Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-09-11
The Avant Courier.
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER II. 1879
DENOMINATIONS TENDENCIES,-
FEW SUNDAY THOrGHrS.


Very few. indeed, but are aware Of {,
truth Of this remark. not by Observable
merely. bat by experience. We THU
facts and figures would bear us ont in I
statement that 1t costs more in the aygI
gate TO run the entire machinery OF Il
churches than ii does to sustain all ii
educational institutions Of the land: a.
yet the real benefits acc,linx 10 the mas
cs, from the former. are hardly to
compared with those arising from the 1,
ter. This Remark in regard to the reL,ti,
cost OF churches and schools tnay nor
strictly correct when applied TO Montan;
Tor at present but few. il any. Of III
churches or societies are self-Sustainine
We dorb; if there is a minister i'm the Tel
rltory that to-day receives liberal SUI
port from the congregation he serves o
the community in which he labors. Wit
few exceptions. the contributions of tn
people are supplemented by what are term
"a missionary appropriations " from
abroad, and yet the people OF Montan,
are perhaps as generous in their cnn,lib,,
fiOns and as little given 10 sectarian biz
ofry as any community in the United
States.
While this is true. however. Of the peo
pie OF Montana. the religious tendency OF
the age IL evidently in favor OF promuyat.
ing peculiar sectarian dognas and build
ing up seciarlan interests. even at the sac
rilce OF. ut least. the pecrnary interests
CT the people. No matter how small and
feeble community may be. each of the
leading religious denominations EXPECT
and cndcavor to be represented in that
community. by the erection OF a church
and. at least. the partial support of a pas
tor. Consequently. such communities are
not unflequen'y taxed for voluntary
Contributions tor the support Of two to
hhli-;i-doZcn churches. beyond any reason
able ability to pay :; Willie the churches
ana their pastors are under the necessity
OF laboring under serious pcciinarv en-
oarrassInents from month to month and
from year TO year. Thus. small coinmun-
Ties are diverted or prevented from all
concert OF action and unanimity OF effort
In building up and sustaining in their
midst an efficient Institution OF morality .
and religion. 1.-The artillery of heaven
by the force of such circumstances. is Of
ten substituted ard sectaIian pop-yuns.
Drought in and discharged at irregular in
terVHls. and. rs a matter Of course. with
out any visible or eilecltial results.
AS ii appears to us. the aim and end of
all true religion is. or should he. TO make
men bet,cr-to make them wiser and hal- I
pier, by elevating them in the scale of
true manhoOd-We can see no unsur-
mOuntable obstacle TO the establishment {
OF a church with foundation sufficiently
broad and constitution sufficiently liber- !
I'll to claim and merit tile approval and
cordial support of all good men and $
true Of whatever sect or denomination |
or by whatever Name they may have
been called. :
Some such arrangement would certainly C
appear to be advantageous to all n4v n
small ana struggling communities like our D
own. by the united efforts of all, one
ic;tt and coinnodious edtice could be IL
'rected and tasieiully furnished and. per q
laps. minister of more than AVERAGE. IN
'bility secl,r and well supported by the ~
generous contributions of the whole u4o-
ne, and yet it might he found suicidal pol- Il;
~ or tile worst OF folly 10 branch out and
tempt to sustain from two TO lIalt-a- 1
oxen distinct religious organizations. eacl, er
nth its church editice and minister. CT
The beauties and benefits of denomina- 10
onalls'n have been so long and so ear 81
estly presented and insisted upon, tha, he
e may have been led to accept AS truth ny
nat Is only partially true, or in ether M
ords. what might 'e true under certain II
'ppOsable circumstances. No argument ".
favor OF nOmoninational Christianity. mi
applied to professionalism" that we J"
I'VE ever seen or heard. will sustain il in We
e face OF its evident disadvantages in sh
nall communities. Its direct tendencies tht
10 destroy whatever strength there is 10Y
would be in unity. and that without 20
y compromising results. 1t is claimed Ass
ut there is wide difference between de- ans
and sectarianism. The NC
terence is purely theoretical; practically
~ are the same. 1t is "A constant STRIFE. I'm
sectariin prestige and pre-eininence. s'a'
Tile the great principles which are sup WEI
sell to Iinderlie the motives and act,,are
lives OF men are often kept so tar in the {.
ckground thai they are lost sight OF al tni:
yether. .,,,r
Again. sectarianism mitigates agains, poi
IN unity and progression in that it no, ma,
~ divides up the religious element of a der
immunity into small and comparatively IT e
ak factions. but il binds them to old cs- moo
"she' 'oihis ana creeds. from which. in bet
nature OF things. they cannot advance. kot
Christianity is what il is claimed to be and
religion OF universal adaptation to 'he oats
c-then one Of its prominent features of ,
81 be that OF unity. for IA kingdom d. Coo
RI against itself cannot stand" And Dah
IL adapted TO all times and circum- of t
lces-;lS II is claimed to be-then il is "A See:
ZION OF Infinite progression. otherwis. Tim
destined 10 religious peirifctiOn, 10 and
lbnndOned and buried with the moral corn
intellectual developments and acclllnl.- prs.
'ns of future ages. lev.
oi1hg The subject as near home rs try
-'"iSs AiCIC u OoZeltla1. we ltdke 10 anil
that three feeble religioi,sly orthodox the /.
cites. with us many officiating minis the {
to do the work. Yet unhar the most the $
rlble circumstances, Bohemian cannot ific.
Out more than one respectably-sized from
.regaiion OF regular "church-goers." local
no society or separate congregation find
pay living salary to its minister. in Dakt
ton TO keeping up The necessary Incl. them
al es pe,ises of the church. TO our and {
4 would he much better tor those cattle
e societies TO aniie, employ a man OF in all
owledged ability, and give him a lib coun,
support. We do not claim any par biliti.
ar originality for this idea. for some by r,
similar policy has been adopted else. P. q
e with most satisfac, Dry results. New
eaAing OF the policy OF uniting feeble Cj,as,
chcs. an exchange says that in about Josen
cases this policy has been adopted I'm lie n
;'chose''s. and in four years expert and ,
only one couple has sued for a ,il. Il, E
!. Each at the churches has one ser. and b