, 1877-10-21
CHRISTIAN Union.

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the West, expresses very hearty satisfaction
and enthusiastic enjoyment over the pros
poets of union among Christian churches. It
finds that the dtydcta Mefntra of general
denominations have a tendency to reunlte,
and, in some instances, like the Presbyterian
sects of Canada, have already reunited, It
reioices that tho Old School and New School
Presbyterians Of this country are together,
and is strong in the faith that the refractory
Southern Presbyterians will speedily come
into the fold. It finds comfort in the recent
Pan-Presbyterian Council in Scotland, where
ali branches of Presbyterians met and shook
hanls, and, although they could not quite
Lords Table together, it cheeri1y aud air1ly
says: - 1t was something that they recog-
nzed one another as -Presbyterians
let Us hope that at the next meeting they
Will recognize one another Us fellow-Chris-
tians." 1t gleefullY rubs its hAnds because
two Methodist bodies also joined forces re-
Gently, giving new strength to the Methodist
Protestant Church while it Is only ques-
lion Of time as to the reunion Of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church North and South.
The reports from the Episcopal precincts are
not quite SO satisfactory to the 41dranct,
although it declares rather jnbilaut1y that
.not even the self-satisdcd Episcopal Sect
viii be able to maintain Its isolation without
putting in q vigorous defense, if that be pos
s,ble, before the aroused intellect and quick
ened conscience of the Christian world"
There ii no doubt that the Episcopal Church
is more hope1essly divided than any other, for
the new Reformed Church is young, vigor-
Gus, and defiant, and is making proselytes rs
rapidly as possible, and, rs the -1drance says,
:sits spread will be in exact proportion to
| the continuance Of ilGberallty IN the older
body" Still, the Adrance does not despair
of Episcopal union, because even {" the most
| stubborn and conceited conservatism cannot
forever maintain itself against the spiri, OF
| progress" AS it contcmplatcs th1n tendency
to union, it breaks out in the following
| glowing declaration
Then We shal: husband our reRourees and con-
| centrate our energies, AMI plan more for what is
simply Christian tl4an fur what ie Congregational.
| or Methodist, or Episcopal, OF Baptist Freshly.
tcr,an- Necessity WI! lead to eourtesy, courtesy
|
| into unity. The unity may may not take Or
eanlc form in the Gnal results, but it Will rule the
spirit OF procedure, It will shape measures, and it
Will do away with lhe chief disgrace and weakness
Of Christianity. Let rs pray and labor for 70 hap
| py consummation, assured that tho prayer Of
CHRIST for the unity OF Ills people is certain to be
| answered, even after these long ages OF discord.
! To all Of this T8E CHICAGO TRIBUNE SAYS
amen, and in whatever way this glorious
consummation may be achieved TIE TRn.
USE will heartily join hands with the Id
pance to secure it. Although secular
! newspaper, devoted to the worldly wants Of
men and to the exposition of the sayings aud
doings of this naughty world, the achieve
ments Of science, the ups and downs Of
markets, the revolutions of politics, the ex-
p1oits Of criminals, the triumphs of the
drama, art, and song, and the djurnal trans
| actions in the tents of wickedness, it has
| always taken lively interest in the events
of the spiritual life, the progress Of the
Church. the Sunday-schoo1 and missionary
enterprises, and in MI the movements of the
great army of men and women in its battle
with BEELzEBCD, Prince of Darkness It has
axulted over its victories and nourued over
its defeats. Above oil, it has been grieyed
to see thus great army divided into factions,
| squabbling with each other, when all its
strength should be concentrated for general
attack all along the line upon the Powers of
Sin. and their irregular troops gathered from
the ranks of in6delity, Over and over again
1HE CHICAGO TRIBUNE has urged upon the
churches to unite aud concentrate. In union
there is strength in division there is weak
ness. sArAs's troops are always united and
compact, under an absolute commander.
When the Russians in Armenia, with reck-
less folly, split up their army into numerous
small divisions, not cooperating with each