Morning journal and courier., 1893-03-24
DAY.,

New Haven,s Churches Speak In
Behalf Of church Unity and Uni.
versaI Christian brotherhood at the
New Epworth Church Yesterday
A Most Interesting Meeting.
The Observation-Disclosures day" service
1T the new Epworth church yesterday af-
ternoon was largely attended, the body OF
The auditorium being we'll filed with rep
of almost every faith in the
city. After the preliminary service the
presiding officer of the meeting, DR.. w. l..
Phillips Of the Church of the Redeemer,
the first speaker of the after
noon, Rev. DIR. Kleeberg, pastor OF the
Congregation MiEhkan Israel, with few
fitting remarks. DR.. Kleeberg said: cit
may seem strange for me to appear in the
beautiful edifce consecrated to the highest
form of the Christian religion. could
not stand here before you unless the
church to-day was pervaded with liberal
spirit. Why could not such an event have
happened 200 years agoa Because the peo-
pie of that time were toobigoted, too su-
nerstitioue. Heretics existed only to be
extsrminated. In olden times the people
thought that people who had not the right
faith had not the right morals. l think
the great truth that has now dawned for
both Jew and Christian ia that we both and
all want to go to heaven. In the books OF
Moses We find thirteen commandments.
When David appeared they were reduced
to eleven.
"To love mercy, to do justice, and walk
humbly before God, are the first laws OF
all living, and by them both Jew and Cen
tile should walk"
In the absence of DR.. John Russell, pas
tor of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church,
and Rev. Mr.. Siebke, pastor of the Ger
man Lutheran church, who were to speak
on Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism
respectively, Rev. DIR. Harwood, rector OF
Trinity church spoke in behalf OF Protest.
ant Episcopalianism. He spoke eloquent]y
for about twenty minutes. In the course
of his remarks he said: 81 do not feel
any embarrassment in speaking before you
on account of the peculiarly intimate rela-
tons which have always existed between
the Church of England and the Methodist
Episcopal church. The origin of the
Methodist church was in the Church OF
England. Thus, think, it will be fitting
for me to speak on the position the Church
of England has taken in regard to church
unity. In the first place let us see what
the Protestant Episcopal church has done
for the Christians of the world. 1t has
mon prayer. Yet the Episcopal church
has not the fervor of spirit that pervades
the Methodist church. Nor has 1t many
of the institutions which have made the
Methodist church what it Is. We feel
that perhaps an organic union of all
Christians would not be possible, yet we
are all laboring to the same end and should
work together"
will read, in closing, one verse of one
of Charles Wesley's hymns, which I con
slider one of the finest lyrics in the English
languages:
1.-THE Sun of Righteousness on me
Hath risen with healing in his wings:
My soul It's life and succor brings.
My help is all laid up above,
Thy nature and thy name is love-"
Mr. Cooper then said that Father Russell
| promised to come to the meeting on one
condition, which was that he was not
| called in some other direction to attend a
| service which was especially urgent. And
| as Mr.. Cooper had not heard from him he
concluded that he had been called away.
Rev. DR.. F. A. M. Brown, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church. was introduced.
He said: "In the present church we find
the same fraternal spirit that has before
L
who wish more strongly than others the
unison of the church they are probably
those who are the heads and shepherds ot
the people. I do not believe in breaking
up denominations. They suit the differ
ent peculiarities of people. I think every
| church of Christ Is needed. I do not be-
| lieve the time will ever come when people
will all be massed together in one organi
zation. There will always bs independ
ence of thought. Congregationalists could
not and would not be ruled by presby
terry or bishop. Speaking of churches
with long ancestry, we PIesbyterians dc
back to Adam, who was the author Of
i"OriglnalSin and that is one of oul
chief doctrines. i.--
| Rev. DIR. Newman Smyth of Center
| church was then introduced. He said
at had no great difficulty in getting inte
the Presbyterian church, but had grea
difficulty in getting out Each one of oul
churches has had it's own vigorous growth
And although we have no organic union
yet in the higher regions of religious life
and thought all Christians are one. W.
have no, yet reached organic unity and i
will not be brought about by human in
strumentality or ecclesiastical power, bu
by providential guidance and dealing
| Congregationalism represents certain ideas
certain treasures, certain doctrines. 1
would be invidious to say that we alon,
represent them. But we do represent thu
freedom of the pulpit This is peculiar tt
no other church. Standing here in THU
new church as the representative of tn,
oldest church in New Haven, say that
think we need more hearty 60 operation tt
eecure the Christianizing of our city"
| Rev Mr.. Poteat was then introduced anG
spoke to the following purport: cdr
Brown said that Presbyterians go back tx
Adam. We go back even further thar
that. Does it not say in the story of tn.
And the spirit of the Lord brooded ovel
the face of the waterg We are generally
supposed to lay special stress on water
Yet it is not 80. We hold 1t as our peculia,
doctrine and belief to emphasize the in
| dividual tHave thou to myself before
| God.' Because of our individualfsm we have
| always stood at the front in championing
private judgment and religious freedom.
By thus insisting on the individual charae
ter we secure unparalleled freedom and in,
dependence of thought. Baptists, of all
peoples are bound as individuslists to re-
spect other peoples convictions and beliefs.
I would most emphaticslly emphasize what
| DR.. Smyth ssid-that we need more prac-
l G1cal cOmraQ66n1p IN practIcRt WOrk. IL
| makes a man sick at heart to feel the isols-
| ton of standing alone when he is trying to
l do some good, and see someone else who
| won't help at all or won't help willingly on
| account Of some crochet"
DR.. W. v. Kelley of the First Methodist
Episcopal church was then introduced.
He said: Methodism is the hostess of this
occasion. And so I shall not boast of the
Methodist church. I would rather take a
moment to cay that we stand for per-
sonal God. 1t would seem that certain
scientific gentlemen are trying to read the
riot act to the Almighty. But all Chris
tians can rally around the doctrine of q
heavenly father. We can also mass solidly
around the doctrine of mans creation.
When we apply our mind to the attributes
of God on one side and mans freedom on
the other, 1t may seem hard to reconcile
the two. We can also all believe
in the individual immortality OF
mankind. With this doctrine We
can dispense the scientists. I speak
of only few of the things on which We
agree and any one of them is much more
precious than all the things on which we
disagree. In closing DR.. Kelley made
beautiful allusion to the church of the fu.
ture, to which men will look. 1t is that
church which does the most for the true
elevation and uplifting of humanity, that
raises the depressed, brightens the path
way of the despairing and wretched; gives
hope, cheer and brightness; in a word
that best illumines and exempli6es the