The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-10-06
commanIsated.
Centenary Sernlon.


Mr.. Editor This being the centenary
year of the church of the United Brethren
in Christ, It is proper that it should be
celebrated in proper, becoming and chris
tain manner. Centenary meetings are ap-
pointed and centenary sermons and ad-
dresses are delivered and when considered
appropriate, centenary donations are So
licited. In short: we celebrate our CEN
tenary year in similar way as other
christian denominations have done. In
August | attended camp meeting near
Shermansdale, in your county, and was
called on to deliver centenary address.
When the time named for such an address
was at hand, l addressed the audience
assembled. Certainly, every intelligent
person there, expected to hear something
in reference to the denomination who weIN
celebrating their centenary There would
be nothing unusual in this.
In tho TIMES of the 22nd ult., find an
entire column, devoted as the author says,
to "Feview of the centenary sermon,
ETC." When first read it, l concluded to
give it no notice. have, however, in this
changed my mind. AS am prepared to
furnish the manuscript Of my address, am
by it prepared to prove "One Who Heard
IT, guilty Of the most fagrant misrepre-
sentations. In fact it is falsehood from
first to last and if the author is not blind
ed by bigotry, or afflicted with lunacy, he
knew that he was uttering falsehoods.
The only reply have to make to his
article, for his general consideration, is this :
If he has sufficient manhood left him, and
will send me his name and residence, / will
attend to his case in such manner as all
slanderers ought to be dealt with And if
he does not, it is probable we can secure
such information elsewhere.
have attended camp meetings between
Shermansdale and New Bloomfield, for
over twenty-five years, and resided in the
latter place two years, and my record of
the past will tell the readers of the TIMES
my feelings toward other denominations
much better than the irresponsible scrib-
bier who signs himself "One Who Heard
It."
In the sermon in question spoke.
/. OF the oneness of all true christians,
according to the prayer of our Savior. All
who are in saving union with Christ are
one in him, and these constitute THE
CHURCH. Here there is no division.
! noticed,
2. The nominal church in the past and
! present. Here we have divisions, whether
for the better Or worse, ] am not prepared
to say.
Here, then, noticed the advantages and
disadvantages Of nominal church divisions.
This led me then to speak of the United
Brethren church, rs having, with other de-
nominations, a mission to perform. In
doing this, noticed,
/. The origin, and, J.
2. The confession of faith and discipline
of this denomination.
3. Noticed the leading pecularities oi
this branch of the church, and concluded,
4. BY giving her statistics.
| claimed no superiority over other de.
nominations, or other christian persons
but placed by the side of other churches the
United Brethren, in the great work Of
doing good,
/ have not referred to any false expires
sions Zone Who Heard It." uses, as / con
slider him unworthy of any notice more
than what can not be avoided. Any in,
telligeat man looking on the face of hi;
article, will be satisfied of the writer's
design. w. B. RABER.
YORK, Pa r..