New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-06
when they meet him In the general assembly Of the FIRST
born that are written In heaven.


isfraton Christian unity often declared to be impossi-
be and any precision OF brotherhood among Gods
children by faith IN Christ Jesus impraccable where
aenomnational distinctions are conscientiousy main
me changes the divisions OF Chrstendom II is time
dnss Evangelical 60 Christians should affirm that unity
by magnfying differences in form, belittling
men and practice and tacItiy Yielding TO current I'M
preston that Evangelical Christianity 10 In essence
the very Truth na be boldly Se affirmed sash
one parpose OF this Conference Professionalism ndeedis
organization. But neither Of them is mere negative
are enemies OF the Gospel are fond Of asserting They
churches Nevertheless the unity OF Christianity is
independent Of Professionalism as wen as OF all other
anVlng active reality OF spiritual communion. consist
ent with but independent Of forms OF organization.
such ia the principle that underlies this proposition.
Inc prospect however, opens difficult discussion
Inc controversies OF all Christian ages have turned
degree the oneness the Church is to be under
stood. II oneness in the Church is inconsistent with de-
h h distinctions, then strictly speaking, there
mas Deen no oneness in the Church from The beginning
~ ,h distinctions separate the great churches
y. tho Latin ana the Greek faiths and separate them
from the Oriental churches. Distinctions named
! between the Protestant Episcopal churches-dlstne-
tlohS IN Doctrine in formulares, or In policy; for
ample between the Church OF England and the Church
OF sweden and the Protestant Episcopal Church In this
GpSu.try UNCONVENTIONAL distinctions separate great
irotestant churches In America from another, and
theSe from foreign churches. But oneness exists
theess and in every age in this the Holy Catholic
Churen the communion OF saints" has been recognized
~
whoie bound together by sympathes and unity Of work
when are sufficient to accomplish the purposes of the
can hardly be expected that we shall enter minor
practical inquiry renains-what measure and what
manner OF Christian union desirable order to
press tue oneness OF Chrss church. and TO further the
sayiors designs establishing It, being supposed that
denoulnatlonal differences Will be maintained. CALI
anee Is we-chosen term 1t solves the question i'm
mediaeiy by force Of definition. 1t expresses all union
expected or possible among Christians who conscien-
tously diher In forms Of administration; while 1t admits
Iull IDerty OF individual opinions within range agreed
| Beneath shadow
express ourselves freely on the subject now under dis
ton, is not felicitous II is not synonymous with
unity; Union" embraces the idea of organization
| and Implies certain degree OF human formations
"organe union" is the fuller and definite express
SION Unity" on the contrary conveys purely
spiritual idea IL has relation to earthly visible
forms. II exists independently OF distinctions whicn
separate the children OF God into national churches,
union" and unity not being synonymous, the propO
son can hold only affirmed concerning spiritual
| unity VI communion.
| ORGANIC UNITY NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
The Idea has been preached that organic union lie
| not impossible among Christian Churches which hold
| the same Evangelical doctrines, and this with only
| partial relinqushng OF UNCONVENTIONAL distinctions.
Certainly it would be possible to unity the church
ancient historical basis touching only those differ
which inconsistent with that form. But sup
posing this suggestion to be In advance OF public senti
submit to the opprobrium that the Church of Christ
lacks unity because denOminati0Dal differences exist
This is question of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of
proydenil facts aud OF the revealed will Of Christ.
