The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-13


their duty to their beloved leader ended when
they placed him in the tomb. and that the
sole proof OF attachment which Is left for
them to offer is to cooperate In Fastening the
triumph of the cause with which the name Of
PARNELL will be inseparably associated.
Church Unity and Church Authority.
The Methodist Ecumenical Conference
discussed the subject Of Christian unity
last week without reaching any practical
conclusion. The feeling seems to be grow
ing that tho organic union Of the Profess
tant Churches is further Off now than ever.
and therefore the speakers at Washington
talked rather OF cooperation as the only
feasible method " getting together. By
that they meant the Joining Of forces and
contributions for general religious and
philanthropic purposes as to whose neces-
sity oil the so-called evangelical denomina-
tlons are agreed.
The tone Of many Of the speeches indi-
Gated. however. that they have grave
doubts whether even such limited union Is
practicable. Each denomination has Its
own machinery for the propagation OF its
doctrines. and Its partisan pride IL con-
cerned in keeping 1t up. That pride also
provides the money for the support Of
those religious agencies. II thore were
only one general fund for such pur-
Churches. it would be very much less than
the sum Of tho present offerings to tho
many competing missionary and evangeliz-
ing associations. The spirit Of craftsmanship
would not come in to stimulate the gencr-
osity Of the membership. As 1t Is now.
every communion Is striving to make the
best show 1t can In the labor Of conversion.
It may have only friendly and Christian
feelings for all the rest. but it wants first to
build up it's own household. II that were
not 50. the faith and conviction essential to
religious propagation would be gone from
the communion. It would have lost the
reason for its existence. 1t would be dead
Church.
Professionalism also implies and makes
necessary many sectarian divisions It Is a
revolt against the Church unity which pro-
ceeds from overruling Church authority.
1t teaches the right Of every individual to
interpret the Scriptures after his own fash
ion. and admonishes him to search them
diligently to find therein his rule OF faith
and practice and to discover for himself the
way OF salvation. OF course. therefore. wide
diversity OF religious views must always
prevail among Professionals. and hundreds Of
sects must exist for their satisfaction. The
differences Of belief between Baptists and
Methodists and Presbyterians. for instance.
may not reach to the fundamental doctrines
Of Christianity. They all worship the same
Lord and Master. accept the same atone
81. bali A.. =. -.
Of rewards and punlshments. with only
minor variations and teach the same laws
Of Christian ethics. But SO also do
they agree with the Roman Catholics
as to those cardinal principles Of Christian
ity. Their separation from the Roman
Church and from each other Is due to the
difference Of their theories OF the organ
ization and government OF the Church.
This difference Is SO complete and
radical that 1t is impossible for them to
unite without being false to their cOnvic-
tions. The Baptist belief Is that q
true Biblical church Is composed OF
adults baptized on personal profession
Of their faith. and that the baptism Of in
fants Is pagan abuse VI tho early Chris
tlan practice. Or course. they cannot unite
with either the Methodlsts or the Prcsby.
terians when they denounce them both in
their creed Us dIsobedlent to the Biblical
law. Neither can the MethodIsts and Pres
byterians come together. for the one de-
nomination Is Armlnian and the other CAL
whistle. the one episcopal in its govern
ment and the other presbyterian. Their
points OF agreement may be more than
their points Of doctrinal divergence. but
where the difference exists 1t is decided and
1t Is based ON totally opposite principles.
They could not unite without abandoning
their standards and giving up all for which
they have contended during their whole
history. It would DO almost as easy for
them to submit to Rome as to unite with
each other, with their present opposing
theories and principles.
The prospect Of Protestant Church union.
accordingly. can never be hopeful 80 long as
the sincerity Of Protestant conviction lasts.
It cannot come about 90 long as Protestant
Ism continues true to its colors and rejects
tho theory Of Church authority over con-
science. or. In other words. denies the doc
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