St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-09

|
on Jesus Christ as a foundation,
and was to be cleansed that
he might present it unto himself a
| glorious church, not having spot or
wrinkle or any such thing. This con-
ceptiOn of a church was none other
than the "hOly catholic church-the
communion of saints" to which in the
creed we plight our faith. But surely
John had something else in mind when
he wrote so sharply to the churches in
Asia, which were not one but seven,
were far from glorious. and, on the
whole, were mOttled with good many
spots. The Bible therefore recognizes
one true apostolic church. 1t
| also recognizes congregations of
| Christians in various cities and towns.
But what have the definition makers of
| later ages to say about this conceptiOnOf Of
the church? That we may think clearly
let US find out what is said in the great
symbols of faith. Says the Greek
church: 1.-The church is divinely IN
stltuted community of men, united by
] the orthodox faith, the law of God. the
hierarchy and the sacraments (cate-
chiSm)."
The Roman Catholic church (cat e.
chism of TrenD says: 1.-THE church is
| one, because, as the apostle says, there
is one faith, one Lord, one baptism: but
more especially because it has one in
visible ruler, Christ, and one visible,
the occupant of the chair of st. Peter at
Rome"
The Lutheran church gives this defn-
ltl0n: "a congregation of saints, in
which the gospel is purely preached
and the sacraments are rightly admins
tered" confession of Augsburg).
The Anglican church says, in its arti-
Gle of religion, the church is "a cOngre-
CATION OF faithful men, in which the
pure word of Got is preached and the
sacraments be duly administered ac-
cording to Christ'S ordinance in all
those things that are of necessity re-
qulSlte to the Same."
The Methodist church, which has ONLY
a constructive theological significance,
adopts this article without change.
The Scotch confession defines the
church to be "a society of the elect of
all ages and countries, both Jews and
Gentlles; this is the Catholic or Uni
yersal church."
DESIRE FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY.
These statements present to your
minds the authoritative statements of
historic ChristeDdOm, the sum total of
the great thinking of great bodies In
spite of minor differences ii is startling
to 0bSer re what a concurrence runs
through them all. They would all. 1
think, agree to this statement. The
church is a divine-human organism,
having the trust of the SacramentS, and
manifeSting itself in various cOngrega-
tiOnS OF Christian believers. How comes
it then that they divide? When
each church attempts to read
enough in its own definition
to cover its own history. then
they divide. What is the attitude of all
fY,l oil
munities? 1t is universal longing for
Christian unity. How may it be brought
about? By leaving minor differences of
creed and practice to the individual
conscience. Do away with the
personal opinions of men and unite
upon the essentials which we all accept.
This will not come about by conven-
tiOnS or resolutions, but by the rising
of higher spiritual tide, which shall
sweep the accumulated encrOachments
upon primitive Christianity into COM
mon ruin. Recently notable Christian
conference was held in the city Of
Washington. Commenting upon this
gathering one of the Methodist adyo-
Gates says:
WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY.
"What then stands in the way of
Christian unity which so many earnest
Christians are seeking to restore? Moth
ing except human opinions. So long as
the followers of Christ are content to
stand on the common Christian expert
ence, produced in one who believes in
Christ by the Holy Spirit, there is no
occasion for discOrd. But if some one
had introduced a question touching
church organization, or systematic the
ology, or the Sacraments in the Christ
ian conference, they would have fallen
apart at once. Does any one ask why?
The answer is easy. These are QueS-
tiOns about which the Scriptures give
no definite statement, and are therefore
left to the individual conscience and
judgement. Had God ever at any time
given unqueStiOnable signs of approval
to any system of theology, church gov
ernment, or form of baptism, the differ
ences which now separate us would dis
appear. But He refuses to take sides
with any of these diSputants. Church
unity can never be established in QueS-
tionS which God does not recognize"
This is clear statement of wide
reaching truth, and bears in it the eX-
PLANTATION of our meeting together here
to-day. The churches have at present
clearer recognition of the good in each
other than has been possible for some
centuries past, yet they stand cycling
each other, each jealous of the successes
the great charitable and reform work,
which must be done by them together,
if done at all. But, i'll the meantime
great multitudeS stand outside all
church doors. Some are hostile, but far
more than Indifferent to the claims of
religion, and in the meantime there is
the same woe while the heart of man
still longs for the eternal God. How
shall the churches come together, and
how shall they reach the multitudes of
the people who are burdened by the
cursed man in all his generations?
1t seems plain that the be-
ginning must be by supreme
emphasis upon the great varieties of re-
ligiOn, and by supreme neglect of all
minor considerations. 1t is due to YOU
who are here to-day, and it is due to
that larger public who are interested in
our movement that some statement be
made of the relation of the Peoples
church to the solution of the problem.
THERE Is NO ANTAGONIST.
First, let me say, we do not antagO-
nize any of the Christian churches.
There is not one of them which does not
bear the hOnOrs of great achievement.
Their differences must continue for de-
cadeS to come. Only fool or prophet
can tell the final outcome of the differ
ences between religious institutions.
Men are differently organized. What
appeals to one does not to another. We
are mentally and spiritually various, as
we are physically. Some are best
nourished by beef tea, some must re-
joice in cod liver oil; but this does not
prevent our extending congratulations
to those VINO 6ie Eappiest with roast
beef and I.4ce pie. So st. Paul says:
II have fed you with milk and not with
meat; for hitherto ye were not able TO
bear it, neither yet now are We able"
No, we do not expect everybody to join
the Peoples church. 1t would not be