The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-06-28
ELEVENTH STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Fundamental Principles Of Christian
Unity-The Work for the Protestant Coali.
zion and the Ecumenical Council.
TIE Eleventh street Presbyterian church, between
Second and Third avenues, assembled within its
walls devoted congregation to listen to o sermon
from the Rev. Charles D. Syth on the subjects
toned above. After the usual services the rev.
ercnd gentleman opened by reading for his text
rrom the eleventh 10 the thirteenth verses OF the
fourth chapter of st. Paul's Epistle to the Ephe.
sians:-sAnd he gave some apostles and some pro.
phets, and some evangelists, ana some pastors and
teachers for The perfecting Of the saints, for the
work Of the ministry, for the edfying of the body
Of Christ till we all come in the unity OF the faith
and Of the knowledge Of the Son Of Cod unto o
perfect man. unto the OF the stature OF the
fitness OF Christ" Unchartabeness said the speaker,
was the rcignng sin OF Christendom, and In the
church, so-called under whose flooring and beneath
our feet ought to be buried out Of sight and ought
TO lie all evil passions But we ind IL overRr0wn at
the very affairs burning incense TO arrogance, usur
patton and cruelty. This was true, more less, In
Sone IN this Respect She had BEEN ioowed and
copied by her daughters and this day 1t makes her
GRANDDAUGHTER blush and an! cry out, sname sname
tinue remains to be seen, and We must await
whether It is to be crippled by the power OF Protes
doctrine ofthc human brotherhood was In nat con-
tradict0n 10 the excIusiveness OF the Church, and
." Is also the law OF me o, the Learned
sstical eruptIons were more frequent and
lasting. They agitate humanity everywhere
and perplex all ana spread sin even to the nng Of
hell itself with murdered souls. Is there no remedy
No chance Of hope for the bettera Thank u0d that
there 49, and IN the very text that had been read
1t contained q historical fact the appointment OF
the ministry, and o prophecy the unifying OF HIS
people In Christ An Ecumenical Council means q
general, universal council. To be such Gil professors
OF the faith OF Christ should take part 1t and pass
by vote on the questions to be decided. But this
not within the range OF possibility. There Is no
building large enough TO hold them ALL ana the occu
patons Of men prevent their having time to attend
It. Yet the common sense Of ChrIstendom can be
ascertatned by means more certain. When councils
have met together d the call OF the Pope, though
Dojnlnally ccumenical they were not SO. A large
number were excluded; the laymen had no vote;
their decisions were not the expression OF the
Church at large but only OF portion Of the clergy
P0pefy took from the people not only the wine In
the saCrament, but also the ballot Nor In the
syn0ds and general assemblies OF the Protestant sects
10 there heard the common sense OF the Church.
The Method cts are now a(yitating the question OF
Lay represen alton. The Bavtsts and Congregations
asts are vo untary societies and not representative
bod The Presby erians have the most democratic
form, but even their assemblies are not convocaops
Of the people In mass TO ascertain the voice OF the
s,c0ple must look to the news OF the Jsy to the
correspondence and editorials OF the leading press,
10 The proceedings OF legislative and parliamentary
bodies 10 the DRIFT OF mems actions ana converse
eIons, TO what tney believe and what they show III
{Tous Which 10 learn the common sense OF mankind.