Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-19

was adiudged Even the churches them
selves are planting themselves upon the
broad principles enunciated in the above ex-
tract, quoted from the APPEAL of Friday
morning. Liberal men take sensible view
oil this matter, and are asking why should
the churches retain dogmas which they adj
init to be non-essential=2 Why not leave men
free to form their own opinions, without
subjecting them TO the pain and humiliation
OF expulsion Tor heresy? DR.. William II.
Scott, prominent Methodist, and president
OF the Ohio University, in recent article
advocating liberation and an ObliteratiOn Of
all that is non-essential in the standards, says:
II there be one thing that Christianity mesus
more than all other things, IL is fratcrlal unity
first to save men and then TO bind them into ono
70 harmonic them first with God and then with
one another He put far above an OtheF ?, lIi-'-
ments, as the supreme human duty love 20 God
and love TO men and when he was about 20 de-
part the burden Of MS Soul Wa tlat tho-e VINO
pains men have read into his simple teachings
theI own narrow meanings, ana WIN fhDLess
repctitiOus and disPutatiOns they have compelled
attention 70 their narrow meanings, not only 20
the neglect but TO the subyerAlou ana Destruction
Of the essential aim OF the Great Master II is
that for generation past this bigOted dispD-
-ltlon mas been GIVING way 20 more nDeIal s'u-
meut Religious controversy has been less frequent
lTateTUHl greetings
councils have softcued many aninosites and
created the beginning at least Of deep and gen
visible approach toward the true idea of the
church But tried by this criterion, what shall
We say Of the dOctrinAl standards still professed
ana defended Dy the various CHRISTIAN denOmina-
tons? Many OF these denominations recognize
general church OF God. The Baptist Church adj
nit that the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian
the gospel in a pure and saving form A member
of that church Acknowledges that a member Of
either OF the others may be as good christian a.
hinsei Nevertheie s. he holds IN his creed
doctrine which Episcopalians, Presbyterians and
Mehodists unanimously reject He affirms- while
OF baptism. Now by that single TACT the Baptist
Church is ehectually closed against the members
OF each OF the other churches aud against all other
persons who cannot conscientiously assent TO the
doctrine of immersion. II, for any reason, Pres
Dyteuan, wei known as an humble and devoEt
christian, should desire to unite with the Baptist
Church, still retaining his Presbyterian faith, he
would be refused. Nay, II person who Is alreaf "
a member OF the Baptist Church should change his
opinion on this single subject aud should attem pit
70 convince ms brethren, ne would, though no
suspicion were breathed against his character, be
silenced and probably expelled. Aud yet his
cirurch IN the very act Of excluding him, Wouli
perhaps declare her confidence in bis purity and
sincerity The church in general and every indi-
yidual church organized within II being an inst-
tuition for saving men, its sole object being to
cue souls from moral Iuin and TO form in them |
Christike characters, what right has 1t to raise
barriers against those who show the fruits of re
ligion in their lives2 The only and total reason
business of bringing salvation. Whatever will aid |
her in that business belongs 10 her by indefeasble
right Whatever VIII hinder her IN that business |
is therefore and therefore alone, alien her; and
TO hold or to teach it is the only heresy. Why not
be satisfied with pure and Christlike character |
atteSted by pure and Christ-like life. Instead |
Of branding people Of sincere purpose and chris
tan conduct with heresy and forcing them from |
our fellowship, why not leave them free 10 differ
in things unessential, as they honestly must?
These are the views of christian gentle |
man of great learning and ability. All |
must agree with the APPEAL in the opinion |
which it has expressed, and to which our cor !
refers, that after church has
adopted its standards, it is but consistent |
that it should exclude all who will not &C
cept its standards. But the real question is
quite different 1t is this: Why should a |
christian church adopt standards that will |
exclude christian men and women? Or hav-
ing adopted creed, which is more impor-
tant, that the church should maintain her
or that she should help to save
soul from death? Shall she expuuge from
her creed all points on which true christians
may differ, or shall she, in order to preserve
ler refnements Of doctrine, cut off sincere
soul from her saving power? Why retain as
4 standard what is no STANDARDIZED with
be christian; with which he
nay agree and yet be worse than an in
idel? Every christian church ought to have
ioors wide enough to receive any christian,
and enough room to retain him, and that, too,
without causing him to feel that he is an
intruder or is unwelcome. To the vast
majority OF every denomination the creed is
Is ii it were not. Few understand its mean
ng, fewer still comprehend its grounds. 1t
las influence on either their faith or
heir conduct They are no worse because
hey are ignorant of it; they would be no
better if they knew and believed it. They
luow and believe enough to be christian
men and women. The essentials of morals
md of christianity they know and accept. If
hey practice these, they are good enough for
my church, and any church ought to well
ONE them cordially to its fellowship.
thoughtful people are beginning to see that
he church should not be a mummery of
machinery. The church. full and free and
II powerful, existed in the world before the
.andards, and will exist after they have
erished