The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-05-13

all, and is able to raise the yilest from the
pit of degradation. The speaker dwelt
specially upon the thought that the Cos
pei call is re-eminently call to serrice.
As Christ's disciples we are to labor for
him, ''Son 60 aoork to-day in my vineyard. u
Two features of the "Wednesday fore
noon session are specially worthy of
notice. Rev. Daniel Lane, of Belle PLANE,
! read a paper on the question, ITO what
extent is christian union desirable and
practicable? which elected much inter
esting thought and experience. The feel
ing was generally expressed that the
union Christ prayed might exist among
his people was one of heart and sympathy
"a union of spirit and brotherhood The
idea of organic union, union that should
embrace all denominations under one
name was quite generally thought to be
impracticable if not impossible.
The discussion of this subject was con-
tinued with animation until the hour for
devotional exercises arrived. Sup't.
Adams was requested to lead the prayer
meeting. He read a portion of the 18th
chapter of John, and took the 21st verse
for the leading thought of the meeting,
''That they all may be one, as thou,
father, art in me, and l in thee, that they
also may be one in US, that the ao0rEd may
beliepe that thou hast sent me-" The
topic for discussion was thus carried into
and through the prayer meeting and all
felt that the consideration of the subject
of christian union had been profitable.
There is great encouragement for chris
tians to labor and pray for christian union
because it is that for which Christ himself
prayed. Christian union is in some sense
a fact-indeed it must be reality The
duty of the churches is to MANIFEST this
union. The world is looking for the Wis
ible expression of the oneness of the
church in Christ
The second feature Of special interest
was the paper presented by Rev. Harvey
Adams, of Fairfax, on the subject of
proper and Questionable methods of
raising money for church purposes" The
thought was clear cut, and breathed an
eminently CHRISTIAN spirit. 1t was point
ed with all the sharpness of truth,) at
prevailing practices in the church. Our
aim in giving should be to conform to the
Gospel rule; Upon the first day of the
Week, let every one of you lay by him in
store, as God has prcspered him." One
proper mode is by subscription paper.
Another is by having persons pledge them
selves to give stipulated amount per
week. Money may concelvably be raised
in proper manner by concerts, sociable,
etc, but the ordinary methods are objec-
tionabe. The wrongfulness of many
popular methods of raising money was
clearly shown, and the fact that base
motives are often appealed to was de-
plored.
The first hour of the afternoon was de-
voted to Home Missionary Meeting, and
some reports of the contributions of
churches to the Home Missionary cause
were made.
Rev. W. s. Messmer, pastor of the
Congregational Church in Belle Plaine,
read finely writer essay on 'Our duties
to the young people of the church and
congregation. Rev. F. Hurd read a
thoughtful and candid paper on the pro
per attitude of the church toward amuse-
ments." Time and space prevent my
indicating the line of thought pursued.
In the evening Rev E. Adams preached
from Cor xii q, aye are the body Of
Christ and members in particular" and
Eph %, THE church which is the body
of Christ, the fullness of him that filleth
all in ALL" This sermon is worthy of spe-
cial rotice, but | can only hint at his line
of thought He first spoke of the union
of Christ with his people referring to
figures in theGospels which show this vital
relation. Spirit is invisible. We can only
see and know each others minds as mani
tested through the body. Gods spirit
is everywhere, but we can not discern
it. Christ assumed a body to make
Il revelation of God mo man hath
seen God at anytime. The only be-
gotten of the father, he hath reveal
ed him" Christ in the flesh is a
manifestation of God to man. The Savior
lived 80 years, went about doing good, and
then died His body was laid in the grave;
but he rose from the dead and assembled
on high ''wherc he ever liveth to make in
tercession for u.s." His body that was
amin ated by his in-dwelling spirit is no
longer visible in the world. There is
still need of revelation of God in the
world through u visible body. Christ's
church. the members of which are dwelt
in and inspired by Christ, are the body of
Christ-his visible presence in the worl d
the manifestation of his spirit to the
world As his followers, christians "mem-
bers in particular" of Christ's body are to
be feet to carry the messages of the
Savior, hands to do his work, and lips to
speak the words of life. The church, his
body, are to manifest the same spirit of
love and self sacrifice, which Christ as a
revelation of the heart and mind ofGod ex-
hibiled while on earth. In bearing fruit
they will glorify God and reveal his
moral excellence. The speaker under
stood the phrase, "the fullness of him
that flleth all in FALL" applied to the
church as Christ's body, to mean that the
church was to spread into all lands and
among all peoples so that everywhere on
the earth there should be visible mani
festation of Christ to lost world. The
sermon was given in very impressive
style, with the use of choice language,
and fine illustrations so that its effect was
very elevating and inspiriting. As the
l. L