Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1880-02-28
Some Reasons for joining a
Church.
From Sermon by David Swing.]

Church.
From q Sermon by David Swing.]
| would suggest that a potent
reason why there should be an i'm.
mense accession to all Protestant
churches in these years, may be
found in the fact that the churches
need the liberal views and the edu-
cation, the new intellect and the
new heart now to be found outside
the walls of the denominations.
Not only does the church need such
all invasion by moral men, young
and old, but it has for the most part
become ready to welcome thousands
which once it would have turned
away. These churches cannot
erase a group of false doctrines in a
day. Blotting out Is slow pro-
cess. But the churches can pass
by silently the ideas which no one
wants. And generally they are do
ing this; and are ready to welcome
men and women of famazing breadth
Of belief or opinion. The reasons
for standing outside which were
valid 20 yeaas ago, namely, con.
sideratiOns of the false opinions
held by those within, are not valid
any longer to any great degree. for
the ideas inside the sanctuary have
moved along and have moved along
and have almost overtaken the re.
ligious opinions held by the general
congregation. 1t is of the general
or at least wide spread fact I am
speaking. All must he fully aware
that here and there meeting-hou
stands in full relationshs sp with an.
tiquity. The pastors of these are
still defining the infinite, are still
positive that the world has not
moved a span since Augustine or
Calvin, and of these churches the
members still debate and quarrel
about doctrines, and mourn over
the forms of human pleasure and
happiness. Of such churches the
number is small. You are nOt
urged to rush to the support Of
these. They should be left to die
in the most possible of peace. But
in all cities and in the towns and
even in the villages. there are
churches full Of the simplest and
best doctrines and practice OF the
religion of Jesus. They were the
old names yet but not the old ma
ture. 1t is difficult to escape from
a long-worn appellation. It is
easier to retain the name and cast
around it newer and better assOcia-
tions. When certain young RO-
man lawyer gave sudden promise
of great elOquenoe, some fellow
lawyers advised him to adopt q
new name, for his fathers name
meant root IN the garden. 1t is
possible his ancestors may have
raised and sold vegetables. The
young lawyer replied, II shall no
change my name, but I will attempt
SO to live as to make humble name
noble" And that the name Of
Cicero carries NO reproach in it We
can all testify. SO the churches
need not adopt new names. 1t il
true that their ancestors we're often
hard. hearted, and sometimes utter
ly contemplate. Many bad associ
ations attach to all the modern
church names, but they need not
erase titles for, like the Roman
youth, they can so live as to make
their names honorable. 1t might
easily come to pass that the term
"Presbyterian" or "Baptist" or
methodist" shall yet look beautl-
full upon a banner, and shall sound
like music to the ear of even the
most liberal Christian. A name
will assume new import rs fast
as new virtues come. Words
travel as rapidly as good or bad
Journeys.