The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-04

Armenian Church, TO the Church In Georgia,
to the Maronites of Mount Lebanon, to the
HISTORIANS, to the Churches of Roumania and
Servia, to the whole Eastern Church, in fact,
whatever be its name; to the Calvinists OF
France and Switzerland, to the Lm.hs..-s
Churches Of North Germany and Scandinavia,
to the Reformed Churches in Holland, to the
chiefs of the Anglican Establishment and to
the Dissenting bodies in England, to the Gene
raj Assemblies and Synods Of Scotland, to the
Synod of Ulster and the moribund Establish
ment In Ireland, and to the thousand and one
sections of the Church in the United States and
over the Continent of America, not to particu-
larize the Churches of Australia or the Chris
tian bodies which are to be found in almost
every island Of the sea. To all sections of the
so-called Christian Church, If we correctly in
terpret the telegram, apostolic circulars were
or are to be sent. This is true Catholicity,
and there is no one who is not incurably
schismatic in taste and tendency but will wish
the experiment the most complete success.
It is not to be denied that the body of Christ,
to use an ecclesiastical expression, is sadly
divided. What with the Catholic Church and
the Eastern Church and the Protestant Church
and the countless divisions and subdivisions of
the two latter there ought to be no lack of
Christian freedom, if freedom, as some believe,
is best secured by division. We are not pre-
pared to say that no good has come from those
divisions and subdivisions Of the Church of
Christ 1t is perhaps quite true that mankind
are better and nobler and wiser because of
the revolutions of which names and sects and
parties are the living present memorials.
Many, we know, think it is so, and they have
perfect right to hold to their opinions.
There are many, however, who think that we
have had quite enough of division
that if 4 something good has come out
of schism, schism has been too long
dominant characteristic of Christianity, and
that while the spirit Of the religion of Jesus
demands unity as emphatically as ever the
actual wants of the Church have now rendered
unity necessity. If liberty has come from
revolution and division there are few who will
refuse to admit that strength would be certain
to result from union; nor can any one deny
that at the present moment strength is more
necessity than freedom Not only is there a
want of unity among the so-called Churches Of
Christ; there is positive antagonism. The
forces of Christianity are not only not mutually
helpful; they are mutually destructive. 1t is
a kingdom divided, and divided against itself.
Thus looking at the situation-considering
besides, the peculiar condition of the world at
the present moment; considering the work
which must be done and the problems which
must be solved If Christianity is to retain its
hold on the intellects and hearts of men and
keep pace with the rapid movements of the
age, and believing that General Council,
fairly representative Of the Christianity of the
world, If 1t could only be got together, would
be powerful for good and in itself one of
the greatest triumphs the Gospel ever won
we cannot refuse to credit tho Holy Father
with pious intention, with a noble purpose
and with great bravery of character, and to
express the wish that Christendom, forgetful
of party distinctions, will heartily respond to
his generous call. Such council would be
ample compensation for all the sorrows of his
long and checkered reign. Some persons,
however, are wicked enough to doubt the
genuineness of the invitation, while others,
equally perverse, persist in maintaining that
an Ecumenical Council is an impossbility.
We shall see.