River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-10-21
A BROAD CHRISTIANITY.
An English Preacher Proposes a New
Confession OF Faith and the Abeii-
ton OF Sectarian Lines.

DR.. Joseph Parker, pastor of the City
Temple, and Congregational minister
of some prominence in England, sends
the following letter to the London
Times:
"The boldness of the proposal / am
about to submit warrants me in seek
ing for it place in columns no less dis
tinguished than your own. You have
recently published reports of the pri-
mates visitation addresses, and day
or two ago you commented upon the,n
in a tone with which my proposal will
distinctly harmonic. l cannot but ex-
press very deep dissatisfaction with the
authoritive addresses which are de
livered from many of our ecclesiastical
chairs from time to time. As sectarian
or denominational addresses they are
admirable, and are justly applauded by
the companies for which they were
prepared; but, viewed in their larger
relations, | can not but feel that they
are often wholly outside the thinking of
one section of the community and the
immediate need of another. Has not
the time come when the points of
union should be magnified, and the
minimum? My own impression is that
there are thousands of Christians in
England who have no connection with
the sects, and who, strange as it may
appear, are not aware of their own
Christianity. This anomaly Is to be ac-
counted for by the fact that in the hands
of the sects Christianity has become
set of theological opinions and def
nitions, instead of being left as the
spirit of self-sacritice for the good of
others, Christianity is not Il form, it is
Il spirit; il knows nothing of articles,
catechisms, standards, and subscrip-
tions to tests or creeds. All these are
merely human arrangements or con-
veniences, and if not kept in their
proper places they will do mere mis-
chief than it is in the power ofatheism
to effect. do not hesitate to say that
sectarian theology is the most mischiev-
Gus influence of the age. Men who
think carefully and broadly will never
be united on this basis, it is too narrow,
too vague, and too controvertible, is it
not possible to find a point at which all
reverent thinkers will unite in cordial
fellowship? In my opinion it is quite
possible, and if possible it must be in
Enitely desirable. Whoever adopts and
practices the principle of self-sacritice
for the good Of others is, in my view a
living Christian, whatever he may think
of any point in so-called dOgmatic the
OlOgy. He may not even be a theo-
logan at all; and if not, so much the
better, unless he be man of very eX-
ceptiOnal intellectual and moral capaci-
ty. | make the broadcast possible dis
tinction between Christianity and theo-
logy, and my proposal is to operate up
on that distinction by encouraging
the formation of an inclusive alliance,
whose one principle of union
shall be that self-sacritice for the
good of others is the true law of life.
Christians must come to the rescue OF
christianity, when it is disfigured by
sectarian badges and compelled to
speak the alien language of sectarian
definitions and orthodoxies | do not
propose to interfere with anything that
is legitimate in denominationalism. As
long as the world endures men who
think alike will unite for the propaga
ton of their opinions, and this is most
wise and proper; but my inquiry is
whether there is not below and above
all UNCONVENTIONAL formations prin-
ciple which can unite and inspire men
of the most diverse theological convic-
tons, and whether that principle ought
not to be primarily recognized so as to
set all differences in their just relation
ship and perspective. | can not but
believe that there is a nobler word than
Pan-Anglican, Pan-Presbyterian, or
Pan Methodism, and that nobler word
is Pan-Christian The Unitarian and
the Unitarian are both christians, so are
the Calvanists and the Arminian; but
when do they ever meet on the broad
ground of christianity and make a
common declaration that their religion
is deeper than their theology? l leave
my proposal of an inclusive alliance or
association to make its own impression
on your readers, and | hope that his
grace, the archbishop of Canterbury,
will not regard the suggestion as out Of
harmony with his broad and generous
address"