Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-24
miscellaneous.
Cooperation in Christian Work.

..Topics of the Time in the November
Century include an editorial on this time
" subject, which says, in part:
All these love-feasts OF Christian fellow
ship, from Evangelical Alliance down to
the union PRAYER meeting in the country
villages. bear united testimony that the
difference between the sects - between
those called Evangelical. at any rate-are
not of any real importance. In other
words thew bear witness that the sectarian
divisions Of the Christian church in city
and country, by which in so many places
its power is destroyed and its glory turned
TO shame, all rest on non essential differ
ences.
There is a large body Of Christian men
In all the sects-mostly quiet men who DC
not talk much in the union meetings, ou'
whose contributions support, IN large
measure, the churches and the missionary
societies-who have been paying close at.
tention to these useless divisions, and who
are beginning vigorously to apply to them
their logic and their common sense. III
the differences between these sects are SC
unimportant as You say" they argue
..why should they be perpetuated at such
cost d? Why should four weak churches
all substantially alike, be maintained in
small village, when one efficient church
could be easily supported Why should
the sects in the cities struggle on as rivals
rather than as allies, often Gripping one
another by their competition, getting in
one another's way with their mission en-
terprises. having no stated consultations
and making no concerted effort to secure
harmonious and complete occupation OF
their common field? Such waste Of
power. such confusion of plans and pur'
poses, would ruin any other enterprise
Why should this greatest OF enterprises
be crippled by divisions which. as you
testify. are Of no real consequence ?''
Those who followed the discussions o
this department of the magazine through
the years of Dr. Hollands editOrship
know how often and strongly he struck
this chord. Through his teaching, and
the teachings Of other men impressed
with the same conviction, the truth OF this
matter has become the common property
of multitude of sagacious and innuen
tial business men in all the churches, and
it Is safe to predict that something gooc
will come of it. The wicked and waste
full rivalries and competitions between
sects that differ about non-essentlal mat
tiers will not always be tolerated. 1t viii
be necessary for the managers of the de
nominalional machines to find a moda'
rirendi The denominations may continue
to exist for a long time. but they will bt
obliged to come to better understand
ing, and not merely sing the praises o
unity, but learn to unite in Christian work
In promoting reforms of this nature
words are often thirgs, and we beg to
suggest word which may help in the
solution of this problem. Suppose We
stop talking of union and of unity. and
begin to consider the duty Of cooperation
in Christian work This is the desidera
tum-cooperaiion. In town and city and
mission field. Christians. the disciples o.
common Master, ought to cooperate
Can they cooperate9 Who will deny it
When we come to speak OF the methods
of cooperation, there is much to say
Here wisdom is wanted, but means viii
not be lacking to men whose hearts art
set upon the attainment of the end. In
the present number of the magazine be
gins short serial by DIR. GLADDEN., devot
ed to the discussion of methods of coop
Grafton in Christian work. We think oul
readers will agree with us in regarding il
as among the most suggestive, practica
and entertaining studies of the subjcc
that have yet been made. 1t is to bt
hoped that The Christian League o
Connecticut will serve as model FOL
similar movements in other communities
throughout the country.