!, The significant fact remains TO which alusion has
been made, that denomnational distinctions have ex-
listed within the Church from the beginning. They
things. They did not spring out Of the Reforma-
duction since that era. They have existed for 1880
years One OF the earliest facts In church history is the
separation Of Christians into seets and parties for tits
by certain that such universal fact in
lgous history. within church which has always been
under the guidance OF the Holy Ghost is a subject OF
! unmixed lamentaton. There have been sadder facts
than this The crushing out OF free thought and liberty
| OF action by the despotism OF Rome, which was
cOrollary Of the attempt 70 force organic union
the followers OF Christ n w. was , -, much n
prevalence OF ancient beresies which distracted the
Church in earlier centuries not quite much the
result Of the effort TO suppress error by ecclesiastical
force, of any principle or ylgor IN themselves Ger
tainy OF the Reformation and Of printing.
men have thought freely aud uttered themselves
without restraint, since instructed public sentiment has
Church comparable in its widespread disaster to that
for example, which called for the Council OF Nice II
the results of organized and enforced unon suppress
ing denominatonal differences to be measured. let
history OF dogmas and parties In the Church OF Rome
existed i'll her body. Who does not know that contend
ing rendng her frame to-day, under the mask
principles than for policies. Jesuts, Domincans and
Franciscans contend with the ferces UNCONVENTIONAL
rancOr within organization that IL falsely proclaimed
be and undivided. 1t is significant historical
fact and will forbear to illustrate it, that denomina-
tOnal differences have continued III the Church from the
T. They arise from natural causes, not much from
religious lmperfeCtons from native differences. The
first schism record resulted from nothing worse than
natural prejudice However we may lament mo
| human frame or OF the human mind are subjects OF
vanish from the present dispensation. They the
offspring OF differences in nervous temperlments, IN
mental eonsttutons and in physical build The Church
OF Christ think precisely alike in all Its members
nor act with entire sympathy and harmony untl all
minds run In the same groove all nerves respond 70 the
same impulse, and all bodies are framed on one model
| and are equally free from disease
3. IL follows that denomina0nal distinctions are ne
cessay results OF liberty OF thought and action when
Luthers cut the shaekes OF religious opinion
decentralization revealed Itself without restraint
|
slower paced aud more cautious reformation III England
happily with restraint. The Church OF England has
never been free from parties from the wholesome nhu-
of parties aud the secret OF ITS vigorous NE mas
been liberty OF difference within the scflpuai Doahds
OF its symbols. The Reformation was resurrection
| new life sprang out OF the dead things among wheh
the Church had become inanimate And one OF the
most Characteristic elements OF that new Ire eAhlDits
itself in denominationallsm however IL may De 1p'
plauded or depored, it is part OF that grand reVou
tOn such revolutions never 10 back ana deholnlna-
onal distinctions can never he 10 usaPpear
unless mind again shackled aud liberty crsle1
Among the Inexplcabe, although obvious inetnous
oI end Win ersest moral conflicts As electricity
restores the equilibrium Of ATMOSPHERIC forces by awfu
nTodnct Of exhaustng warsas civilization and and
commerce and tranquil industry follow never except
sons nv more advanced naons-so, the moral world
truth the resultant OF controversies Not always error
against error not always hall truths against each other
not always sound whole truth against either, produces
the desired result; but never does an age reach truth
1ictng amid iasehoods. My impression is that differ
ences IN the chureh-cal them denominauonal, or by
whatever name will be Observation-Disclosures In
the church exist according TO law and are the Deoes
i sary preventiye OF the pure truth of the Gospel
| With this conclusion ecclesiastical history entirely
eoincides This logic OF facts has led such writer as
Dean Goulburn uuwlingly to suggest that there may
| be what NAV be termed) secondary law OF Church
structure; and that when mems passions or prejudces
refuse be governed by the primitive law the second
| airy becomes controlling; Dean Goulburns words arc
| when a primitive ideal is hopelessy frustrated and
the first bes, thing made impracticaOle by human sin
and perseverance, God introduces second best thing
aud endows 1t with lat all events temporary sane
\ ton" on the Church We certainly living under
Christian unity. This sncant fact 10 be clearly held
and recognized. Considering the history OF the Chutch
considering the precpices which the Holy Ghost mas
been guiding IT, considering the constitution w the h
man mind aud human society, an experiment oI uncoh-