The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-05-06
For tho Herald.
AN INDEPENDENT CHURCH.

Mr.. EDITOR THE smoke has cleared
away, and we find ourselfcalm, compos-
ed, and unhurt by the fearful discharge
OF artillery brought to bear upen us by
independence" We are happy to lie
able to inform the honored parsonage
that his canon was loaded with (instead
of grape and canister as he supposedly
only blank cartridge. A loud report,
a great smoke, but no damage done.
'Independence," has not proven HIM
self to be independent as his signature
would imply. He has become depen-
pent upon an independent church. We
did not, or do we think the readers OF
the HERALD understand us to attempt
| to deny the possibility of an indepen-
dent church existing, that "Indepen-
dence" advocated. 1t would be folly fol
us to attempt to refute the idea of til G
existence of an independent church,
when we have living witnesses of that
existence. Let us consider the differ-
ence between the existing independent
churches, and the one that existed only
in the shalLoto brain of Independence"
The existing independent churches have
a certain form and mode of worship, and
the mem beers of tacf. church conform to
their torn and mode. In that church
their is no "sprinkling and dipping" nc
standing and kneeling to pray and
Reading their prayers from a prayer
book" but each member is united or
one certain form with one head to guide
and direct 1t. Independence church
would be composed of all sects and de.
nominations, some standing and soms
kneeling to pray-and others reading
their prayers from n prayer book. -
What sight for the nineteenth century!
| Oh the harmo ny and congeniality i
would be model for all christian
churches to pattern after. We think
| Independence s. church would be bet.
ter named if called a variety church-fol
it would be composed of variety OF
sects and denominations. The churcl
question is too deep 1--WE fear) for "lnde
pendence's" brain,-hence the confusion
of his ideas. Independence" wants
church controlled by the conscience o
its members. God forbid that the mem
bers consciences should be like his, or i
would be sorry church. ''Indepsn
dence's" mind takes wild flight, anC
pays flying visit to all the differen
sects and denominations to prove thei
is no harmony or eongeniality existing
in any of their's,-which has not beeI
asserted or implied except by himself
We only wished to prove that Their
would be no harmony or co "genialit,
in his church, which he has admitted by
NCSiullnS bildl 10 GAlSlS III nCU6s we art
thankful to Independence for his yer,
earnest solicitude for our future welfare
but we assure him we will steer clea
of all shoals and breakers, and not lik,
him founder upon independent churche
We would by way of parting kindly ad
wise him when he launches forth in tn
columns of the HERALD in the future
not to go ont over his head, or he will b.
as he is now drowned by his own incon
potency and folly.
And now few words to "Unity."-
He asks the question "why are not al
churches as one2'' Weanswer they ar,
one in faith and belief, and all are foun
ded upon ore rock and that is Christ
All institutions must have form anC
discipline to govern them. Ever sine,
the confusion of languages, men havi
been of different minds. When the hu
man family becomes of one mind, /,
hear, think and see alike, then "Unity'
Will realize his (grand) idea of churcl
unity. If he will hold on to this morta
life until the millennium, it will then b,
realized and not until then.
Smyrna, May LIST III. ].