgotten
all about close communion; or rather they
have remembered it only to be in close COM
maniOn with all other servants of Christ.
Methodists have forgotten their closely welded
and wonderful organization. and have con-
fessed that no organization is so perfect as the
whole, indissoluble Church of Christ. Con-
gregationallsts have laid aside their cold for
maIity, their chilling, death-stricken "proprie-
ty," and have spoken like warm, living, pro-
eressige men. 1t has entered no oae's thought
to ask any mans denominational name; all
that was needed to ensure a welcome at that
Convention was "do you love Christ, and do
glory in bearing his name?' Never have I
enjoyed more than during those TWO days.
Not that the meetings were all that they win
be when we have gone further in this direc-
ton; but is has been a noble beginning In a
needti1 direction. Maine is great deal neal
er the millennium than it was a week ago.
The churches have hitherto been chersblng
that false and destructive opinion, that the
weakness Of one is the strength of another;
they have begun to see that the strength of
one is the strength of all; that no living
church can be erected on the ruins OF another;
that the most generous sympathy, the most
cordial fraternity, the most mutual helpful
ness, are the surest agents to effect the growth
OF all. Hitherto church has set its face
against church; hard names have been called,
harder feelings indulged and the bitterness
which has ranked between the various dIvis-
sions of the Church, have in some cases been
more deeply seated than those between the
Church and the world, between the prolessed
friends OF Christ aud the unprofessed enc
mics.
At the close of the convention held last
week, it was resolved to be eXpedient that the
delegates from churches outside of Portland
should report to union gatherings the spirit
OF the meeting and a brief summary OF the
lessons to be gathered up and carried away.
1t seems to be fitting that this should be doEe
in Portland as well; not to union meetings,
perhaps, but In the respective sanctuaries, Tor
probably not one person in ten was a regular
attendant at those sessions; single church
could not contain the 500 delegates who were
present and many hundreds of the people OF
the city beside. And they who were happy
enough to be there, will am sure welcome a
brief review OF the meetings, and a drawing
1orth OF some OF the lessons which were most
available and practical.
And the first and most obvions one is that
there is such thing possible as entire reliS-
louS unity on basis of mutual work, respect
and love. Granted the great fundamental IS
sues, the fact OF the deep, damninS SIN IN the
human heart the need of Divine saviour
and the work of the Holy Spirit, it was lound
easy to come together and lay ASIDE All other
grounds of distinction. 1t was found that the
Social differences which once divided
the sects had been so far outgrowp.
that no mans accent, dress or address showed
whether he was Congregationist, Baptist or
Methodist. This was as we all know. once
not the case. At this Convention there was no
notice taken whom one was hearing, and we sat
down together as we shall sit down i'm heaven
do not believe that intrigue and cunning
were at work there, that men were secretly
plotting for the interests of their denomina-
tion they rose there to higher plane. to a
larger growth, theywere brethren. They spoke
tne language OF heaven. They foresha6owed
tne coming OF that great invisible National
church, not to be supported by resources OF the
Republic, not to be officered by the Govern
ment OF the country, not to be state machine
like the national churches OF the Old Worii,
but church which shall be national churcm q,
nevertheless, a church which is to absorb al
that is good and true and permanent IN tnese
our organizations, blending In one cnuicn
that of the Future all existing elements Oh eooo.
Do not allow yourselves to imasine' brethren,