St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-13
CuUgCH UNITY.

The topic chosen for discussion at the
regular Twin City ministers meeting
yesterday is rapidly becoming the up
permost question in the mind of the
Christian world. There being only one
logic for all the philosophers OF the tu-
man family, it follows, as day follows
night, that advancing civilization i'm
plies the coming of a universal religion.
The barrier walls of sectarianism are
gradually yielding before progressive
thought, While the permanent elements
of religion, such as faith, hope, charity
worship and repentance, are centlnu-
ouSly solidifying into one substantial
religious belief. Religion is the neces-
sity of all classes and of all ages, but
how to bring the people Of earth into
sympathy with it and how to induce
them to embrace it as their greatest
need, and how most absolutely to secure
their Endorsement of all that it teaches
and enjoins. is a problem that has
.vexed patriarch, prophet, priest, apostle
and clergy since the time the morning
stars hymned creatioq's song.
1t is not much of a surprise, then,
that the clergy of to-day have taken up
the old problem with the hope Of find
| ing new and more satisfactory Solu-
| ton. Just at this time, when church
creeds are being revised and seetarian
| lines are being reformed, the. question
of church unity is revived with force
that it has never heretofore attained.
The evidences of this new awakening
are to be seen in all the Protestant
churches, both of this country and of
| Europe. Things that were formerly
| taken as matter of course are now
| being subjected the severest analysis
and criticism in order to test their va
lidity. The theological tendencies OF
the day spring from desire to know
and possess the truth, in order that the
practical demands of the age may be
met. If persev cred in, this must logic
ally bring about unity of thought
and a oneness of faith. The winnoWing
processes of our modern theology must
result in separating the wheat from the
chatf; and the encouraging part OF it is,
the chaff is being burned as rapidly as
| it is taken out.
Not long since, DR.. MCCosH impressed
upon his Presbyterian brethren the duty
of establishing religious federation to
embody all evangelical denominations.
At its last general convention the Epis-
copal church appointed standing COM
mission on church unity, with authority
to correspond with other Christian bod
les. More recently has appeared a
pamphlet from the pen of Rev. DR.. W.
| X. MARSHALL, of the Methodist church,
which is attracting great deal of at
tention. The author is we'll known in
the Twin Cities, and those who know
him are not surprised to find him plead
ing with so much ability and earnest
ness in behalf of more perfect union
Of the Protestant world.
The signs are that we are approach
ing the era when there will be but
three divisions Of Christianity known
on earth. The Greek aud the Roman
churches are already united, and the
time is near at hand when there will be
nosubdivlsious among Protestants. And
as cur civilization advances time and
thought will at last reach fiual analy-
sis Of piety, when universal religion
will set up its standard and the Chris
tianity of Christ will be permanently es-
| tablished