The New York herald., 1876-11-05
ORTHODOX UNlvERsALIsM.

ORTHODOA UNlVEhSAL1SM.
THE CREED OF THE AMERICAN FERE CHURCH
ITS CLAIM FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
To Is will sound very strangely and TO some
eyes seem oddly to talk wrte about Universalism
and Orthodoxy ms II they were IN any sense related
had any affinity with each other. But it Is receive
demonstration recognition in this city to-day 1t
will be remembered that halt year ago the Rev.
Charles L. Mccarthy left the Bleecker Unvcr-
salst church. charging IT, and in the entire
denomination with inddel propensities and endeaces
He has been preaching in the University Building 70
such persons would hear him ever since. His en-
terprisc has met with such that the Gamer.
ican Free church" viii te recognized to-day as q
church Of the Lord Jesus Christ, tho sacramen,
will be administered and = Sunday school. which
has been organized will be opened with Mr..
and Mrs Biddlc as superntendents and Mr..
the church and society have undertaken to look after
the financial interests OF the enterprise, that r.
Mccarthy, upon whose shoulders this burden has
rested for six months Will be released TO attend TO his
purely ministerial dut.cs 10 tho purpose and hope
or the church to get within the so-called orthodox
fold possible at least 10 give its orthodox ncgh-
bors fair chance to treat it church God. And
for this reason couple oil weeks ago 1t adopted a
screcd OF which the following the salient points -
FIRST, belie in living and God, Creator and
Father Of ALL 'swho will have all men to be saved;,
second belief in Jesus Christ the only begcten Son Of
God. the Saviour of men, who "tasted death
for every man." rose again from the dead.
thereby demonstrating tho truth of life be-
yond the grave. and that in Him all the fulness OF
the Godhead bodily was manifested; also belief in tho
Holy Spirit in the inspiration OF the Scriptures and
the character Of the Christian religion
geiher with the miracles o Christ and all else con-
tanned therein. Aud, furthermore, belief that God
being the righteous governor vi the universe Will
der every according his deeds rbuation and
anguish upon every soul OF that docth evil;
that doeh wrong shall receive Tor the wrong he
hath done and though nand Join hand tho wicked
shall not 30 unpunishedn Finally, belief that the
utmost freedom and liberty OF thought all minor
questions OF docri Interpretation should be cu.
tivated among all classes OF Christians and
puted dogma endless torment after death should
be made the OF acrimony or division among
believers Christ or considered IN any
test of membership and Christian stand.
inu Moreover. that all who believe In and
love the Lord Jesus Christ In sincerity and TRUTH and
who are seeking to live up TO His LIE and light, are
worthy OF membership in any true Christian church.
Copies OF this creed to bc sent out this week
every Christian pastor this city with request that
they shall each express individual opinion whether
1t contains fatal defect to bar tho church the
fellowship and sympathy OF their brethren OF sister
churches. Leaving out the disputed Dogma OF endless
punishment, which q matter that belongs wholly 10
Cod there Ia nothing in the creed that the sraIcst
Of the Purtans nigh. not subscribe to. And this
dogma, whether right or wrong, SO long the point
cannot be definitely settled, should NOT be made bar
to Christian fellowship and good brotherhood.