The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-27
'rsaE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
Sermon by Rev. w. ). Harris, ID. D.

| JlNdNutO ulilli Aht GhpJNNt VI 'hN iNNN'N
gathering of the Evangelical Alliance in
New York. giving very able and interest
ing discourse, which, should have called out
much larger gathering than was the case.
Dceming It of interest to the readers of
THE GLOBE we give brief abstract of the
sermon.
The speaker took for his text the words:
"There is one body and one Spirit, even as
we are called in one hope of your calling
One Lord, one faith one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you ALL
| Ephesans 4 as.
Finding these words laid down in the
Holy Scriptures, it is not strange that we
should depore the fact of the many
divisions and sects that form this Christian
world Of ours. Armed by such regrets of
the faults and the weaknesses among
Christians II is not strange that Protestants
of all denominations should cast about for
some means of bringing about grcater.sym-
pathy and unity of action. Hence the
so-callcd Evangelical Alliance, which has
lately held itslmeetngs in New York, was
formed In this Alliance we must note
the circumstance that the Protestant Epis-
copal church was substantially unrcprc-
sented. The question naturally arises why
cannot they be drawn together? In an
swcr let us look at the fundamental points
of this gathering 1t was composed of
great body of earnest men, met together,
ostcnsibly, to promote the work of Chris
tian reformation and better unity of ac-
ton. With these ideas as Il foundation
such a gathering must have been pro-
moter of much good to those who partici-
pated in its workings with conscientious
desire for those ends. Despite this we as
church have co-oper"ted not and could not
consistently or honestly do so.
So far as its ultimate results go we have
no sympathy with them 1t proposes no
real union, but simple declaration, often
siye or defensive on its own pari regarding
the Roman Catholic church.
Its dictates are not a Just recognition of
the whole body of Christians. As we can
not exclude the indwellng OF Christ in
whatever mode of expressing itself, so can
not the church exclude these organized diff
fcrences in Gospel belief. Wherever the
Christian is found he has right to be
recognized as such. 1t is not invioate in
body of any kind to recognize these sacra
ments and orders. Communion is one
thing inter-commumion is another In the
family OF nations the door is wide and
necessarily dissatisfaction arises in COM
mon communion with the whole
The Alliance is not union as God be-
lioved union to be-not in the attributes
of independent nations, or for temporary
regard one for another In this relation
the Alliance is a rope of sand that falls to
pieces at the slightest jar. The vast body
of the Protestant EpiscJpalians believing
as we do could have no part in such I'M
ion.
Furthermore. the Alliance sailed under
false colors They were entitled to speak
for no one but themselves. They were not
elected by any organization-only self
elected. The Prcsbytcrans spoke as Pres
byterians; the Baptists spoke as Baptists
the Congregationalists as Congregational
lists, ana so through the wohe list and in
their dOings committed no one but them
selves 1t was not real 1Hiance, but
simply conference of earnest men who
met to see what could be done to resist the
spread and power of the Church of Rome.
DIR. Hodge, the President, says substan-
TALLY in his address of welcome that they
had come together not TO resist any but as
real unity of the whole, in one Christian
creed, 'bclicving in the Holy Catholic
church and the Communion of SAINTS "
Why then could not our church have part
These declarations must be shown by
freedom of faith and life, Did they show
it by an annunciation of faith Not at all.
They endorsed no creed as it could not
have been adopted with unity. This de-
claration then meant nothing at all. 1t
was mere popular catch-word with no
significance whatever. And there was
very soon shown a decided want of faith in
these declarations.
DR.. Adams mentioned belief in the
Holy Catholic Church and the communion
Of saints, while Dr. Hodge said they were
made up Of Christians, as if it took nothing
external to make a Christian. So chmc CHI
may exist without externals. DR.. Hodge,
however, knew that none can be admitted
to the communion table without being first
baptized and that the name of the Holy
Trinity runs throughout the entire creed as
being absolutely essential TO the church.
This glazing inconsistency of DR.. Hodge
rules out those bodies who have right to
voice in such matters.
Let us see about this unity of faith
The Baptist, one of the largcst-we
believe the largest repre-
sented at the alliance, vast majority of
whom held to immersion as essential to bap-
| tism and can admit no others to commu-
can those who have had no baptism. The
| inconsistency then is obvious. This natur-
| ally leads TO another part of the faith en-
bodied in the declaration--the communion
Of saints. The alliance proposed to execute
measures entirely ignoring all differences
Of church belief, as acknowledged by its
co-workers, and to publish their love for
all in their glowing anticipations of hea-
ven. So far good, They did feel thus
drawn together there can be no doubt
but Gods injunction as made at the Holy
Supper they entirely ignored. The ALI
ance announced that the Holy Communion
would not be celebrated because of the diff
ferences existing between those assembled.
1t is obvious that in this declaration there
was glaring want Of that unity of faitl