The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-06
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
Thursday Morning, January 8, 1870.
The New Platform of Plymouth Church.
NR. BEEcHER BELIEVES IN ONE CHRISTIAN

MR. BEEcHER BELIEVES IN ONE CHRISTIAN
IrY, BUT MANY CHURCHES.
Much Importance is attached to what Mr..
Beecher said in his salutatory in the Church
Union, paper with which he is to be editcri-
ally connected and which has hitherto advo-
Gated Union Of all churches which in the
opinion of its managers agree as to the essen
tials of Christianity. 1t win be seen that Mr..
Beecher's platform is very bioad-almost as
broad as that of his brother of the Independ-
ent. we give Mr.. Beechers salutatory below:
While holding and usirg as tests of life and
as rules OF judgment the great truth OF the
essential divinity OF the Lord Jesus Christ, 10
gether with the truths which in the church
universal has been wont to flow from that
central fact, we shall not regard discussion
of these, or any great moral truths, as en-
dangering their stability of the faith of Chris
tian men. Religion is but the expression of
mans deepest and noblest nature. Although
the development of religion has a relation to
time and history, religion itself is life and
not philosophy, nor an organization. Its
place is in the human soul. Its elements ex-
listed before tenet was held or an act perform
ed. Not until human nature perishes will re-
ll3lOu CcdSt. uOt ucpcUu cAlSltUCe
upon historic testimony. Although ilustra-
ted by miracles, it may exist without miracles;
although enforced by arguments, it may exist
without arguments,as the inevitable outwork-
ing OF divine and constitutional element in
man. We have no fear, then, of the extinc-
ton of religion. To-day reason EMPLOYS his
tory. tomorrow, reason will WELD philosophy,
and the next day reason will employ physical
science to unsettle mems faith. But this can
reach nothing fundamental. Scepticism may
assail the errors which have blended with re-
ligous lite; may change its theories, and its
organic forms but nothing bat annihilation
will destroy in man that supreme religious ma
ture, which will compel his reason to find out
new be.ieis, and his faith to renew its wor-
ship.
We propose to take ground on the univer-
sal reality-the indestructible religious ma
ture-which is as much part of creation as
the globe itself and its physical properties,
and far more important. Believing that
Christianity is the best exposition of that ma
ture, its relations, duties and aspirations, we
embrace it. Believing that those who give
to Christianity its most spiritual and inward
Interpretation, are at the same time the most
in accord with nature, we side by sympathy
with those, in all sects, who are most fervent,
self-denying, disinterested and spiritual Be-
lieving that, at heart, there is in common
divine life in all sectS, we seek to be in SYM
pathy with them in the things that are near
est to divine love and purity; and we shall
assert in all other things-organizations poll
cies, philosophical liberty OF all churches
to have their own way according to the best
light of an instructed conscience, and also
we shall defend in all the utmost liberty of
dissent; thus speaking for 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 indwellng of the Holy
Spirit. Believing that moral unity is the on
ly union which is either possible or desirable,
we shall not waste time in chasing that phan-
tom, universal corporate unity of Christians.
We distinguish between oneness of church,
and oneness of Christian sympathy. Not on
ly shall we not labor for an external and &c
clesiastical unity, but we should regard it as
step backward. The law of progress is not
toward unity and simplicity, but from unity
toward diversity. Every department of hu-
man affairs, as it received the stimulus of in
telligehce, grows by division. Each specially
organizes for ITSELF As civilization increases,
a hundred trades develop from one. Art sub
divides and organizes forms special to each
new branch. In science, in mechanic arts,
in husbandry, i commerce, in social and CIV
il affairs, the one universal and inevitable
sign of growth is the exchange OF simplicity
and unity for multiplicity and diversity.
There is no reason why such diversities
should not have their special outward organ
ization in morals and religion as well as in
secular affairs; there are many reasons why,
at least in the present state of the world,
thore slould be separate sect3 in religion.
There will never be moral unity among
Christians until the phantasy of corporate
unity is expelled from the imagination. Not
only is the labor for denominational unity
misdireeted and wasted upon ALI impossible
ty, but it is largely the very cause of those
evils which have sprung from sectarianism.
Each sect assumes itself to be "The
Church" is tolerant while it is weak; is con-
scientiously conceited when strong; but it is
arrogant and pugnaciOus in all circumstances.
In the Romish Church there is but one Pope,
but among Protestant churches each sect is a
pretentious pope. This will cease as soon as
the dogma of the external and corporate uni
ty 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 governments of their own,
as against the divine right of kings, was long
step toward peace among nations. The ac-
acknowledgement of the right of men to form
their own church governments, as against the
dogma of prescribed Scriptural government,
will be like step toward moral unity among
churches. In civil affairs, and in religious,
government of some kind is Indispensable
But what form government shall assume 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
ara Of COncidaro1 tho Iiubf he,
fore, 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 barbarism. As soon as we cease to
dream of an organic universal church, and
recognize the right of men to frame church
governments as they do political, we shall
turn our thoughts to that other and more pre-
cious 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 en-
joying in preference its own. Denominations
will have their own individuality, and only a
moral federation, as the States of this Union
have their local independence and their civil
federal unity. To pass from one sect to an
other will no longer necessarily imply change
of principles, or deserton of ones faith, or
loss Of standing, but only change of circum-
stances; for though some may be supposed to
be better, as institutions of moral education,
than others, yet all of them will be good
enough for the purposes of Christian lite.
That among all truly Christ-lke persons there
is a genuine sympathy; 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 they agree are more and far more i'm
they differ: and that already there is begin
ming to be discerned sublime moral and vi
tai unity among brethren of different names
we recognize with devout joy, and to the de-
velopment and cOnsummation of this work of
God we shall devote ourselves.
PRACTICAL TEMPERANCE.-The directors