The Portland daily press., 1879-04-15
The Disciples of Cbrist.


A great deal of curiosity has been evnced by
many people as to who and what the sect call.
ed the Disciples of Christ bslieve, whose place
of worship is 10 Mercantile Hall, Harrington
Block.
This religious people are also called 1.-THE
Church of Christ, !" "The Church of God" and
1.-THE Christian Church." because these appel
lations are scriptural. "The Church of God,'
aud "The Church of Christ are in tAe very
language of scripture. (Sse Cor. i, 1. and
Romans xvi, 16)
This people discard all worldly names and
unscrptural titles, because human names and
titles promote and perpetuate divisions. They
expect no division in heaven, and earnestly
contend that there should be no division
among the people of the world. (See John
xvii, %; Cor. i, 81 In order to Christian
union, they urge, in all brotherly kindness,
the adoption of scriptural words and phrases
In the declaration of scriptaral ideas. believing
this course will bring the Lords people nearer
together.
The Disciples Of Christ refuse to adopt any
human creed or confession of faith, be-
cause such creeds and confessions of faith have
proved themselves to be schismatical, heretical
and subversive of Christian liberty, and an
impedment to the conversion of the world to
Christ, and because they are not necessary, as
the scriptures are admitted to be infallibly
right and to contain all things necessary to
salvation. (See Tim. iii, 16)
The Bible, and the Bible alone, is the basis
on which they are striving to effect Christian
union, and they are trying to inculcate unity in
matters of faith, liberty 10 matters of opinion,
charity in all things. They recognize the dis
tinction between faith aud opinions, aud never
make opinions test of fellowship. They be-
lieve while infdelity is uniting It's forces
against Gods word there should be no division
of Christians into sects. They preach change
of heart by faith in Jesus, the Christ; a change
of character by repentance towards God, and
change of state or condition by immersion
into Cnrist's death and into his body, (See
John ii, 5; Romans vi, 1.6; Cor i, -; Heb. Z,
22)
They regard baptism as for the remission of
sins only when preceded By faith and repent
ance. Infant baptism they do not practice 1st,
because their Bible says nothing about it; I'd,
because to the infant it would be baptism with
out faith or repentance, or change of hearr and
can do them no good; 81, because infants do
not need it. as ''of such is the kngdom of
heaven already" They believe firmly in the
divinity of Christ, and regard the whole
duty of man to love God and keep his com.
mandments, but they do not expect to merit SAL
walton by their own acts of obedience or good
ThQv OFT hu fo air nj a..
Lord Jesus Christ as the mediat ,rial cause, to
the blood of Christ as the cleansing cause, to
the spirit of Christ as the eicient cause, to the
incompatible word as the instrumental cause,
and to all of these and to no one alone. They
preach the new birth as taught in j ohm iii, 5.8.
They do not deny the influence Of the Holy
Spirit on the Christians heart, and they preach
future and everlasting remorse and punish
ment. The Disciples number 100000, and have
an increase now of about 81. 900 year. They
have 20 colleges and institutions of learning
of high order, and 20 religious publications
in the United States.
In this city the society numbers about 30
members and the presidiog clergyman is Elder
Murray. 1t is the only society in this state.
On the 22d of June thu annual meeting of the
denomination wifi be held with the Portland
Society in this city.
The following are the officers of the Portland
Society:
LIST Elder-Wm. Murray.
I'd Elder-James Gribbin.
Deacons-A. p. Houston, a. Meyer, O.. F.
Jewett.
Clerk-E. L. Ring.
Treasurer-A. p. Houston.
The services are public and all intere sted
are invited.