Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-04-14
Elder Miles Grant and Christian
Union.

the cnurcneS, ana upon lhe Pootohe Va 1ho
churches because they have not and do
not cooperate with Elder Grant in the
meetings he has held and is holding in
this place. He, and those who labor with
him, claim that his efforts are unsectarian
and are of such character, that all can
and should labor with him in advancing
that cause,lso dear to every truly chris
tian heart, and the advancement of which
is so greatly needed in our community.
If this be strictly true, then, indeed,
such censure is deserved. Especially is
it deserved by such, as, like myself, have
earnestly wished, and do yet as earnestly
desire, the union of all Evangelical socie-
ties in behalf of common cause, and
against common foe.
But for one am compelled, however
reluctantly, to keep myself as pastor of
church, from joining actively in the
meetings with Mr.. Grant. am and have
been compelled to do it in self defense.
When this gentleman first came to town,
and even before he came, was assured
by others and by himself after he came OF
his determination to be unsectarian, and
to avoid issues that would engender con-
troversy between different societies, or
lead to division among themselves. 1t is
true that many, judging, as they said,
from knowledge of his peculiar tactics
in former years in this and other places,
distrusted all such pretensions and pre-
dicted very much such results as have.
unhappily, been realized. For one, how
ever, felt, and acted for time on the
feeling of giving Elder G., full and fair
opportunity to redeem himself from these
imputations and suspicious. I hoped that
he would; for time it seemed as if he
would.
But it has not been altogether 80. For,
while he has thus refrained from openly
advocating those peculiar views which
are most obnoxious to us as religious
people, yet he has not kept himself free
from interfering, at least, IN fact, with
our rights as pastors and churches. He
may not have intended this; 1 trust he
did not but, if not, he has evinced a sad
lack of judgment. 1t certainly is and has
been most trying to us, as pastors, to see
members of our churches so warped in
their judgments, and so absorbed in their
new affection toward him, as to prefer
him and his counsels to ours and through
IL ha 1aI 70 1ato -
nant obligations. 1t has been sore evil
to us.and to the great majority of our
members, to see, as the result of his teach
ing and position; members of other
churches running hither and you, seeking
to lead unwary minds to conform to Elder
Grants wishes and ideas. 1t has been
more especially SO, to know, that he, per-
sonally, has solicited members of at least
one church, to do what he must have
known, would prove both affective to US
and in direct violation of our views of a
sacred ordinance.
I grieve, Mr.. Editor, to write this. I
had hoped better things from the labors
of one, whose christian character / dare
not impeaoh, and from being familiar
with whose writings, and with the spirit
manifested therein, together with his pro-
testations against all sectarian issues, had
led me to hope, that his coming and his
labors would be attended with great good
and no considerable draw backs. l now
believe that he has done good. There is
clear evidence of this. Many of us have
heard his sermons and have rejoiced in
their utterance. Absence from the place
and pressing duties at home have pre-
vented me from hearing him but thrice.
I was much pleased with two of these
sermons, the preaching of the other | then
deplored 1 deplore it still I said 80, sub
stantially, at the time; say SO still; it
was all advised its results have been I'M
happy.
If Elder Grant wished to baptize those
converted by his immediate labors, no one
would seriously object; tho laboring, as
he claimed to, wholly in an unsectarian
way, and for, ostensibly and professedly,
the promotion of christian union, it would
have been, even with respect to such per-
sons better to have left their baptism to
the pastors of the churches they should
elect to join. Such is the course of Mr..
Earle and all other eminent evange-
lists. No other cause can avoid antagon-
ism with different churches; no other
way is consistent with strict unsectarian
cause, or can be promotive of christian
union.
Wishing Elder Grant all manner of
success in well doing in his Masters
cause, cannot, in conclusion, Mr.. Editor,
but express the hope, that he will in
future, both here and elsewhere, wher-
ever he labors for the advancement of
common and vital christianity, take such
course as will really and most widely
promote it.
A. T. BAILEY.