West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-12-07

He and His Father were one, he
made no reference in my opinion to
organic union, but to a union of
heart and purpose. Organic union
means nothing if christians do not
experience and maintain that high
er and closer spiritual union to
which Jesus adverted in his prayer
to the Father. You might blend
into one organic union all the
churches of christendom, and yet
experience such strife as would for
ever separate in feeling and work.
The unity Of the Roman Church
is merely outward. There could not
possibly exist in all of the Protest
ant churches greater want of uni
ty in some respects than is to be
seen in her.
So we conclude then that true
unity lies beyond and above the
realm of the organic; that rising
sublimely as it does above human
opinions and regulations it centers
at the cross around which the truly
pious Of every denomination may
unite, recognizing the great prin-
ciple that "there is neither Greek
nor Jew, circumcision nor uncir-
cumcision, barbarian, Scythian,
bond nor free, but that Christ is all
and in all" | am glad that the
days of ecclesiastical prescription
are past. The time when Ephriam
is not compelled to say, "shibboleth"
in order to pass the Jordan in peace.
We are just entering upon a plain
of christian life and activity, and
good will that is marvellous in the
sight of the world, and that is very
greatly increasing our power for
good,
The man who has upon his heart
the seal of Gods favor, and whose
every day life is thoroughly in har-
mony with the spirit of the gospel,
is d christian, and therefore my
brother
Then the question arises, not so
much with reference to what we
believe or disbelieve, in matters of
church polity-whether our meth
DDS in detail are precisely the same
or not, but as to whether we are
willing and ready as individuals,
as we'll as churches, to act our part
in the blessed work of uplifting and
saving fallen humanity
Satan lays high claims to West
Virginia. Society is saturated with
sin. "Spiritual wickedness" reigns
ain high places" but we are here
with full authority to wrest the
kingdom from the Evil One, and
give it to another, even the Lord
Christ, to whom it rightfully be-
longs.
The public conscience must be
qu;ckened. A sentiment in favor
Of prohibition must be created that
will not doa0n at the bidding of the
whisky ring. Such legislation as
will best subserve the interests of
society, and prove a safeguard
around the young must be secured.
No one church can boast of suffi-
cient strength to accomplish all
this. 1t will require the united
strength of all the churches. Then
we have to meet and contend with
the avowed enemies of religion and
of our cherished professionalism.
A line Of skeptics, with hands in
terlinked, reaching from one side
of our State to the other, threaten
the very life Of our cause. No mat
ter which way we turn, we can see
a would-be giant, and hear him de-
flying the armies of the living God.
They challenge ourstrength. They
dare to substitute philosophy for re-
ligion, and reason for God. They
would rob us of everything that we
cherish as sacred and heavenly. If
it were possible they would drag
Jesus OF Nazareth from the throne
of heaven, and thereby extort from
us the humiliating confession,
"They have taken away our Lord
and we know not where they have
laid HIM"
Brethren, with these facts before
US, it is highly important that we
keep awake and stand firmly to-
gether in defense Of the grand old
principles of our holy religion.
|