, 1875-09-19
CONSOLIDATION OF SIMILAR sEcrs.

LII HI aTl1C1e pIlAleu IL tAe HAot lsSue VI
TIE TRIBUNE, speaking of reasons for con-
solidation of the Methodist and Episcopal
Churches, the remark was made incidentally
that the tendency Of the time in the religious
| world was in the direction of a closer union
of the various segments Of Churches not
separated by any distinctive dogmas or dif-
ference in creeds, but only By some unim-
portant features Of church discipline and
government. This important fact is worthy
Of more detailed notice. There is, for in
stance, a very noticeable effort to unite all
the branches Of the Presbyterian Church into
one common organization In Great Britain
also, especially since Parliament has can
cel1ed the State patronage of the Scottish
Church, leaving the congregations free to
elect their own ministers, tbs two
Presbyterian sects of Scotland are on the
road to reunion, and will undoubtedly effect
it before long. When the various branches
Of Presbyterians come together, then there
is perceivable no reason why the Congrega-
tionalists should not cast in their lot with the
Presbyterians also. The difference between
them relates only to some small dissimilarities
in church government, more sentimental
than actual. Neither Church can give clear,
logical reason why they should not come
together and unite their strength and divide
their expenses. The outside world Gun see
no difference between them, and those inside
cannot without the aid of q microscope.
Congregationalists go to Presbyterian
churches and rice peysa without any shock
to their respective feelings or doctrinal ideas.
The preachers Of tie Two Churches very
often exchange plpits, and are Just as much
ut home in one US in the other
In the Baptist denomination, also, there
are several branches, such as the Close-Com-
munion, the Se7enth-Day, the Campbellites,
the Christians, the Pedo-Baptists, and Others,
which should be growing on the same tree
They all believe in the dogma Of immersion,
and, having this bond in common, baptism
by immersion would be much more frequent
if they would sink their minor differences and
come together. In the Liberal denomina-
tions, likewise, such as the Unitarian and
Universalist, there is no essential differ
ence OF belief. They are SO nearly alike that
it is not worth while to keep up the expense
of separate establishments. Suppose, then,
that the Methodists aud Episcopalians were
united in one Church, the Presby terinns and
Congregationalists in another, the half dozen
Baptist branches in another, and the Unita-
rians and Universalists in another, cannot
any one see that the usefulness of all would
be immensely increased, and the oppressive
weight of supporting so many separate
churches would be greatly relieved?
There are two strong reasons why such
consultations ought to be effected +:
!. While the Churches remain apart, it is in
evitable that there must continue to be
numerous little and weak congregations, con-
stant1y in debt and hampered for money,
attended by feeble, uninauential congregn-
tons, preached to by half-starved, weak min
isters~ They can only pay very small sa1a~ |
ries, and consequently can only obtain very
small preaching Starve preacher and You |
will get a starveling sermon. The minister |
who does not get enough to support himself |
and family cannot be expected to have much
heart or interest in his work while hunger
gnaws at his vitals. Such churches cannot |
do anything in missionary work. They can
not take proper care Of their own poor.
They cannot contribute literally to the
worlds charities. To build and maintain
churches in manner to attract people re-
quires q great deal Of money, and this keeps
them constantly impecunious- In addition
10 this, these little churches must be in con-
slant competition with each other, involving
no and at vxanRGnR. heart bu1niuRa, and