, 1881-04-24

TIE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
The Rev. Z. c, Abbott, pastor OF tho Chris
tian Church, Albany, n. Y, gives this cx-
PLANTATION of the origin OF that denomination:
81 1t was formed out of love for religious
liberty About the year lSO0 there was much
bigotry and intolerance in the churches OF
all denominations. They waged 4 bitter war-
fare against each other, and placed strong
emphasis on the doctrines of the Church. IL
was Il time Of spiritual dearth III all the
churches. There were lnany good men Ill
all the denominations, WHO deeply lanented
the divisions existing among Christians, and
dcplorcA the eS;l1tation Of creetls and dog1nas
above the Word of God. They resolved to
throw off the sllackleS fastened upon them
by conferences. associations, PresbyterlcS,
aud other ecclesiastical bodies. They de-
cIared that creetls l1ld systems of theology
were obstructing the work of the Church,
and that the Bible was sufficient as rule OF
faith and prac;icu They insisted upon Il
common sense, individual Interpretation
Of the Scriptures; and taught that
they contained III clear, plain statements all
the truth to be believed il. order tn attain
salvation and growth III grace. They 'nalll-
iainetl that the statement Of Jesus could not
he improved upon, ant. that the world needed
Il restoration Of primitive Christianity IN It's
power aud smpllcity They held thai :tI; :3esus
did not CONT. to Introduce Il system Of the0s-
ogy, but affirmed that Christianity was spirit,
was PURPOSE, w;ls life: and that Il confession
of belief IN the Lord Jesus Christ. and a
Christian character consistent Herewith was
sufficient for Christian fellowship and church
membership. In North Carolina stccssl0ns
took place from the II. f. Church, III ktll-
tllcky from the Presbyterian Church, and III
New England from the Baptists. \ cotvel'-
ton OF I'LL who would accept no creed but tile
lille met in New York City in 1904. They
agreed tn :lceept the Bible us their creed,
luuke Christian character the test or CHRIS
tian and church fellowship, and insist npnll
the duty of each individual to real the HOLY
Scriptures and obey them as he understood
them. They organized churches ol, that
platform throughout the entire country"
THE PRESIDENTS CHURCH.
THE PROPOSITIONS NOW nE1SG CONSIDERED
Fol: THE NEW ClillsrtAS CHURCH At
WASHINGTON.
Washington Past.
The little church around the corner from
y street, on Vcrnlult avenue. has lately at
tanned 4 notoriety that neither its size its
exterior or interior decorations warrant 4
few months ago, if Il stranger had asked
where the Vermont Avenue Christian Church
was situated. or who was its pastor, not one
ina hundred could have given the infor1na-
ton. Now the reverse is the ease. Tile pastor
is sought to influence appointments. the coil
grega1ion has Increased to such proportions
that the church cannot seat the people who
flock there to worship. And this change is
brought about by 10 new accommoda-
tiol1s Tic pastor is nu more eloquent,
or pious, or attentive to his duties than
formerly. Yet the change has been SO
great that regular attendant hardly recog-
nizcs the plain, simple, unostentatiOus, one
story frame editce where he was wont t0
worship God in the greatest privacy. It is
all changed. The same building is there,
but the surroundings are SO different.
Strange faces meet yOlt at every turn..
Fashion, gorgeous fashion, decked out in all
colors of the rainbow, occupies the humble
pews that contained, Il few mouths ago, the
| riOus churcll-goillg members. The l,lAn II
| the world says this change IS because l'resl-
dent Garfield frequents the church and i5a '
| proper thing; to attend church with the
/ President. That such motives influence
| people is by no means certain. Tie people
doubtless have just become informed US to the
! doctrines OF the Christian faith and follow
the dictates of duty in the premises In any
| event, the official body Of the church have
cunlc to tile conclusion that all enlarged
eslitice is necessary, and to that end lave
In Washington 5000 have been sub-
scrlbest. Agents outside. under the
auspices OF the Christian EXccu-
tive Board, stationed at Cincinnati.
lave made Il thorough canvass Of the coull-
try, and, report collections that win warrant
the work on the new church to be begun in
| May. Several D'a'ls have been submitted,
but us the site has yet to be selected no plans
| have hecn adopted. Either one of three
| lots will be chosen. These are the present
site, the lot corner OF Thirteenth and y
! Streets or the l,t corner of Thirteenth and
l. streets. Should it be decided to select the
| present Site the church will consist OF Il
! basement fur Sunday-school purposes, with
the auditorium Immediately above. II either
| Of the corner lots is selected, it is the prrs
| ent determination to have butt one floor.
! This, as W;s explained in the POst, was that
tile sick. tile lnaimeu and the lazy could
have no excuse for not coming tU church,
the auditorium being OIL the ground floor.
While the general design has not been deter
mined npoi,, tile Building Committee. uf
which Nlr. ". S. Rouse is Chairman. is said
E! tn favor al ediice having the general ap
All Souls Church, at the corner of Four
teenth and !. streets. The pastor desires
| that the church, while neat and cOmlnOtllDlS,
! shall not bc either gorgeous in its tlecor;l-
| tio,,s or elaborate in tinlsh- ln~tls view
President Garfield comedies. Tile total cost
Of tile church will not exceed $4,000 or
| S35, COO.
FUNERAL SERMONS.
| c4r.sTJc f-r11rrfsH