The Portland daily press., 1883-02-13
REV. MIR. wIrHRow's ADDRESS.

REV. Mhs WILL daOW . ADDhtSas
Impatient objections to denominatonalism
in religion are due to hasty Judgment or to an
imperfect observation of facts. What infidel
ever wrote book, OF unbellever made an ar
gument against the Divine authority of our
holy religion who failed to magnify. ev&y.
half that has been written and spoken of this
sort we're true, it might be concluded that
church divisions and creed distinctions had
done more to degrade mankind than war, ra-
pine aud ravage of any kind.
But what a loss the world would suffer II all
the o0ors of flowers and grasses were unified;
and hereafter violets, roses, mignonettes and
all others We're to smell exactly alike. What
if He who M AIDE the bands of the solar spect-
rum should, by now incredible miracle, SO
soidify their blended beauties in an indivisible
white beam, that hereafter varieties Of color
should be as impossible here as we suppose
they are on those orbs of space where a single
band of orr rainbow is all that the atmosphere
can absorb? Who Graves the atmospheric
covering of either color, sold? Does it dimin-
ish the excellence of fruits of he earth that
dates are swe et and crab apples sour? 1t is no
insufferable disSonance that the cav of crow
is not sweet as the twilter of canary bird
So gardens, field, forest are full of illustrations
showing that denominations are necessity of
complete development. Mates, families, focks,
herds, genera, spi e., plants with smooth stock
aud plants that are knotty, these are nature s
denominatiobalism.
Higher up, it is because there have been
contending schools that natural sciences have
advanced. No civil government can be sus-
tanned without there are denominations
parties 1t is the corruption of political parties
and not SIMPLY their existence that is Gu SO
to the country. The same is true in the high
realm of religion. In the battle of b bical
criticism the Bible has been put as gold in the
furnace land the New Testament is settled, AS to
it's authenticity al least, beyond any dispute OF
well Informed scholarship. By and by the old
Testament will achieve the same conquest
over the critics. But to contending parties
we owe the result.
Instead therefore of hurting our anathemas
against denominations, We ought rather TO
recognize the necessity. Allow them their
place, aud do cur part in and toward them.
There distinctive differences had better be
preserved than perish. Keep the fences up,
strong and straight. Only make the gates be-
tween swing on easy hinges. Uniformity in
faith or worship can never be successful IL in
troduced while there is enough conviction of
the verify of the Christian religion to take
hold on that in us which we call core of
character.
But this being admitted there ought to be a
spirit cherished which admits that no one de-
nomination has all the truth, AID there is 10
one but has some OF the truth. God forbid
that we should favor that superficial fashion
of speaking of all shades and systems OF faith
as being each alike good. That We should
agree with those who consider one church just
as near right as another.
One cannot be just as good as another, for
each individual unless all are alike good for
nothing. One who should say, one woman
is just as good as another for wife for me
would thereby show his unworthiness to wed
any woman. And yet each woman has her
worth.
One can be faithful to his own denomina
ton and yet take pleasure in the prosperity of
all others. Whether working with elbows
touching in crowded nelghborhOod or out on
the frontier expanses at longest arms length,
all the disciples of Christ ought to rejoice in
the successes of the common cause as carried
ON by any one division of the great army of
the Lord.
stituted gospel ordinance in place of sparse
supply, The others ought all to say: Go on, go
| o., in the name of The Lord. And when your
nets sball-if they shall become as those on
| the Lake of Tiberius, ready 10 break, beckon 10
us and we will come and help you. But for
| five different Christian denominations to have
| five different churches started in a small west
ern village OF only five hundred population is a
| disgrace to religion and sin against God.
| And yet we know this to have been done.
! DeDominational fidelity requires tnat each
| adherent shall be true TO the body in which he
may be provideDtially placed to work. Ii
| Methodist, then he who is the most cordial
| and enthusiastic advocate of Methodist inter-
| ests shows himself 10 be the worthest man.
| Each working over against his own situation
| is the sure way to build rapidly the walls of
| the city of the Great King. Such mind will
| forbid the waste of W Jrds and trial of patience
| we as Congregationaiists have in hearing hot
| debates of the question whether we are de-
| nomination or not. There may be others, but
we doubt 1t, who give such generous support
| to ali sorts of outside appeals while stintiDg
| our distinctvely denominationa applications
| for help. While we are denomination let us
bs one, more rather than less; devoted TO ouI
4 own methods, and true to our own standards.
But suppose the Case is such with any that
| this couIenIment aud Cooperation is impossi-
| ble What if one has fallen out with the
| forms or the faith. Then such ought to have
| kindly leave TO withdraw We ought to be
| happier 10 have such at peace in new house
than restless Ill an old.
Cheerfully we will allow every man tc
think, believe, teach and preach that which
his conscience and ght approve, provided il
be distinctly recognized that there is differ
ence between US, if indeed there shall be such
diff, renee.
just here is matter that may need earnes
attention, Because there seems to be rising
spirit that would pooh, pooh the differences
that have arisen within our own denomination
In one IRE ltb we are told there is new depar
ture III lie doctrnal teachings OF some of on
brethren, but they turn sand tell u
there Is no departure. Either there Is Or Their