Morning journal and courier., 1885-10-21

,ause of many sharp doctr1nal discus ,ions and of many attacks of unbe- lief in our own day. We may add to these, and with the same comment, that theories about doctrines of truths are often forced into the doctrines or truths them selves, much in the same way in which the two things just spoken of usurp the same position.
 Let, then, any one of these mistakes oc- cur; let some single truth or doctrine, or some single aspect of either, be dislocated and isolated from it's proper connections and above all, let some human theory about given doctrine or truth be thrust into the place of the doctrine or truth itself, and who can measure the disastrous results? It comes to this in the end, that the wordy, human theory or specu- lation is so identified with, so usurps the projection of the doctrine once revealed and then transmitted in the Church of God, that it fills the field of union; and when few generations. or few centuries, have gone by, men talk of this old doctrine, title to which it has no claim, and in it's breakdown the real truth or doctrine falls with it. What do we see in more than our country in Europe to-day, but just this very thing. The faith once given to the saints has been weighed down and overburdened with assumptions and vagaries of ultramon- anism imposed as parts of the faith itself
 till the faith itself is buried in the ruins; and the dead silence of utter unbelief broods over the wreck.
 Something of the same sort may be wit messed much nearer home. How often it is said all about us that one or another "old doctrine" is abandoned and cast aside when the real truth is that the thing called old is simply new; is nothing but one or another theory of a single great mind of the sixteenth century; mind waich evolved what has been termed the Protes- tant scholasticism; beyond and back of whose theories and speculations the real truth and the truly ancient doctrine lies. Even so, beyond the prism which has broken the beam of pure white light into the various colors of the spectrum, we find the pure white beam again.
 These truths, so important to be remem- bered in all discussions which touch on Christian doctrine, have an equally impor- tsnt bearing on that subject which and hopes of earnest Christian men, the unity of divided Christendom. It is not for one who is honored with the duty of pre- siding over the discussions of the Congress to attempt in any way to deal with one of the topics indicated in it's programme. But this much may, think, be said.
 In approaching the great subject of Chris tian unity, it is most encouraging and hope ful to remember that we approach it under conditions widely different from those which prevailed not many years ago.
 First of all, there was disposition then to look first at points of difference. Now, it would seem, men are ready, or getting ready, to look first at points of agreement. know it is said that there is some danger in an "era of good nature" No doubt there is some truth in the saying. But I venture to think there is great deal more danger in an "era of i'll nature" If an apostle could exhort believers to be ready to give even the heath en Ca reason of the hope that was in them, :" surely they who profess themselves Chris tians may well approach each other in the same spirit and put away all ''wrath and clamor and evil speaking"
 Secondly, and the great importance of this fact can hardly be overestimated, we have passed far beyond the stages of discussion when men talked of the advantages of divi- sion and separation because they provoked unto "good works' the other, not unimpor- tant word, in the passage, the word Glove" was, believe, generally omitted in the quoting. To-day men are ready to admit the evils of division not only in view of what lies immediately about them, but also in view of the con- version of the world; are ready to own that our Master and Lord meant what He said when He uttered the prayer "That they all may be one as Thou Father art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me-" God speed the day when God shall restore the church's broken unity; the blessing forfeited by human sin; the gift 'tnot to be seized by mans rude, sinful hands, but the bright crown of united holi- ness!" am detaining you too long from other and important thingsi and will only add the awe inspiring, and at the same time hopeful and inspiring words of great di. vine of the mother church.
 We live amid closing disasters and falling institutions; there is an axe laid at the root of many trees, foundations of fabrics have long been giving way, and the visible totter- ing commences. "The earth quakes and the heavens do tremble." The sounds of great downfalls and great disruptions come from different quarters. Old combinations start great crash is heard and it is some vast mass that has just broken off from the rock and gone down into the chasm below. A great volume of time is now shutting, the roll is folded up for the registry and we must open another. Never again-never though ages pass away-neyer any more under the heavens shall be seen forms and fabrics, and structures and combinations that we have seen. They have taken their place among the departed shapes and organisms deposited in that vast mausoleum which receives soon- ar or later all human creations. The mold in which they were made is broken, and their successors will be cast from new mold The world is evidently at the end of one era, end is entering upon another; but there will remain the Christian creed and the Christian church, to enlighten ignor ance, to hght with sin and to conduct men to eternity,"
 THE MEMORIAL ADDRESS.
 Following the bishops admirable address, which was warmly applauded, came the aE cad bers'' by the general secretary of the con gress, Rev. George D. Wildes, D. D., IL. D., of Riverdale, New York. There were only two deaths during the year past of laembers of the congress-Hon. George Lunt, of Bos- ton, and Henry c. Ley, ?. D., IL. D., of
 Hon. George Lunt, of Boston, furnished 2 paper for this congress. He WAS g distin- guished lawyer, poet and g writer on many gress and may well find mention in it's ne- crology,
 From the inception of this congress, friendly to it's purpose was Henry Champion Ley, D. D. and IL. D., who has dis tinctive mention in this memorial service. In his college life he was one of the most diligent of students. As 8 bishop he was influential in the church congress: he loved to preach because he had a message. With and under it all there seemed to me a real presence oe the power of God which passeth all understanding. There was in Bishop Ley a Catholic breadth of sentiment. In his relations to the church congress I must be brief Henry c: Ley was one of those valiant for the frsy. It could always be said of him, 'tShonld such g maa as l heeq' Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord"
 In closing Rev. Dr. Wiides made the fol lowing allusion to Rev. DF. Harwoodi AS we close with memorial hymn our sympathies and prayers should go with one of our official number, stricken as we may well think to the earth under repeated aff1ictions and journey ing with his dead t9 distant burial, our dear friend and brother in the ministry and our associate in the church congress. In the midst of it all has come deep sorrow God of all comfort, lift up tha light of thy coun- tenapce upon him and his and give them thy peace.
 At the conclusion of the memorial address the memorial hymn "Asleep in Jesusp was sung, after which the congress at about D. m. adjourned until evening.
 Notes.
 During the afternoon many of the guests visited the college buildings and grounds and a number were taken in carriages to East Rock Park. Many also called upon and were entertained by old acquaintances For an hour or two on Chapel street and Church street and the Green and college campus many of the stranger clergymen were to be