National Republican., 1873-10-08
THE COMING RELIGIOUS ALLIANCE.

THE COMING RELIGIOUS ALLIANCE.
Tho advocates Of organic union OF Evan.
EcliesA Protestant Churches arc undoubtedly
making great hcsdway toward the accom-.
plishment Of that object blythe agitation OF
the question during the meetings Of the
Evangelical Alliance. But the selnshncss Of
some Of the most earnest, II not bigotsd, Sec
tsrians has asserted itself 90 strong as to
prevent its realization. II is nevertheless o
subject for mature thought, and the progress
made by the unionists h something marvel
lous when we remember that less than
generation ago the sectarlans were as bitterly
hostile towards each other as they were to-
wards the Church Of Rome. The spirit OF
kindly Cancellation among Protcstants Is,
therefore, Of comparatively recent birth,
and, strange as II may now seem, IL
was preceded by most unchristianlikc
prescription, sometimes bordering on
persecution. Doctrinal discussions, hair
splitting theories, and wrangling of the most
personal and violent character, have been,
within the memory Of a majority Of our
readers, OF frequent occurrence. To-day,
however, the sharp distinctions between the
sccts arc Ignored, and under the influence Of
what b known as Congregationallsm,a as much
% anything else, they are rapidly disappear
Ing. In fact, Is has become popular among
rciigionists TO deal lcnicntly with each other as
regards the tcchnlcalitics Of their faith and
belief. The idea Of organic union cannot,
therefore, be passed over as chimcrical. On
the contrary, II must be accepted as ono Of the
grandcst thoughts Of modern times. II en-
bodies all that s pure and holy In the spirit
Of meek concihation which should control
the relations Of Christians In their inter
course with each other. 1t Is a project which
Is intended to combine tho influences Of
churches and religious associations for the
common object for which they now labor
either singly or In widely distinct oryaniza-
tions. There Is q sublimlty Of Inspiration iu
1t which cannot fall to thrill the Christian
heart with the true power Of implicit faith In
the equality Of mankind as II is taught by our
common Bible and common Saviour. But the
natural result would be TO array Protestant
ism more directly against Romanism. II
such an event It Is not improbable that, In III,
Old World at least, the power OF politica
rulers would bo Invoked, and q struggl,
would DO provoked In which tho real strength
and influence Of the Pope with tho rulers O
Europe would be made manifest. No on,
who has given the subjec. the least though
can deny the certainty Of this prediction
and after all wo arc compelled to admit tha
tho main object Of the union is not so mucl
to unite In Christianizing the heather Us 1t /
to put down tho Catholic Church. Tn
advocates Of the scheme may argu
- much as they please about til
Mormons, tho lsraclltes, the hoatho
and tho Roman Catholics; but we all kno,
that their Jespccial antipathy Is cnlistc
against the latter. No one class Of the inter
cstad parties appreciate this fact more thol
oughly than the Catholics themselves, an
It Is not improbable that they arc prcpariu
for the future even now. But when the cor
test does come will 1t not be possible that tn
libcrality which has done so much to accom-
pllsh tho union Of Professionalism will cxtcn
It's influence to conciliate the differences b,
tween the contestants and effect a comblnl
tion Of both sides for the conversion of M
believcrs7
This suggestion Is not more startling no,
than the prophecy that Methodsts and Pres
byterians would enter into q coalition woul
have been thirty years ago. And, when W
remember that the liberalism Of moder
thought has effected so much, we cannot deu
the possibility Of such a result. The peo
pie Of the world who arc called Christians b
distinguish them from those who arc withou
tho palcs Of Christianity, and who do no
belong" to either the Protestant or Catholi
Church, may not bo entitled to take part, bu
it h natural to suppose that their sympath.
will be engaged TO bring about the combina
ton, and perhaps the argument used b.
them, that ut makes no difference how maj
gets to heaven so he gets there" will prevail
to enforce tho belief that true Jaiih" make
the Christian, regardless Of the technicaiitic
Of creeds.