Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-09
DRIFT TOWARD UNION.
The Tendency Toward Closer Rela-
tiOnship Steadily Growing
AMONG THE PRESBYTERIAN sECTS
Great Evident Need of United Effort in
Missionary Work.

Great Evident Need OF United Effort ID
Missionary Work.
GLEANINGS FROM CHURCH FIELDS
Christian union is in the air. The same
progress toward union of the Protestant
churches the next % years as we have seen
in the 25 years past will bring the great ma
jority of the denominations into one fold.
The Presbyterian Church a generation ago
was divided into old and new schools.
| In this city little more than a score of
years ago, these branches were married.
Some ten years before this marriage two
branches of the Presbyterian flock known as
Associate and Associate Reformed Presby-
terian denominations, came together in this
city after years of struggle under the title of
the United Presbyterian Church. The
| signs of the times now point to the union Of
the latter body with the Presbyterian
Church, and although there have been no
movements in this direction on the part of
the powers that be, the same progress to-
ward Christian union the next 20 years that
we have seen the last 20 will bring the en-
tire Presbyterian Church into one fold. A
vote of the membership to-day would bring
this union.
The tendency of our times is toward
union: A generation or two ago, when a
man was aggrieved with the action of an &C.
clesi astical court he started a church on
his own hook. Hence the divisions of
Professionalism which have been the scandal
of Christianity since the Reformation. The
recent ecclesiastical DRIFT is toward union
instead of division.
UNION A NECESSITY.
The Pittsburg Christian ADVOCATE in an
editorial this week, congratulates the Pres
byteridn in its Christian union efforts in
the following style:
1.-The union of our forces in mission fields
seems to US an almost imperative necessity.
With what consistency can different
branches of Presbyterians, having substan-
TALLY the same creed and the same govern
ment, 60 into mission field to preach the
same gospel, and yet set up separate affairs?
The same is true of Methodists. And be-
sides, we are squandering the Lords money
IN supporting two sets of agencies where one
would do the work The Methodists of
Japan are not wise in not having followed
Presbyterian example, and made a united
Methodism in that country. That is the
end to which we should aim. And if the
result shonld be to bring the churches of the
Methodist family at home closer together.
so much the better; and if the end should
be closer bond among all who love the
Lord Jesus Christ in all the world, amen"
WORK IN HEATHEN LANDS.
There is no department of church work
where the necessity of union is so keenly
felt as in missionary operations. The little
differences which divide the Protestant
sects become very small in the eye of the
missionary who undertakes to plant sthe
standard of the Cross on heather soil. The
following from the Presbyterian shows the
drift OF opinion as to the importance of COM
Dlned effort on the part of Protestant
churches:
1t is generally conceded that Presbyter-
1ans IN heather lands have made the largest
"u 'on~S t~-~rd- uurUU UfTeIr
missionary forces. In japan the union has
been complete, and the various divisions of
Fresoyterlans have there melted into one.
In India the proposition to unite the var
lous representatives of the Presbyterian
bodies has been received with much favor.
and no dissenting voice has been heard, ex-
cept from the United Presbyterians of
America. In China the question of union
IS under consideration. In Brazil all the
Presbyteriaas engaged in the work of evan
gelization are under the control of one
synod. We rejoice in this movement, and
nope that these minor unions among men of |
the same faith may be the precursor and |
herald of more extended reunions among |
those who hold and proclaim the evangeli- |
cal faith.
PREACHER AT THE BAT.
Rev. DR.. MeloY, United PRESBYTERIAN |
m InIe eto Of =
following, which appeared in the Pittsbure |
United Presbyterian of recent date:
Some OF the churches are closed for the |
summer, and many of the pastors are away
on their vacations. DIR. Noble, of the Con-
gregatlonal Church. started two weeks ago
for Europe. He was about to sail, when he
was called home to attend the funeral of his
daughter. The deepest sympathy was felt
Tor the grief-stricken pastor, BY hundreds to
whom he had ministered the consultations of
the gospel, as now he sat with his own soul
hlled with grief. The doctor was formerly
pastor OF the Third Presbyterian Church of
Pittsburg, and has many friends in your
city. Vacation month is not always pleas
ant. The best rest is one from sorrow and
care and sin. but we will not get that until
we get beyond the region of shadows.
The little boys of our Sabbath school
have given formal challenge to the older
men to play them game of ball at our
picnic. L told the youthful Captain Joe"
that wanted to know who would be their
pitcher. He replied that it would be INV
son Harry. 1 accepted the challenge. re-
marking that Harry would certainly throw
slow balls to his father. Joe however
told me that Harry would be watched when
was at bat, and if he was seen to favor his
ather in the least he would be bounced
ow 1t IS hard that mans own son will
hrow curves and swift balls when his
ather is at the bat. But the boys have a
Ieen sense of justice, and will show no
avors to one who is too awkward to strike
md too old to run and too fat to slide,
There are some advantages In being Young.
'ut they are fast passing away, and the bows
lad better improve them"