Morning journal and courier., 1892-10-31
CHRISTIAN UNITY.

MIR. Seward Delivers an Address at
the Messiah Church-The Objects
and Aim OF the Organization
Many Endorse the Pledge of the
Association.
A large and interested audience at the
Church of the Messiah last evening lis
tened to an address by the Rev. Theodore
F. Seward of New York on the Brother
hood of Christian Unity, of which he is
the founder.
He gave short talk explaining the his
giving brief review of it's present aspect.
The Brotherhood of Christian Unity
was founded about a year ago at Orange,
N. j., and already numbers several hun
dreds of the prominent religious thinkers
of the country among its members. Its
aim and object is to bring about more
solid basis of Christian unity among all
the evangelical and Catholic churches in
the country and establish them all on q
broader working basis by which the work
for which the church was founded can be
accomplished; and to bring into closer
Christian fellowship all mem bers of all
churches without distinction as to class
or denomination. It unites all Christians
on a basis of unity by the
bonds of the church which all hold
in common. 1t does not aim to be uni
form in its workings, but aims to unite
under its standard all those who recognize
"the creed promulgated by the founder of
Christianity to God and love to man
AS the rule Of ones life." Christ is the
head and center, and all those who look to
him as their leader can become members of
the brotherhood.
The pledge which those who become
members are asked to sign is not creed
OF doctrine, as one can see by reading.
It is merely bond of Christian fellowship
by which those of all denominations can
stand on one level, at least in common.
The pledge reads as follows:
gated by the founder Of Chrisianity-loye to God
agree to recognize as fellow Christians and mem
bers of the Brotherhood Of Christian Unity all
who accept this creed and Jesus Christ as their
leader.
I Join this brotherhood with the hope that
such a voluntary association and fellowship with
Christians OF every faith will deepen my spiritual
life and bring me into more hopeful relations
with my felowmen.
Promising to accept Jesus Christ as my leader
a desire to be imbued with his spirit, to initiate
his example and to be guided by his precepts.
After Mr.. Seward finished speaking he
invited all who were willing to sign the
pledge to do 80, and also asked all who
wished to gain more information concern
ing the organization to be free to ask
questions, which opportunity large num-
Der took advantage of. Judge Sheldon
made strong speech in favor of the move
ment, commencing it in the highest terms
as work of progress, which is much to
be desired.
Quite large number went forward and
signed the pledge. The meeting seemed to
have awakened strong sentiment ana ong
those present, as tho plan appeared so
eminently practicable for bringing the fol-
lowers of Christ together in q more COM
mon bond of Christian fellowship.
Dr.Twitchen of the Dwight place church
made strong address yesterday morning
in opposition to the movement. He says
1t will tend to establish universal church
and tend to break down the old denomina-
tionsl structures.
The movement has gained many friends
in this city, however, among all the
churches of the city. The Rev. T. T. Nun
ger of the United church ia member of
the advisory committee, and it numbers
some of the most prominent religious
thinkers In New York and surrounding
cities.