The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-25
CArUKCsg DHSgNTE3aassATsoS.

The American church seems to be under
going process Of reformation or period
of revolution. We use the words Ameri
can church in their largest and bloadest
sense, rs including all religious sec,s and
denominations. The commencement of
this revolution, this reformation, this
change, or whatever it may be called. is
somewhat remarkable. For years, there
had been divisions and descriptions in scvc-
raj of the churches or denominations of
the county. The Methodist church was
s''s.'.. tfiv
divisions being known rs "north' and
''south," but it began to be hoped that,
with the removal of the cause, a hearty re-
union would result, and the Methodist
church, as of yorc, would present a uni
ted trent. The Presbyterian church had
been divided into sold school and 'new
SCHOOL," but after years of trial, mutual
concessions, and the exercise Of christian
charity and forbearance, they were united
into one solid compact body. In the Pro-
test Episcopal church, the names of
'high' and ''low" church continued to be
heard, but they had ceased to be disturb
ing element, and that church, too, was
harmonious. An attempt had been made,
and with some degree of success to unite
two or more heretofore discordant dcnomi-
nations into one, without yielding Of prin-
ciple. This was somewhat the situation
less than year ago. All the branches of
the American church, although not agree
ing one with another on points OF doctrine
principles or forms, were in harmony and
each, through that unity which alone gives
strength, was doing good work ami reaping
abundant harvcsts. So peaceful and har-
monious, apparently, was the American
religious world" if we may so term it,
that a meeting of the Evangelical Alliance
was held in New York city, with, at first
sight, the happiest of results. During and
after their meetings, the effect seemed to
have increased that harmony and, in GER
tain sense, unity which before existed, and
the parlicipators therein were ready to be-
licvc that the day was ut hand when there
would be but one church, one baptism, one
communion, and one God the Ruler over
all
Such indeed was the profcssed object of
the Evangelical Alliance They desired to
bring all christians together in one body
and on one plane, that all might worl, TO-
gcther, heartily and earnestly, for the
christanizing of the world and the glory
OF God. But what has been the result ?
We do not mean to say that the pres ent
state Of tho American church IL entirely
due to that meeting, although it has had
some effect thereon 1t WIS merely the
calm preceding the storm 1t was the
turning point in the work Of unity After
the immediate effect produced 10y those
meetings had passed, the movement which
seemed TO be leading toward unity met
with distractions and blanched off in diff
ierenl directions, leaving dscord where
before had been harmony, and dividing in.
stead of uniting, churches ana dcnomina,
lions. Why is this so? Is it because only
fools contest 'for forms We think
that there is something of this feeling NOV
ing the public mind. Men have their own
opinions, and will ''stick" to them regard
. less of forms or rules. The day seems tc
be going by when ecclesiastical courts
trials for heresy, declarations that certain
body is not recognized as Il part of the
denomination of which it processes tC
belong, sentences of excommunicaton, etc.
can have only effect upon a clergyman, an
individual, particular church or the com
munity at large, Conscience, not demon
national rules or sentences of ecclesiasti
cal courts, will more and more govern men
and, consequently, the community We
rejoice in the action of Professor David
Swing in cutting himself aloof from his
denomination. 1t is true he was acquitted
of the charge of "heresy," and that every
Chicago clergyman of his denomination
stated that if he was guilty they were, but
he must be, as he said, "sick of theological
war" 1t is so with his church the largest
in the city. 1t must be so with Henry
Ward Beecher and his church. Death. VIC