St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-10

more spiritual ages that are before the
human race, it will seem incredible
that there should have been. centuries
in which 1t was the custom to measure
unity by identity of ecclesiastical order
and poIity or by submission to rites for
the due administration of which one
caste only had letters patent. Millen-
NAL unity is to be created by the free
spirit of God, and the new testament as
sertS that unity is to find its type in
the reciprocal relation of the father
and the son. That the unity of the
Apostolic churches did not rest upon
common organization is the c0nclu-
sion of the best recent criticism and re-
search. These questions, he thought,
might well be left in the hands of those
upon whom the mantle of Hatch and
LightfoOt have fallen. We accept with
untroubled confidence the principles of
Spiritual Indep endence
enumerated by commentators and eccle-
siaStical historians whose own associa-
tons have been with one of the most
sacerdOtal churches in Christendom.
The concord that rests upon popular ig-
norance and insensibility will vet be
symboliZed by gagged mouth and pad
locked book is thing of the past. In
that hour of quickening and enlighten-
ment which is even now striking on all
continents, it will be impossible to
maintain unity by putting the break on
means of culture, the bit in the teeth or
the muZZle on the jaws. The highest
qualities Of knowledge and the most ex-
quisite accords of faith and affection
and service will arise under conditions
of free individual judgment, and, posi-
bly,, after the clash of antagonistic
thought, only through the help and in
ward suggestion of the great spirit of
truth. Out of the very freedom and in
dependence of religious thought and the
impact of debate and the ferment of
controversy God will bring a better and
more enduring accord and glorify Him
self as the true source of unity. Say
some of our counsellors: keep the
blinkers on. Let the people join hands
and put bishop at the head of each
procession. and a pope at the head of
the bishop, and they will be guided into
strait paths, and preserve the unity of
their formation. Nay says the father
of our spirits, take the veil away.
will guide them by lamp of fire
within, and they shall not deviate or
stumble" Mr.. Selby closed his essay
with strong plea for reunited Method
ism.
Varying Views.
Rev. DR.. S. a. Hunt, of the Methodist
Episcopal Church of New York, fol-
lowed. he said great future opened
before Methodism, and it behove Meth
odiStS to pray to God that it might be
better than the past. There was diff
ference between union and unity.
There could be no union which did not
recognize the fact that it was the out
growth of unity. There might be va
rious phases of unity, but the hidden
secret of all unity and union lay IN God.
Rev. Thomas Mitchell, Of Hull, Eng,
said uniformity had been the dream of
enthusiasts; unity that of the best and
brightest men. 1t was the unity of an
army, the family or a body that was eff
fective. This unity in the church could
not be brought about by external force.
1t must come from the life of the church.
Could not the beneficent process result
ing in the union of the church in Can
ada be repeated? Could not the British
Methodists unite? Some small points
of church politics alone divided them
points sometimes of microscopic proper
tions magnified into Importance.
Rev. DR.. William Nicholas. of Dublin,
representing the irish Methodist church,
maintained that there was real unity in
the Church of Christ. but there was
need for its manifestation. A good deal
of liberality and freedom of thought
must be allowed. Wesley gave such
liberty to thought. and unless the
church did so now, it was in danger of
going backward. Rev. w. P. Lark,
of the Bible Christian church. Isle
of Wight, said true Christian
unity had been ignored. The church
had been trying to unite Oh creed aud