The New York herald., 1877-01-08
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH OTHER AND


WITH CHRIST
The Church Of the Disciples (rechristcned the Madi
son Church Of the D.scipes) yesterday morn
ing had, Tor that church. very slim congregation, but
considering the state OF the weather. quite largo one
1t being the first Sunday in the month tho ordinance
Of the Lords Supper was administered sixteen new
members were admitted to whom Mr. Hcpworth gave
his usual broad and liberal invitation. The preacher
selected his from the nrst episte OF john B.
"And truly our fellowship with the Father and with
His Son Jesus Christ" The preacher began his dis
by saying he had recently learned very curl
GUS and interesting fact in connection with the manu-
iacture OF watches in Switzcrland-that IL seldom
happens that all the parts Of q watch made
roof that they do not have manufactures
there as do America, that the different parts
made in the humble cottages OF the villagers then
brought to the general superintendent and he and his
workmcn put them each In its place. The watch Is
thus formed. The value OF the watch thus depends,
not upon the honesty OF one man. but upon the iath
ulness and skill OF many. The preacher said he con-
sidercd this type Of the relationship which bear
TO the plan which God Is trying TO work out. We are
told by the sacred writer's that He did not give the
work to all teat He hath given 10 some men TO
be opostes and 1t s their divine privilege 10 stand ON
the mountain top and speak such eloquent words as
shall make all men listen, and TO seal their apostle
ship by the solemn glory and dreadful agony
Of martyrdom Il is given to others
OF tho many pupits throughout Chrstendom,
and spcak the truth 10 aching harts and IL were.
to stand beside Jacobs we'll and drop the bucket OF
salvation and draw up the waters OF lie The weary
passer by may drink and be filled and so on his jour
ney pralsing God Tor His goodness TO HIM. He has
given it to others be merchants mechanics and to
labor op the bench OF the artisan, and He demands Of
HIM truly He does OF the apostle utter faithful
to his task, however, narrow and apparently IN
significant that task may be- In thc day OF general
Judgment when shall all appear before the critical
eyes OF His justice He will put together by one,
all the thousands OF pieces o HIS great pan piece TO
piece color to color, aud u any one In the uni
verse has been unfathul God will know It,
lie said we wcro beginning 10 recognize that we are
different parts OF the same great army but having one
Leader. We had been fghtDg ovor theological dog
mas; we had put theology trst and piety next; we
had condemned any man who could not look as we
looked; we had been unchartable, ungentle and We
had all sought the same favors from Cod but not in
precisely the way. Years ago tue dcnomipa
The pavement and broken itself into thousand small
drops, but now the whole OF the Christian churches
like these thousand drops OF quicksilver and are
brought together In Gods hand. and they being
ol q like nature and having tendency tow
ard each other, together agaiD and
He could not understand how II was that men
could be SO jealous and one-sded; that, having the
power changed TO despots In matters O reli
gion. supposed that not only the Catholics IN the
Middle Ages, but Puritan fathers believed IN their
inmost hearts that unless accepted the Bible
just their way they would he damned to all eternity.
We had he sad been standing AS werc on the rim Of
tho theological Wheel ana had opposed every one who
did stand by side; but by the orce Of the Holy
Spirit under whose dispcnsaon we are living, we had
been gradually moving from our position on the rim
along the road OF the several spokes toward the hub,
nd the time not Tar distant he hoped, when we
shaIl stand around the hub ''Out the you have
theology, /" said he; lat tho hub you have religion"