Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-12
THE STRANGERS CHURCH
Meeting and Organization at the
Congregational Church.
Name, Declaration of Principles
Articles of Faith, Etc.

l oOANAOCo W AeoNs ~ Noh6 A@oe SNA
! day night, October 9th, at the Congre-
gational Church on Union street, anC
after the benediction, a meeting o.
J the congregation that remained for The
purpose wa held. Mr.. Long pre-,
sided and Mr.. Marsh acted as secre.
tary. After a fervent prayer Mr.. Lonl
stepped forward and made the follow.
ing remarks:
II wish to correct a misconceptior
and Misrepresentation in regard t.
my own position. l want to say that
th~eOlOgically, 1 occupy exactly the
same position that l did when l left
the Theological Seminary. l hold, as
1 have always held, what was former.
ly known as New School Presbyterian
TheOlogy-which was opposed to the
Old School Theology, especially in two
points. The first is a denial of the
doctrine ofthe unconditional DEGREES
Of God; that is, a denial that God
with an unconditional and particular
design, made a portion of mankind for
everlasting life, and all others for
everlasting death. This denial logic
ally involves the denial of the doc
trine Of the Limited Atonement-
which is that Christ died only for the
elect, or those whom he had from all
eternity determined TO save, and that
he did not die for any others. We
hold on the contrary to the doctrine
of the unlimited or universal Atone
ment, which means that Christ died
for every human being; and that it is
his desire and the constant effort Of
the Holy Ghost to bring all men I'M
der the influence and benefits of His
Atonement. l will say, moreover,
that / am as much of a Presbyterian
to day as l ever was, and it is my in
tention never to leave the Presbyte-
rian church unless l am turned out of
it."
THE other m%isconception is that
this work that we have begun here is
only to be a temporary thing-that l
may drop it at any time and go else
where. In regard to this l will say
emphstically that l have no more
earnest wish, and no higher ambition
than to build up such a church in this
communitya as this promises to be and
may become by the help Of God. 1t
shall be my constant prayer and effort
to do this. l am willing to give my
whole life to it; and as long as l con-
tinue to receive such encouragement
and support as has been given ever
since this work began 40 inducement
can lead me to give it up"
hEPORI OF COMMITTEE.
The following report was then read:
The committee appointed to prepare
and present to this congregation a
plan Of church organization submit
the following, which was unanimously
adopted by your committee, and is
presented for your consideration:
LEADING PRINCIPLES OF THIS CHURCH
I'VE hold that a Christian church
Is a voluntary association Of professed
believers in Christ united by solemn
covenant for the public worship Of
God, for the enjoyment Of Christian
ordinances and. for mutual aid and
encouragement in all Christian duties.
1t is a cardinal principle Of our
policy that each local church is com
plete in itself aud possessed Of all the
powers and privileges incident to a
church Of Christ.
This church is therefore independ.
ent, because no other church or
ecclesiastical body has power to re-
verse its decisions or to interfere with
its internal affairs. Its only head is
the Great Head Of the church uni
yersal.
We recognize as true churches Of
Christ all associations of believers
who love our Lord Jesus Christ in
truth and sincerity and believe on
Him as their Redeemer, Priest and
King; and to all such we warmly ex.
tend the hand Of Christian fellowship.
Our Articles Of Faith are framed
upon the above principles, containing
only what are believed to be the PUN
DAMEsTAL doctrines Of Christianity.
TO which all evangelical Christians
may assent, while we neither ASSERT
nor DENY those concerning which they
conscientiously differ; for while we
hold that only true Christians should
be admitted to the church, we also
think that no TRUE CHRISTIAN should
be EXCLUDED from it, and that no
unnecessary walls Of separation should
be built up between those who mu-
tually recognize each other as true
followers Of the Lord Jesus.
ARTICLES OF FAITH.
We believe in one 0mnipresent,
Ever Living and True God, infinite
in power, wisdom and holiness, the
Creator, Preserver and Supreme
Ruler Of the Universe, whose pur-
poses and providence extend to all
events, and who exercises a righteous
moral government over all His intel
ligent creatures.
We believe that God is revealed in
the Holy Scriptures as the Father.
the Son and. the Holy Ghost, these
three being one God.
We believe that the Holy Scriptures
are given by inspiration of God, and
that fhav ara Fbo onIu nf.IIsLI