The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-22
FOREFATHERs' DAY In BOSTON.
Mr. Blaine Makes Speech Favoring Church
Unity and Extemporaneoas Preaching.

BOSTON, Dec. 21-The annual meeting of the
Congregational Club on Forefathers' day was
notable, this year, for the presence OF Hon.
James G. Blaine. The meeting was held in
Music Hall. and, after the customary collation.,
speeches made by Governor Robinson,
Rev. E. B. Webb, president of the club;
Principal Bancroft of Andover Academy;
Prof. Heman Lincoln, of Newton Theological
Seminary; President Robinson, of Brown Uni
versity, and Mr.. Blaine, who was the special
guest of the association and the final speaker.
Mr.. Blaine was introduced by Rev. DIR. Webb.
president of the evening and was received with
storm Of applause, which continued several
moments When the audience quieted down,
Mr.. Blaine spoke as follows:
Mr. President Gentlemen and Ladies of the Congte.
gational Club In notable paper from Lord Bacon he
defines the rank IN which connected with the
states should be held in history and in his favorite
Latin he gave the founders of the states One of the
most eminent New England ministers not many years
since in quoting that paper from Lord Bacon, gave.
think with great justice TO the Prtans and Pilgrims of
New England the classic title of ,ondtores Reipubc
the actual founders of the Republic have often
thought since have made personal acquaintance of
the Puritans and Pilgrims, their descendants, not
sharing their blood myself that if the civil influence
be separated from the religious that the Puritans
and Pilgrims have made far deeper impression upon
civil and patriotic America than in religious
America. They have divisions and sects. They had
tIeir share of differences. They troubled with
bors and had exactly that kind of trouble
that belongs to the aggressive theoogians but when
their descendants put into the cause of liberty the
real teaching of their religion they then had as forces
the Baptsts of Rhode Island the Dutch Reformers of
New York, the Presbyterians of New Jersey, the
Quakers of Pennsylvania. the Catholics of Maryland
the Royal Episcopalans of Virginia the Huguenots of
Carolina, and the Methodists of Georgia loud APP
plansel and they could not have made that
exception of their belief in God; so that
when DR.. Bushnell spoke of the Purtans
as the Condtores Republics he spoke the verdict of
history. for according to Jefferson, coming from
region that did not have degree of admiration
for New England mon. but for the Adamses. and he
specially named Adams they could not have con-
Quoted the revolutionary and could not have
made the Declaration of independence. Loud ap
pIausel Now have said. do not share the blood
of the Puritans. except Irish bull would have
i, in certain birthright have from my children
aughter for they of good Puritan descent in the
ninth generation. Laughter.
As am in the club-and in the club you may al
ways be PERSONAL claim descent of class of agrees
i've Christians who have not lived in region elo
quent in Speech md who have not always had exactly
their share of tt oratory Of anniversary days have
done good tea of talking III Pennsylvania for the
Purtans of New England in the thirtvfve years
have been a citizen of New England. being myself
New Highlander by adoption. and going to do a
little talking behalf Of the Presbyterians of Pennsy
vania distinguished friend the president of Brown
University arrested my attention by his suggestive
remarks Christian unity. and would like to ask
the Presbyterians of Pennsylvania and the Congrega-
tionalists of New England why in particular these
two denominations of Christians should stand apart
now. Have we any trouble between the Baptist
cranks. to whom the president of the Theological
Seminary at Newton alluded and the Presby erians?
There is not, certainly difficulty between those two
great bodies. They stood shoulder shoulder in the
contest for civil and religious liberty not only after
they became Americans but when they fought through
the dynastic and theological trouble in the old
world. Is there difference between them?
1t happened to me- twenty years ago to be in Scot
-, 4haG yOf ch<tavs
who. at that time divided old school and new
school, the union between which had been effected.
and in the general assembly Scotchman who was
very keenly nquirng into differences of creed asked
some American delegates to tell the difference be-
tween the old and the schools and delegate
from New York went into a theological explanation
involving hours of time, and when he was through
school member arose suddenly and said; Il
think explain that a little Ampre
done 1t is just this: The old-school Presbyterans
believe that In Adams fall we snned all, and the
new-school Preshyterians believe that In Adam
fall all sinned great laughter and that is where
the difference lesthe new school are not so fond of
doctrine to put it into rhyme and sing it. Now,
think if the old school and new school could to-
gether Presbyterans and Congregationalists ought
while the president of Brown University and
the pres dent of the theological seminary at
Newton might difficulty in joining the con-
gregationalist / want to know exactly where |
stand and what particular change of theology is con-
templated and who is to be installed the church
was connected with for third of a century. and
what they renounced when they went back and took
Presbyterian pulpits again. and therefore wished if
could. by the slightest possible impulse. to start
that ball in motion. I agree gladly with the
president of Brown University that you cannot
make perfect union, and it is not desirable. You
cannot plane down to an exact length and height
ana breadth But when religious denominations
settling and unsettling and unsettng and resettling
and the preachers are talking the theology
and the same kind of doctrine every day from the pull
pit, confess it looks to me like-if permitted
this being club and not church-like childs play
tApplausel
In further discussion of this topic Mr.. Blaine
urged closer unity and argued in favor of ex-
temporaneous preaching.