, 1869-10-27
FEpIRAL CHRISTIAN UNION,

The Evangelical Council, IN session IN
the city uf New YORK, seems to favor, if
not in itself already to hive achieved, d
new 1no%le II union among tho Churches,
which shall enable all to Cooperate in the
common and practical aims Of Christianity,
uL,le enc!, preserves intact its distinctive
fu1m Of government md discipline. This,
if fully accomplished. would be an applica-
t;on to- MI the evangelical sects Of thosa
principles Of federal union which our
constitution applies 10 the States Avery
iu{4,r:ant question arises, Why cannot
the ur,on be made rs effective and bar
s1,cniuus il the one case as in the other !?
Tho Meiho6ists, Bsptists, PresbJteraans,
Cong.egahonalis.s, Reformed Dutch, Lu-
thcrsns. Quakcrs, md Independents, and,
perhaps, tho Epsseopaliaus, Cniyersa1ista,
and Unitariaus, have no more important
interests 10 sever them, and inst as many
to unite them. MS the several States Of the
A,ntricnn onion or Of the rrussian Zollver-
Gin. Why may not their distinctive indie
Tcnlenee in matters Of faith and discipline
ls preserved consistently with such n fed
; erni nnion Of them all as shall bring ont the
strength and e1nlt the dignity Of the Prot
essant world, as The great councils have
those Of tho Church Of Rome Suppose a
Se,:ate, in which the sects nre represented
allie hv two. FIVE, or twenty clerica1 dele
gates. each elected by tho clergy OF each
| sect. And lIo1.se of Representatives,, in
! ajith the rnc.nhcrs Of NIL the Protestant
CLr;s:i.n Churches nre represented equally,
accur'slrg to their ru1nt'crs- i'y
either clerical or lay delegates.
! This would be the pNbllc
recognition by the Protestant world Of the
ilinity between government in religion
..rf feE-eoverrn,cnt in the Stale: it would
l,ri,g out in full relief the REPUBLIC anisn
II 1'fot, stanti>,nt showing il to b+ consist
eel with TIE 1srgcst union, catho'ic'ty, and
cooperation in attaining the common ends
bela in view l,y all Christians, and, Mt tht
ss1ue time, with the utmost freedom o
Conscience On the par. Of individual Clsis
tiaus.
Tie !ist ct topics for discussion presontet
10 the council in New York shows hos
great The power, and wide the range Of I
et.nfcdesatcd Christian Union, or united bu
not unified, Protestant Church might be. 1
includes tic crlnvstion Of unity Of faith b.
! removing tie practical evils Of sehisms
1he concentration Of The influence of p1ot
cstau.s over education, and the direction
) el Statc appropriations therefor: the harmo
, i.y of foreign and home missions, so IS I
i lessen tho expense Of competition i
y Limited ii.lls of labor; the e1erlion Of
e proper educating influence ovaE i'm
Is migrants, especially those from China
|, 1rdi-ns, freedmen, criminals, IN
l. the tl.stis,le classes; the employuct
n cf the }aity in teaching; The necessity {
"a bringing the Gospel to the n,a~ses; :he c,
= estiun at d proper moral iuluence over let
: ih,atlyo con. .ption ind business ewindtine
/. the consideration Of the question how II
!. the Church may wisely call on the STATE
r enforce its view. Of the Sabbath intemnc
% nnce; md the revival Of practical piety.
l. All these questions have much strong
hold On tho snnsscs Of the ProseSta'
r Churches than do tho minor and often n
it Gent End 1nildsxed questions which dive
Al them, No denomination of Christians, O.
h cert tie Roman Catholic and, possibly, Il