The sun., 1893-08-01
Real Christian Union.

The Roman Catholic Mayor OF Montreal.
In his speech welcoming the Christian En-
deavor Convention to that town few
weeks ago. said that at this time the forces
OF Christian faith need to be united against
religious skepticism. the common foe Of all.
When. last week. Baptist Church at
Long Island City offered the use Of its
house Of worship to the priest Of neigh
boring Roman Catholic Church. which had
been destroyed by fire, the Baptist pastor
said: We are here for doing good. and I
hope to see the day when all churches will
Join hands In one common object. the glory
Of GOD and the salvation OF souls" The
Roman Catholic pastor, in accepting the
generous proffer. wrote that 1t tends to
send US long step forward in the direction
OF that universal brotherhood for which we
are all striving"
The existence and tho public expression
Of such sentiments indicate progress to-
ward Christian unity. which now appears
for tho first time since Christendom was
divided into the great opposing camps Of
Catholicism and Professionalism. For CEN
tury past there has been a continuous effort
for Christian union. as 1t is called: but it
has never been real Christian union. It is
Protestant union only. 1t Is consolida-
tiOn of the forces opposed to the ancient
Church OF Rome. and accordingly is o
movement toward war rather than toward
peace. Rome Is united. and the dream has
been to bring about like union In Protes-
tantism to struggle for It's overthrow.
Even now committees of the Episcopalians
and the Presbyterlans are comforting in an
attempt to unite the two in one church Or
ganization, with view to making 1t the
nucleus about which all Protestant ortho-
doxy may gather. as consolidated army
arrayed against the hosts Of Rome.
Such Christian union is scheme to
aggravate and intensity Christian discord
and enmity rather than to promote Chris
tian harmony and universal brotherhood.
1t proposes no alliance with the great ma
jority OF Christendom. 1t does not even
include them among the followers OF the
Lord. but practically throws them out OF
consideration as 10 better than inhdels.
When. the other day. the Rev. Mr.. ADAMS
passed over from the Episcopal Church to
the Church OF Rome. he was spoken OF as
II he were a deserter from the Christian
camp. and victim Of intellectual imbe-
into the ranks Of agnostlcism. as so many
OF the formally faithful are now doing, he
would have been treated with respect; but
when he joins another part Of The Christian
army. preserving his faith In supernatural
governance. he Is treated as lunatlc.
On the surface. the hospitality OF the
Long Island City Baptists to their unfor-
tunate Roman Catholic neighbors. seems to
be more extraordinary than II 1t had been
proffered by any other Protestant COM
munion. In doctrine the Buptists are more
radically opposed to the Church OF Rome
than any other Protestants. They deny
and reject the authority Of an over
ruling Church, for they are extreme
in their congregationalism. They are
not Church. but collection of
churches. or baptized communicates.
with no dominant central authority over
them. They have no general assembly or
conference. no supreme council. Moreover
their distinctive principle separates them
wholly and irreconcilably from the Church
Of Rome. 1t is that a Scriptural congrega-
tion of the faithful can be made up only of
people who have been baptized after per-
sonal profession Of faith. and after hay
iuk pho6eu IHIoubn T" ichkioun conVeTblon.
Their form Of baptism by immersion Is dis
tinctive also. but the most essential differ
ence is In their opposition to infant bap-
tism. which In times past they have de-
scribed as 1.-THE prop and pillar of Popery."
This doctrine. however. separates them
not less completely from the great mass OF
Protestants also. for infant baptism is prev
alent among these Hence the Baptists can
recognize the value Of the religious efforts
OF tho Church OF Rome as reasonably and
as consistently US they concede the spirit
uai services rendered by the Protestant do
nominations built up on doctrine and
practice which they hold to be contrary to
Gospel command and example.
Thus tho Long Island City Baptsts have
simply exhibited toward Catholics tolera-