Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1888-03-18

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standard Of Christian giving, and
Christian economies does not contem
plate lessning Of gifts, for sacred
uses. Ah, as Christians lot US never
talk about Whist our holy religion cost
US 10 money. Our holy religion did
indeed cost something. 1t cost the
Piit OF Gods well beloved Son, but
let US not use the unhappy phrase,
that the church costs US SO much
every year for its support, MS if We
were buying the holy privileges vouch.
safed through the means of grace.
Let our contributions be considered
In the light Of gifts rather than pay
ments; God loveth cheerful giyer.
This business side Of the church's
welfare is very imOortant to consider.
II economy is demanded in the home
and in the public affairs Of sta. e surely
1t is required in ecclesiast ticsl admins.
tratlon. Let there be inter-denomi-
national management and control in
planting aud fostering of churches.
Again Christian economy is concern
ed with men rs well as money. There
should be economy in the use OF both.
A wise economy requires that our
policy in these regards be changed.
Sometimes wehear the different Chris
tian denominations compared to the
different divisions Of an army, but the
comparison is not admissible, for the
different divisions of an army never
overlap aud intertwiDe together, a.
the churches do In their Christian
warfare. In an army there will be .
wise and economical distribution Of all
the forces at command. using no more
men at one point of defense or attack
than are needed, and neglecting no
strategic point that is possible 10 be
taken or guarded.
There should be wise distribution
against Satan and sin, Ms well rs a
wise appropriation Of money. and II
there is u surplusage of men, then IL is
wise economy TO take that number
Of surplus men and send them to the
regions beyond. to Mexico, TO South
American countries, across the ocean,
scattering them over the broad earth.
and thus obey the Saviour's mandate
in downright earnest instead OF play
log at missions.
There seemed to be a tendency In |
the Apostolic church to concentrate
their forces at Jerusalem. It's true
they were commanded to begin there,
but We may fear they would have re.
mained too long had not persecution
driven them out. and scattered the
throughout the known
world.
Is not the same tendency manifest
In our own day in Christian
America-a tendency to conceutrs-
tion, instead Of a diffusion Of means,
and a scattering OF men? In the
growing mutual confidence of Chris
tian denominations, in the lessening Of
sectarian zeal in, the increased cooper
alton in Christian churches, in hap.
py blending of modes Of worship, In a
mutual confidence of doctrinsl sound
ness, and in a hearty agreement on all
fundamental doctrines, in all this, can
we not observe the hand Of Proyi-
dence. opening the way for the use OF
q large number Of surplus men, aud a
large amount of sacred funds, in COM
munities and countries destitute OF
Gospel privileges. Such an sconomy |
of men Is certainly demanded Of the
Christian churches of America, and
we believe they are waking up to the
duty of such a course.
III. Obstacles to church unity.
This lie large subject, ana il i. is
two-sided question. Church unity
cannot be accomplished by a mere
statement and discussion OF Its desira-
bleness. Emphatic as We make this,
we cannot ignore obstacles that exist.
Difference in modes Of worship would
be- one obstacle, though this is perhaps
one of the least hindrsncss to unity.
In the last two decades there has been
a decided tendency toward uniformity
in posture, in prayer, and in the gen.
eral conduct of public service. Chris
tian people have come to consider all
these matters OF minor Importance, and
feel perfectly at home worshiping in
sister churches.
Differences on minor points Of doc.
trlne have been an obstacle TO the union
of churches. In past years there
seemed TO be disposition TO magnify
poIpts of difference, and minify points
of agreement. Now the tendency
seems to be the reverse, at which
every Christian must rejoice. The
frequent discussion OF UNCONVENTIONAL
tenetA is a thing OF the past. There
can be sn adopted creed centering
round che vital doctrines Of the cove
nant Of grace.
ne.tenths of the membership OF