The New York herald., 1873-10-05
Who Are "Evangelical:" :"

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
hail with special delight any movement that
tends to obliterate the lines OF partyism, shatter
sectarian walls and unite all Christians around
the common cross Of Christ. In so lar as the
Alliance now in session accomplishes this work,
greet it with hearty "godspeed." can but fear,
however, that the great coEvocation is doomed to
suffer partial defeat by its own self-imposed re-
strlctlons. Why should 1t be thought necessary to
place IN the very ante-room OF this Christian
council an unsightly "iron bedstead" on which to
measure each others theological make upS Have
human creeds ever been found specially service
able in removing religious asperities and fusing
the Christian world into one blessed mould Of
lover Exactly the reverse. Creeds have divided
and subdlvded the ranks OF Christ's prolessed fol-
lowers, until the shrivelling bigotry and unhal-
lowed rivalries OF the hundreds OF existing sects
have exerted a most whitening influence and fur
nished the very food on which lndelity has goated
and grown fat.
Must it be confessed that Christendom is so
creed-bound as to make 1t impossible 10 have
great and glorious gathering OF Christians, with
the Bible as the only bond OF union and Christian
Character as the only basis OF iellowshipS How
ravlshng would be such scene Angels might
well condescend TO grace IL with their presence.
But instead OF this we have various points OF doc
trine designated to which all must subscribe before
they become eligible to election as members OF the
Evangelical Alliance. As If nalf ashamed OF such
cramping policy the projectors wish us to under
stand that this summary Is not to be regarded
exactly q creed, "but simply as an indication OF
the class Of persons whom 1t is desirable to en-
brace within the Aniance.n
why is 1t not "desirable to embrace" all real
Nnrlstians VIII they contend that a man must
swallow every article they have served up for one
theological breakfast In order to be Evangelcal 7"
who delegated TO them the wonderful authority to
decide just what belongs to orthodoxy Z Do they
not know that men and women can be found as
deeply devoted TO God and as fully in sympathy
Win the divine Son of God as any that earth can
produce who yet reject the doctrine OF the "Trin-
lty ~ And are they still unaware OF the fact that
agrowlng number OF earnest Observation-Disclosures
OF the nrst water-reject az unscrptural the doc
| trine OF 'the Immortality OF the soun because
they believe 1t to be IrreconciiaDe with s.the res.
1 direction OF the body ~
! know OF several faithful ministers or Jesus
Christ--men OF talent, culture and piety-who have
been elected as delegates TO the Alliance, and who
| are here from distance on purpose to attend but
| they cannot be admitted because the prescribed
| creed efectuay shuts them out. They believe in
/ Christian union-ay, they believe in more union
than has yet become fashionable. Well, thank God
for any indications that the old weatberDeaten
walls OF sectarian bigotry are growing weak II
we do not yet see all we desire we will take cour-
| age from what has actually been accomplished. A
/ large number OF Christians are coming TO see that
there is but one true Church Of Christ on earth.
/ and that Church Is composed of all the saints
| whether inside or outside OF existing organiza-
tions. May God roll on the ball OF Christian union
Yours for Gospel liberty. A. a. PHELPS