The record-union., 1892-04-09

Low Church barely tolerate each other.
IS there not some preliminary work TO be
done in the present organization before
we are ready even to discuss plans for
uniting all churches in one great organi-
Zauon? We can find no authority in the
New Testament for basing the unity OF
the Church upon a Bishop of Rome, OF
upon spiritualized Aaronic priesthood,
called Historic Episcopate," or upon a
creed, ancient or modern, long or short;
still less for abandoning unity in despair,
and lapsing into individualism- One in
Christ Jesus-this is the prescription ofthe
New Testament. Whoever acknowledges
Christ as his master, processes loyalty To
him as an absolute and final Lord, de-
sires to do His work in His way, solves
or endeavors TO solve all questions by the
principles which He has inculcated, is
my brother in Christ; we two are one
one in our loyalty, our aim, our spirit.
1t is of no consequence that we should lie
one in either our temperament, our
methods, or our philosophy. Better, in
deed, not. For we shall do our work in
this strangely varied world the better for
doing it each after his own method.
Enough if il be one work, done under
one master. 1t is no mere felicitous
phrase-liberty and. union, one and in
separable. They are one and inseparable.
For union can never be had without lib
erty; and liberty can be had only when
that spirit pervades the church which
recognizes no law but loyalty to the
master, and in that loyalty bond which
makes cordial cooperation in different
methods and by men OF differing creeds
possible and joyous"
Concerning the proposed religious con-
ference at Chicago, the New York IN
qul1'er (Bapt.l asks: What can il all
amount to? Can any man condense the
beliefs and teachings of any religion into
an address of even two hours that can
give better idea than they can obtain
from books? II there is the remotest
possibility that an adheIent of any re-
llglOn, having the ability TO unfold and
maintain his peculiar belief, will be per-
suaded to forsake it? Is there no pros
pect OF proseiyting, where is the good of
people of rival faiths trying to cheat
themselves into the belief of any harmon
lzing OF their religions. There is also a
proposition for the various denominations
to have their special weeks for meetings.
Among other Utopian projects is that OF
an international INSTRUMENTATION con-
ference of Baptists. If brethren from
Great Britain and her colonies come TO
US. we hope they will have fraternal
greeting, but what good can come of the
gathering? OF course, conference can
be held, and those who have oratorical
gifts can find room TO exercise them; but
when the Speechmaking is through, it is
probable that the issue Will be memory
OF some very sore thrustS and no proof OF
anything really done to advance the
| kingdom of Christ. Then, further, with
the ENDORSEMENTS of the exposition and
the necessary expenses of a soourn in
Chicago during its progress, it is hard to
think that conferences and councils could
possibly be proposed for a more unpro-
pitious place and time than Chicago in
1898"
"The miserable disclosures of social
life in American colonies abroad, which,
in quick succession, have recently been
published, ought not to be passed by in
silence" says the New York Churchnla,
(P. E.. Not all the revelations of slum
depravity can have a 1.-THE of the cor
ruptng power of these domestic scan
dals in high life The former are the
vices of the dregs Of humanity, under
conditions fatally unfavorable to purity.
| The latter are the crimes of the inheritorS
of the Nations best blood and breeding.
| and of all the advantages that the highest
civilization can beStow. The ascenSiVe
power of evil is very slight. Its coarse
ness disguStS and offendS those who are
in any degree lifted above its manifesto
tons in the lower strata Of society But
us development IN gross forms OF SenSu-
atty among the favorites of fortune and
the heirs Of honored names strikes down
through every layer, distributing mildew
and fungus, like rain upon broken
matched haystack. Of no crime is this
more true than of wicked lewdness in
high places. 1t befouls pure minds that
could not be contaminated by squalid
vice. 1t weakens the defenses of the in
nocent and breaks down the scruples oil
the timid. 1t sets a fashion that is sure
to find followers by the sheer contagion
of example, and it arouses suspicious that
smite down the innocent with the
Uuiltu -