The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-19
"CHRISTIAN UNITY"
Rev. II. Heber Newton Upon the "Apostolic''
Claim of the Episcopal Church.


Claim of the Episcopal Church.
New York Special
'"That all may be one" was the text upon
which the Rev r. Heber Newton of the All
Souls Protestant Episcopal Church. preached
this morning His subject The Episcopal
Church and Christian Union" and he said, in
substances The General Convention of our
church. now in session in Chicago is being pe-
titioned to take such steps as, in it's Judgment,
may be practicable to hasten forward some sub
stantial union among the churches of Christen-
dom. Let US seriously consider what we need
to give up for the sake Of some effect
i've union. We must give up our character
istic attitude toward our sister churches We are
in size only the fifth of the denominations In
intellectual forcefulness we cannot claim to rival
Congregationalism or Unitarianism In organ
ization we do not approach the Catholic Church
In missionary zeal we behind the Presby-
terians, and in evangelical enthusiasm as far be-
hind the Methodsts. We have no monopoly of
the fruits of the spirit. Fancy any steps toward
union proceeding from church which should
style itself THE American Apostolic Church. "
We must give up our dream of liturg:cai uni
formity. The Book Annexed will be defeated
because of this felt need. We must give up our
excellent dream Of absorbing other churches
and then ourselves becoming absorbed in a re-
united Catholic Church. Very beautiful is the
dream Of united Holy Catholic Church such as
once existed, but it is several centuries out of
date. Rome and Professionalism are no nea
ford movement. than they were immediately aft
er Luther's death. No Protestant church of the
land is longing to be swallowed entire by our
church. Whatever may come to pass in the dis
tant future, such a restored Christendom is not
within sight a practical idea.
Federation is the word which solves the prob.
lem of political unity and of ecclesiastical union
also we may have the united church of America
in such a union federation; all the good
evolved by each denomination will be preserved
$npH unlo Is xf.1e n
justly hope that she will yield a wise policy a
noble liturgy. The immediate steps toward a
practical federation of the churches of America
lie partly in the direction of better feeling and
partly in the line of practical action in regard
to work
our House of Bishops issue pastoral counselinc
our clergy TO refrain from preaching learned
sermons proving the errors of other churches
and Wanting the claims of our own church;
then let the bishops themselves set an example
to the flock of this novel mode of commencing
ourselves to Others let that pastoral urge on
clergy the duty of fraernizing in every possible
way with other Christians and again let our
bishops show US the way thereto, let that letter
suggest our preaching in other pulpits, and. as
hospitality demands return of conrtesies
let the convention repeal the canons which
close our pulpits against all non Episcopal or
dained clergy No principle of church memb er-
ship, churchmanship can be violated in occa-
sional officiating in the pulpit of such clergy. AS
to practical work, let our convention propose to
the other churches common following of Pauls
rule: / build NOT on another mans foundation.
Let it seriously suggest to other churches an
agreement to carry on domestic missionary work
on this principle, and instruct the clergy to re-
fuse to help build Episcopal Churches where
other denominations first the ground in
sufficient force for the population. Such steps
will do more than the most eloquent speeches or
the most gushing resolutions"