Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-10-24
CHRISTIAN UNITY.

At the United church in this city yes
terdsy morning, in accordance with the
request sent out to the clergy of all de-
nominations, by Theodore F. Seward of
New York city, who represents the
brotherhood of Christian Unity" Rev.
Dr.. T. T. Munger preached upon the sub
ject of Christian unity. This brother
hood was organized few months ago, its |
object being the promotion of harmony
among the members of the various Chris |
tian churches and organizations, combin- |
ing them all under one and exchanging
seetarian competitive effort for co-operat-
i've Christian effort. DR.. Munger took for |
his text the one selected by the brother
all be one; as thou, father, art In me, and
I in thee, that they also may be one in us;
that the world may believe that thou hast
sent mo-" and spoke in part as follows:
There are one hundred and forty de-
nominations in the United States! Why!
The main reason is because these de-
nominations, as denominations, have
missed the meaning of Christianity. While
many among their members have caught
Its real spirit yst the denominations, as
such, have failed to apprehend its real
meanings that its real significance is almost |
lost sight of. In illustration of this wit
ness denomination found in this country
and in Scotland, full of Christian people
but who will sing only the psalms of David
and recall from the ecclesiastical history of
our own state that discussion over the
freedom of the will is responsible for the
division of theological seminary and the
existence to-day, within forty miles OF
>kI,a oe y,o&{ t1AN
Denominations split over questions
which have little to do With Christianity,
controversies arise, parties spring up and
q new denomination is created. The mis-
take docs not consist in controverting
views which seem to work badly, but in
ever making the assertion or denial of
these views q vital part of Christianity.
Thus in regard to the consequences Of sin
in another life. Neither the assertion or
denial that penalty il endless is part of
Christianity. That one view or the other
II stated in the Bible does not show 1t to
be essential to Christian doctrine. Our
Congregational denominations are 60 or
ganized that they are not prone to d.
visions. Never having been united they
cannot well be divided.
One of our Congregational seminartes
| teaches the possibility, not the certainty,
| of probation after death for those who
| Christ in this life. Our narrow theology
has heretofore insisted that death seals the
door of hope, and the American board as
sumed the right to refuse to send out to
mission fields those who entertained any
such views until at the recent meeting at
Chicago the president announced, as the
| unalterable position of the board, that
| missionaries should not be sent out if sure
of euch a probation, but should not be
kept home If not clear on this subject.
This controversy illustrates how denomi-
nations ordinarily spring up. If ours had
bsen q more closely organized denomina-
ton 1t would have been divided by 1t. A
century after such controversy people
wonder how it could have taken place.
The answer is simple. They quarrelled
over what may have been important but
was not essential.
It Is safe to say that nineteen out OF
} every twenty of the one hundred and forty
denominations had no good reason for ex
istence and might easily have been pre-
vented. The reasons alleged for the GRE
alton of some denominations would have
justified the confinement of their promot
: ers in an insane asylum.
. To counteract this multiplication Of sect
: an organization was at one time formed tx
absorb them all into one-a foolish expert
ment, the result of which was but tn,
formation of one more denomination.
Denominationalism, as far as it indicate
progress, is not to be lightly disposed of
All denominations run back into the Ref
, ormation. The Reformation was the I'm
folding of new conception of man-tha
a mans relation to God was direct ant
! personal. Calvin was the leade
and representative of movemen
which followed and which made men fee
their Independence. What is called new
, theology is but development of the sam
idea. Calvinism had to come first. I
l better suited that age. It recognized au
]. thority, but self-imposed authority
Such movement was too vast for criticism
! 1t was the spirit of progress.
= Congregationalism went step farthe
than Presbyterianism in regard to churcl
ing, and therefore 1t will have no govern
ment in Its church. It knows no law Blu
customs and sanctifed common sense
Such ia the freedom in our denomination
that we can adopt the ritual or clerics
J. robe If we choose, and no one has the RICH
4 to say a word against it. The Preebyte,
isns have q representative and highly OF
, ganized government. We are democracy
> The great Baptist denomination
- a step further. There is no just reaso
why Congregationalists and Baptists shout
j not regard themselves as forming one body
!, The Methodist church, least of any, coul
be accused of schism. It still calls itsel
Episcopal. John Wesley lived and died
q the Episcopal church. The Episcopi
e church does not relish being called
|. denomination, but in the light Of histor
- it must take its place among the rest
= view OF it's withdrawal from that ohurc
from which it extricated itself. No seriou
! 1oI xx,i11 hat fho
a toric Episcopacy is an essential of til
~ Christian religion. It is broad and con
prehensive church, but narrow as vel
Its greatest bishop is now under fire fe
suspected heresy. Its position is con
manding but for Its intolerance of othe
II denominations. But none of us can und
d our history. Each is the product {
political forces, whose upheavals hay
y made us what we are.
is When we come to the sub-division-tt
50 multitude of sporadic sects which go
10 make up the 140-most of them rest upo
9. some peculiar Interpretation of scripture
the natural outcome of asuperstitious rev
erence for the very words of scripture
From such an estimate of the bible th
wonder is that more scots have not sprun
r up, but 1t is in the way of being cheere
~ by higher criticism. The bible, read i
~ the light of sound learning and commo
/ 5oAbo, WouAO 5"S0P Wv VI oAAoSoIoo VI
p majority of these petty sects. No on
d will condemn this high and close study {
IL. the bible who knows what it means.
means truth. Nothing but love will brin
N men together. A striking example is fu1
8. nished by that vast organization, mo,
in than a million strong, who have put fe
:. lowship above denomination, glorying &
10 their recent convention in what they ha
4, in common while silent upon points of di
10 ference.
70 Of like significance is the movemen
which has suggested the treatment of thi
!, subject to-day, union of those who tax
Q. simple pledge of love to God and ma
1t under the leadership of Jesus Christ as th
n rule of life, pledge to which, certainly
n none can object, vow better broken tina
81 not made. The fatality Of putting an in
B. portant truth in place of an essential trut
is that the latter is sighted and overbornt
). The tendency now is to return to th
30 essential truths. What are theys God
q love and what God is that man must be
Of Christ is Gods love in humanity Christ
a life is the service of love.
A church, denomination, should plar
IF itself only on the essential truths. The1
A. is no call or disposition to give up til
r great existing denominations. If merge
In into one there still would not be Christia
Is unity. The Roman Catholic church is 6
much divided as the Protestant. on
church is often hampered by it's creed. .
church in Massachusetts, called q youn
man to its pulpit. He replied. "Chane
ID | vour creed and T will accent The churo