The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-22

u6ettNg.
Mr.. Editor 1t might be interesting to
some of your subscribers to read review
of the Centenary Sermon" preached by
W. B. Raber, at the shermansdale Camp,
on Tuesday, Aug 18th, 1874, as it was
wonderful, not because of any phenomina
connected with it, but on account of the
extraordinary claims to eminence and su-
periority, set forth by the speaker in be-
half of the U. b. in G. Church. 1t was
announced after the forenoon service that a
Centenary Sermon" would be delivered
in the afternoon. After the people had
partaken of the good things prepared by
the kind hearts and willing hands of the
gentler sex, w. b. Raber, at % p. M.
came out on the "stand, " and commenced
the most remarkable fulsome laudation of
William Otterbein in particular and United
Brethrenism in general had ever heard.
The Introductory part consisted of an
account of the sects found in the Jewish
Chnrch before and at the time of our
Saviour's birth, and deriving therefrom an
argument in favor of the sects found in the
Christian Church at the present day. He
did not directly say that, but it was the
only conclusion could arrive at for inn
mediately after he said, care sects
wrong ?'' he answered by saying that he
would neither say that they were nor were
not; thus showing wonderful conserva-
tism, which would no doubt give him a
commanding position as politician,
should he turn his attention in that direc-
ton!
Christ in his last prayer says, "T'hat
they (the church, may be one as we are
one !" and the apostle writes ~ hear that
there are divisions among you, one is for
Paul, one for Apollas, one for Cephas,
another for Christ are ye not carnal ?"
Paul called them carnal because of their
divisions, but w. B. Raber in the year of
grace, 1874, finds himself too delicate to
speak against the lamentable divisions of
the present day. If we should all see eye
to eye, by taking Gods word alone as a
rule of faith and practice, then would the
Church "come forth fair as the moon,
clear as the sun, and terrible as an army
with banners" But said the speaker,
"Divisions tend to keep the Church pure
they watch each other" Then did Jesus
Christ pray the Father to send spirit
unto the Church, which If embraced would
endanger its purity. And notwithstand-
ing he spake as never man spake accord
ing to the philosophical view of w. B.
Raber, his prayer for the unity of the
Church is erroneous and tending to cor
+ upt the same
After thus introducing his discourse, he
proceeded to discuss it in the following
way:
1st. The rise of United Brethrenism.
OIL II III -
fro other Churches.
9rd. Wherein it agrees with other
Churches.
4th. shall denominate Gioryings.
Under the 1st division he startled his
audience by saying, that had it not been
for that branch of the Church, known as
the U. B. in c., we would all be heathen
Now as never read in the Bible of
branch or branches of the Church, simply
called it a misnomeT, and passed on.-
But as to U. B. in c., preventing us from
becoming heather, would say as w. B.
Raber said, with regard to individuals, who
trumpeted themselves as reformers, "They
are mt the men," so with regard to the
Church, which would publish its own aims,
deeds, etc. 1t is not. the church.
But must pass over much that was
said on the 1st proposition, which should
have remained unsaid, also the 2nd and 3rd
for want Of space, and pass on to the 4th,
namely, "Gloryings" Under this head
the speaker said that the Church nursed
Methodism, saved the life of Bishop Ash
bury, kept us all from becoming hea-
then, (think of it D produced ministers
who could to-day get from $1,000 to $4,000
a year in other Churches, and might add,
stopped the mouths of lions, waxed valiant
in fight, elbow put to fight the armies
of the Aliens and If U.iB. in G. didn't do
all these things, it could not help it. 1t
had ambition enough to do these things
and more a9.4at' i-S
Said the speaker, "You say that we
pick up anything and make preachers out
of it" not so said he, "our preachers are
men of brain. Yes, there are preachers
here to-day, who were offered from one to
two thousand dollars year to preach for
other churches" confess did not see
cranial development sufficient to claim SO
great salary, although the Revs. looked
very complacent about the brain remark.
The speaker said the U. B. in G. Church is
not the insignificant Church you suppose
it counts 10000 in its membership. do
not know whether the speaker thought
that its numerical strength, should entitle
it to consideration or not However he
did not say whether this estimate included
probationary members or not. If it did,
then the society consists of 140, 900 both in
and out of Christ, but if this estimate is
actually real and not nominal, what is it
worth? Is numericals strength mark or
indication of superior Holinesss Then
does Heathenism claim our special re-
gard. Catholicism must be he ''ism, +"
and we all should claim membership in the
Observation-Disclosures -church-o on earth =
Satan, according to this view Of the case,
should have an especial claim to our con-
sideration, for having a Church with the
largest membership, for" Wide is the gate