New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-06
ADDRESS OF GEORGE R. CRooKE. =

As the human body, though composed OF
many members Is one also is Christ and his church
This body is made by the operation oil the spirit
For by one spirit all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Gentile whether we be bond or ree
one very important point is therefore, established: the
Church is already II cannot be made two or di
vided it is one by virtue OF common life. It's unity
does not consist in subscription to formula
that is unity Of opinion. Its unity does not consist In
the agreements resolutions OF Christians that they
VIII be one; mar Noul1 DE Ihe pHIt{ Oi fx
certain method Of Practice that is the irult OF the
unity rather than the UNITY itself
We cannot therefore, of ourselves create the unity OF
the Church. IL Is already created we might as wen
speak OF ourselves creating the unity OF the human lam
lily. The human family - already one ny virtue OF It's
descent from common stock. Coo has created OF one
flesh all nations TO dwell upon the face OF the earth
Whether the members OF the human fanny IecOgnlze
this fact not, 10 remains unateTed ANA Jnls is hc
sin of human nature that We being of one kind, having
one common nature 40 not act toward each oic .I ~
harmony with this relationship. we aCt as thOugn lhe
human race not truly and organically one; as
though 1t had not common destiny as though al lts
members were not embraced IN the SAM oon bn
members of the human family are brought
into satisfactory relations with one another by the
recognition their conduct Of the oneness Of the
The vital unity becomes the ground OF me moral ana
aectOna unity. Now the vital unity OF the human
the unity of Christs Church. whether il clear
TO the consciousness Christians. For the Church
OgnIzes ITS head the second ADAM its life Is His life
peryadlng It's members BY the spirit these members
are baptized into one body, the unity is created by
living body at all. When Christians a realizing
consciousness that ali who Christs really one
this unity is practical and realized. Before this
consciousness is developed they try 10 form other
acceptance Of the creed which Is the most common
that the effort has taken in Professionalism; in
ism. These fail they deserve 10 fall the fact that
they have led to blind prosecutions is prima Jacie ey
Christian world has lately made the discovery that the
Of Chriss Church is not fact 10 be created
frfa NO neuig fhaf 1tlNa 10
he is Christian Who partakes Of CbriSts Ife ne is the
brother Of every else who partakes Of that hfe All
Christians therefore Of family and the problem
before them is by their conduct express
which has been diyinely created. This exhibition Of
Chrsts Church already Is leading Pauline idea
With Paul the unity Of Chrsts body Is present not
future, and his effort is to bring bis fellow Christians
writes 70 the aatIans: Gas MANY of Won as have 6e
baptized into Christ, have put Christ. They are
neigher Jew Or eek" e. there no distinctions
there are no distinctions Of condition "tbera oI
neither male nor female :" e. there distinctions
of sex, "for they are all one in Christ Jesus
mankind are ~ differences OF race, 2) differ
f T6e fact that believers have put on Christ is nen
according Paul. TO overcome all these sepa-
these causes of separation powerful opera
tves In the ancient world than any causes OF separation
work in the Christian world now jews and Gentles
opinions which stu kept them apart We see from the
rom thinking alike Paul reconciled these differences
by pointing their higher unity The believing slave
and the believing master were IN Christ one According
In the ancient SYSTEM there Immense distance
maintained between the sexes there were pure
cations Of men and women together But both sexes
ton Of the weaker was at an end
Let us observe further. There are three IDEAS fire.
ouenty COMPOUNDED with each other The first OF these
is unity, which is OF spirit and lie; the second IS
riformty which is oneness Of method The effort to
establish the last Of these has been given up IN Protest
antism and yet 1t operates cause OF alienation 1t
e the effort 10 establish the second which Is about
being abandoned, and they about 10 fall back the
frat When they have done they Will find that unity
~ life does produce sufficient uDanmlty, and sufii-
cient uniformity. For oneness or life does In time,
produce an agreement in thinking and In procedure
The history of Methodism is striking proof OF the
these positions John Wesley began his
labors nsbe hope Of reforming the lives OF the English
people The object of ms attack was practical ungod
ness In 1760 he issued circular 70 hty ministers OF
various churches proposing tat tney Should ackn0WI-
edge and each other brethren notwithstanding
their differences In this he says " do notask union
in opinions. They might agree or usagree touchng aD
sOlute DEGREES the one hand or perfection on the
other These stl speak OF impnung righteousness
and those OF the merits OF CLrlst MOI UNION WIN re-
gard 10 outward order. Some may sui remain quite
regular, quite irregular aud some partly REGULAR
But these things being as they are as sach s
In his own mind, is II not desirable thing that we
should love brethreni" Aud again In 1862 ~ writes
10 minister OF the Church OF Engahu: II uesIo 70
have league, offensive and defensive with every sol
Of Christ We have not only one iaith one nope
one head but directly engaging IN one warfare.
Come then, that love Him. 70 the he OF Tue Lord 70
the help OF the Lord against the mighty IN tne spirit
Guyon, Roman Catholic, and OF French Unitarian:
The simple law by which he DECIDES tbe question Oh
Christian union was wherever he saw the Image OF
Christ 10 recognize in its pOssessOr brother. what
God had accepted he would call common or unelean.
Yet for Of In the churches OF that
age Of the value of the truth which 80 clear TO hin,
he who would united with all driven 20 sepa-
rate action and his followers separate church organ
izstOn Aud there cannot be much done now Tor the
more perfect union OF Christians till the consciousness of
The essential unity Of all who believe truly IN Jesus
is more perfectly developed. Then tie differences which
now separate us Will melt away IN the perception oil
higher unity
May without refer further to this great re-
farmer as leader the promotion union of Christian
mepi hOld in my hand some paragraphs FROM ms Der
mons on "Cahohe Spirit" It's date Is III, just lOl
YEAR ago His definitions those winch We have Be-
enfed that personal faith ia Christ and love which Is
uroduct are the true bonds Of Christian Union Ia
looking for the traits m his fellow man whch CONSTITUTE
a claim 10 fellowship, he asks;
DO YOU show your love by your vofk While you have ens as
60, have opoftanty you ia Ao 90 GOOD u ali men negbS