New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-06


minded oSia Tho. =. b. - sincerely a'' %
my ny Be give Thy hand" 90 20.
IT, Neither % 'S %c.@ viii ogI9Ica '.na. !,
hear a. VII Keep your opinion and h,. :, .ts,d, -
You need over 20 me 3, b Sl ea o.s
concerning Let al opinions alone on one "'e anu VIZ
What ne asks for himself from his fellow Christians Is
conceived In the same spirit; . A., ,., al mankind;
no, only As thou or the ennrs o. sd 81 a
hate thee that dpey thee sna psr'1sas ao nor evil
not sed with this No. an thine heart be right As mine Nh hat
sss . 5s sSI brother Ssf %f s q % ssr
ar ~ o .sY,toS Love me companion in the ins'0 ~
Jesus oS 1 bs ' Whole Theory Christian 9non
in the pithy statement "oa'non' wv
spirit" -, w., pov y PAYNE
81, Doan Of Canterbury The subject came I'M
~ a.. thir topic of the days proceedings CHRIS
49, Irnion consistent with UNCONVENTIONAL Distinc-
- y THE document is printed below as delivered:
UNITY CONSISTENT WITH DIVERSITY.
nv THE REV. II. PAYNE SMITH, u. D., DEAN OF CAN
TERBURY.
I'm venturing to address the members OF TINS
great Alliance upon the subject OF Christian Union,
cannot do so without expressing my grateful sense OF
the privilege granted in being allowed TO speak upon
a theme at once important and 50 dear TO my own
sona unworthiness and inability to treat such subject
fttngly is painfully present 20 my mind can only
pray that He who gave to us the new command ito
love one another" will strengthen my weakness and en-
able speak to His honor. 1t was HIS own prayer
for believing people, THAT they all may be one as
Thou, Father. art in and in Thee they also may DC
one in US" And this oneness OF His disciples lie de-
scrbes as proof that would convince the world OF
His divine ssion, the world may believe That
Thou hast sent me-" John, xviii, 2Ll
Now. in what does this oneness consist Does III con-
sst I'm uniformity in the acceptance OF settled formula
doctrine Xed for by Others, or even III our speak
ing and believing all Of u exactly the same thing LEI
look boldly at the facts ana putting asi1e lor t.e
present the consideration OF what ought 10 be- let us eX
anime what really We find, then the great Christian
community divided up into many opposing seots Inere
is not doctrine which Is not c0ntroyerted, ana the
bitterness with which disputes have been carried on
among Christians has passed into very Dyword ESen
in the present day there are those VINO consider er
orse and more criminal than the violation Of the moral
law Our Lord forewarncd us OF all TINS lie came ne
said TO place sword in mems hands ana men have
known too well now TO WELD IT, He came TO make a
mans foes those Of his kindred, and men, In exact
accordance with this prophecy, nave deemed that they
were Obeying higher law IN violating the Ii L eon
mandment, and rejecting all that express teachngot
our religion which has made Goodness love peace
mdness proper fruit OF the spirit and the seal and
reward Of the work Of Divine grace upon our hearts
And this bitterness has no way essened the tendency
of man to stand apart but, the contrary has agsI-
waited it, Every controversy has lett It's marx on the
Church in the way Of some new schsm and derlslOn
Even If we turn back TO primitive umes, 10 most gfea
peumencal councils which have exerted so important
i
to us, was 20 settle the main outlines Oh ChI ialt
every OF them was marked also by the rounding OF
a great heresy. The minority IN no single instance
gave way Tue numerous vote, the loud exclamation
Of the orthodox pasty, carried no conviction III tne
minds Of the rest SO far from settling the dispute, II
constantly fought out afterward In tue cites WIN
sword and spear, ana Church history Is full OF the
records OF the DlOOdshed and persecution the frauds
and duDcity the knayery ana violence WIN winch Ihe
rival parties struggled not only 10 uphOld their own
view out TO destroy the opposite view ana ts MAINTAIN
ers l know OF no greater authority III the Ghuren
than that OF the early annals, and yet
no perslasiyeness. They fearessly maintained
their views and would yield their opinions neither
history OF the Church Is that OF struggle not only
against sin Ignorance and unbelef outside OF her.
outward Struggle is that winch ennODles Christianity
Had battled for light with the dark outer world
there would nave bright side no triumphs OF
the faith, nothing in which the Christian conscience
could have rested content But now While there is
deep feeling of disappointment often present IN our
minds at the thought that Christianity has not
pshed all that could have hoped for yet there is
as we might have expected. IL is yet triumphant
II sun has % struggle against ratiOnalsm and supers
tlon and yet broad line OF demarcauon does separate
the modern from the ancient world, and that line was
drawn by Christ. His words have been light, not
merely Illuminating individual conscience. but also
shedding It's beams broadcast over the whole world,
making 1t feel something OF the warm aud purifying
devotion. II the teaching Of Christ has not gained
complete ascendency over the human mind as we
might have hoped yet its influence has beep great and
we owe to whatever is best and most economical and
true IN modern civilization. But when we turn
which rival parties nave struggled within it
for supremacy 10 the unchristan arts they have used
the manner IN which all things have been held lawful
against those VINO pnt Inherent Interpretation upon
the words Of Holy Scripture, the prosecutions inflicted
men who acting upon conscientious convictions,
if mistaken II is with deep OF shame that
reflects upon the evil uses 20 which men have put
OF it not evidently diversity OF opinion is
sty Of mans present condition. say Of mans present
condition. because regard THIS diversity Of opinion
belonging only TO present fallen and imperfect state
VARIETY NATURAL LAW.
cannot imagine the existence Of dissentings and
controversies or even Of differences opinion in per-
feet state In heaven there may be degrees Of knowl
edge. and may advance from hight of contem-
pation TO another, but whatever they may know they
Will know accurately. There cannot be there that
uncertainty in association Of thought and that inden-
lteness OF language which so cloud all our ideas aud
state and in present state diversity seems like a
law Of nature There are grant, grand general lines
yet the individual has always his own points OF differ
ence. Though working upon typical forms yet nature
bestOws something OF individuality upon every
one OF its units and civilization tends to in
the animals arc verv similar TO one another
No sooner do We domesticate them than differences OF
every one has his peculiar character and DISPOSE
ton. Probably there Is similar difference In wild
animals only we have not the same oppor unities OF
studying them But, at all events, Gods works in Ma
ture marked not by uniformity but by variety. The
charm Of the landscape is In its endless diversity OF form
and color The changing conditions OF the atmosphere
make no two alike. Music Is not the monotOny OF
SOUND put the harInOmzlng OF many. Inc pure llght
which gilds the whole world around IS not coOress
nor even OnecoOred ray but IS the blending OF all the
prsnatc hues and every substance and rejects
the hues in various degrees, and hence the mani
lOid beauty which surrounds every side Search
where we Will, every climate has its own floral and
faunas its pecuiartes OF soil and vegetation its
own development OF life. And the eeooglst has dis
closed 10 US vast ages OF bygone times teemng with
active existence Animals perfect any which now
eAls ana as wei ntted 10 perform their part in the
WORLDS great drama, ana yet filing with astOuish-
nent as we notice how unlike they to everything
which exist now aud the vast and gigantic vegetation
they rOamed is Of Inch
exist at all do 80 now only in dwarfed and stunted
growth Wherever we look see that variety is the
law OF creation. In the words OF the psalmst we ex
claim, 80, Lord, how manifold are thy works. In wis
dom hast thou made them all The earth is full of thy
riches" Psams CIV, 26.)
And when we rise up TO man. his manifoldness takes
higher form In proportion his noble gifts His ami