The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-01-14

w. A. eeAC OAAoo--1Al ClsAOAs
While holding and using as tests of
life and as rules of judgment the great
truth of the essential divinity of the
Lord Jesus Christ, together with the
truths which in the church universal
have wont to flow from that central fact,
we shall not regard discussion ofthese,
or of any great moral truths, as endan-
gering their stability or the faith of
Christian men. Religion is but the ex-
preston of mans deepest and noblest
nature. Although the development of
religion has relation to time and histo-
ry, religion itself is life and not phi
losophy, nor an organization. Its place
is in the human soul. Its elements ex-
listed before tenet was held or an act
performed. Not until human nature
perishes will religion cease. 1t does not
depend for existence upon historic testi-
mony. Although illustrated by mira
cles, it may exist without miricles; al
though enforced by arguments, it may
exist without arguments, as the inevita-
BILE outworking ofa divine and constitu-
tional element In man. We have no fear,
then, of the extinction of religion. To-
day reason employs history, tomorrow
reason will WELD philosophy, and the
next day reason will employ physical
science to nnsettle meme faith. But
this can reach nothing fundamental.
Scepticism may assail the errors which
have blended with religious life; may
change its theories, and its organic
forms; but nothing but humiliation
will destroy in man that supreme relig-
ious nature which will compel his rea-
son to find out new beliefs, and his faith
to renew its worship. We propose to
take ground on the universal reality
the indestructible religious nature
which is as much part of creation as
the globe itself and its PHYSICAL proper
ties, and far more important. Beiiev-
ing that Christianity is the best exposi-
ton of that nature, its relations, duties
and aspirations, we embrace it. Be-
lieving that those who give Christianity
its most spiritual and inward interpre-
tation, and at the-same time the most in
accord with nature, we side by sympa-
thy with those, in all sects, who are most
fervent, self-denying, disinterested and
spiritual. Believing that, at heart, there
is in common q divine life in all sects,
we seek to be in sympathy with them
in the things that are nearest to divine
love and purity and we shall assert in
all other things-organiZation policies,
phiiosophies-the liberty of all church.
es to have their own way according to
the best light of an instructed conscience,
and also we shall defend in all the ut
most liberty of dissent; thus speaking
for a unity of the spirit, while we shall
regard without alarm a diversity of
manifestations" This paper will not
identify itself with that which is special
to the organization of any of the great
Christian denominations, but rather
with that interior religious life which,
in all sects, Witnesses to the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit. Believing that NOR
al unity is the only union which is eth
err possible or desirable, shall not waste
time in chasing that phantom, a uni
versal corporate unity of Christians.
We distinguish between oneness of
church, and oneness of Christian SYM
patty. Not only shall we not labor for
an external and ecclesiastical unity, but
from unity toward diversity. Every
department of human affairs, as it re-
ceives the stimulus of intelligence,
ganizes for itself AS civilization in
creases, a hundred trades develop from
one. Art subdivides and organizes
forms special to each new branch. In
science, in mechanical arts, in husband
ry, in commerce, in social and civil af-
fairs, the one universal and inevitable
sign of growth is the exchange of SIM
plicity and unity for multiplicity and
diversity. There is no reason why such
diversities should not have their special
outward organization in morals and re-
igion, as well as in secular affairs there
are many reasons why, at least in the
present state of the world, there should
be separate sects in religion. There
never will be moral unity among christ
ians until the phantasy of corporate
unity is expelled from the imagination.
Not only is the labor for denomination
al unity misdirected and wasted upon
an impossibility, but it is largely the
very cause of those evils which have
sprung from sectarianism. Each sect as
sumes itself to be "The Church :" is toll
Grant while it is weak is conscientious
ly coneeited when strong; but it is ar
stances. In the Roman Church there is
but one Pope, but among Protestant
churches each sect is pretentious pope.
This will cease as soon as the dogma of
the external and corporate unity OF the
Church is exploded, and moral truths
are permitted to divide and organize
freely according to the universal law of
normal growth. The assertion of the
right of the people to establish govern
ments of their own, as against the di-
vine right of kings, was long step to-
ward peace among nations. The ac-
acknowledgement of the right of men to
form own church governments, as
against the dogma of a prescribed Scrip
tural government, will be a like step
toward moral unity among churches.
In civil affairs, and in religious, govern
ment of some kind is indispensable.
But what form government shall as
sume is left in both to the wisdom and
experience of men in all the varying
conditions of human life. Government
Is of God but governments are ofmen.
Considered in the light, therefore, of
this analogy also, external unity in the
Christian Church will be as impossible
as it would be undesirable. 1t has no
blessing in it, but an evil as vast as
would be the deportation of society
from civilization back to bsrbarism. AS
soon as we cease to dream of an organ
ic universal church, and recognize the
right of men to frame church govern
ments as they do political, we shall turn
our thoughts to that other and more
precious unity of the spirit. We shall
suffer men to organize without reproof.
We shall become charitable and tolerant.
Each sect will respect the liberties of
others, while enjoying in preference its
own. Denominations will have their
own Individuality, and only a moral
AS0OideAOAs % tlAO OthlcS Oi Ills u
have their local independence and their
civil federal unity. TO pass from one
sect to another will no longer necessari-
~ imply change of principles, or deser-
ton of ones faith or loss of standing,
but only change of circumstances for
though some may be supposed to be
better, as institutions of moral educa-
ton, than others, yet all of them will be
good enough for the purposes of Christ
ian life. That among all truly Christ
ike persons there is a genuine sympa-
thy that the materials of moral unity
exist in all great Christian sects; and
that the Divine Spirit is more and more
making men conscious that the things
in which theG agree are more, and far
more important than the things respect
ing which they differ and that already
there is beginning to be discerned q
sublime moral and vital unity among
brethren of different names-we recog-
nize with devout JOY, and to the deyel-
opment and contamination of this work
of God we shall devote ourselves.
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
THE SOUTHERN BRANCH PACIFIC.