The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-11

rho Christian Guides' Replies to the HeilS
fous Uerald.

There has been going the ROUNDS IN
secular papers a report Of a movement
i'm the West. looking toward me union OF
| Raptists aud Disciples. The accieul'.u
leader in the movement rs Di. heII -
Tuner a Baptist preacher OF Denver
col who was reared and rs iaVoia-
blv known in Richmond, Va Inc name
of y. r. Lucas. preacher OF the Sent'a'
Christian church, in lndianapoiis' lnn'
is mentioned as endorsing the move
ment. IL is further stated that a com,
mittee is at work upon the matter ana
that union is proposed under the name
christian Church -
We have heard Of the appointment OF
no such committee, and can not verify
tho statement that there is n movement
for the union of the TWO bodies "h i"'t-
So far as the Disciples are coneern'n'
there would be no hesitancy I'D colislnel
ing "a proposition looking toward q
scrintural union Of the two bodies, put
We fear that our Baptist friends are not
vet ready for it. The Religious lieraiu'
of Richmond. Va. has "a recent eul-
,orial which was called forth by the news
papor reports referred TO above.
The spirit Of the editorial is good, ana
there are several kind references To tle
Disciples, which We most heatlu4
procate. SIN there are "a le" 9I'
TRUSTS. made perhaps unintentlo"""s
which are calculated 10 put as before lNt
Herald readers i'm an improper hsht' r9l
Instance. If a. Baptist. perchahce, "I,'
himself I'm accord with the plsciple
creedV- The uniformed reader Woul'
infer from this that we nave Il
formula OF doctrine" which is USED a9
a bond OF communion and ~ei"N7"'f
similar 10 the Westminster Confession vi
Faith. the Methodist Disciples V'
the old Baptist creed. now happlls ''''
into disuse. the Philadelphia Coni's7l'h
Of Faith. OF course, the hefaih Nn'"'
that we have never had such a ioihnula' =
human creed. but on the contrary VA,
we insist that Christ is our cfeel, "iu
the Bible is our only and all Sun'ei.n'
rule Of faith and practice. Ah''"
Herald speaks Of our holding TO VIA
was peculiar TO Mr.. Camppe"
ines." .n.s scarcely does US iu" lu9
tice. We revere Mr.. CampDen 40 "
oroat and good man, and an aple eN-
7a.ador ~ Tho word Of God. but no et-
fort is made TO hold 20 ms te"'""".@,
or ~ what was " peculiar 70 hlui' N"t
ono ~ his many books IS tausht III our
schools. and il will be sale 10 Say nm
NOT one Disciple in tfty towns OF "'9
,oad one OF his books We ann 10 n"''
no views not plainly eNprrsa'n j" w
cord Of God. Indeed. We INSIST UPON
the exact expressions or me bVoN' ~
49,, We hold to AR. ~CamDbelfs peculiar
-. n * because these views are eN-
messed i'm the exact language ol ,"e
feihis in which case they are not peculiar
80 Mr. campbell. but 90 the BiDie.
aim tho Herald says that so lonS ~
- Ioid such views "thc Baptsts cannon
offnrd them Oisciplc0 "a congeniai ho.i'.
rhis seems go imply hat we are ao'A"'e
"a home among the BapustS. "hl,h lS ~
o. F ono fold IA
tho case. No one denominations i'u -
large enough for united ChrlslehdOih' } ~
very peculiarifies which narrow = 'D",
~ rbristisns into "A denomination become
IL harriors which exclude all other
CHRISTIANS not possessing those p"'ni@t
tics TO reach the ground or 'hi'a1'Hn
union VIC must, therefore, oNciieaP az
deuominational peculiaritles. al -"
creeds. all causes for DIVISION ""'
hack 20 the time when there was 10 nv,
sion. when the unity Of the thut,n
remained. This We are humbly STRIVING "
do. Hence. We are not seehlns
Genial home in the Baptist, Methodist or
2n{sconaI fold hut IN the fold OF Christ
where we shall be characterized py hs
name. his doctrines, and his o~rdsiances
10 the exclusion OF all human a'NItDr,
or cancellations. II the BaDtistS are isauS
10 ABANDON their human name, WHAT
ever else OF d~cnominai0nal pecuidiiti,'
they may possess, we may pcU'"i. "'N''''
not by the one body finding q home IN
he other. but by both. being shorn OF al
human pecuiiarities. finding a conseniaI
home In the catholic Church or Christ.
The Herald SAYS. Let no one suppose
mar we are opposed TO Christian union.
ON the contrary. we are the ardent
friends OF any movement which, without
the sacrifice OF principle. VIII bring Chris
tan people Of every name together" But
again, LAS for giving up the anne, 'Bap-
tist.' that Is absurd We would like To
ask what principle would be sacrificed bv
giving up the name Baptist? Does II
stand FOR scriptural truth that would De
lost In abandoning the name2 N the
Herald favors union, how does n hope 10
see IL become an accomplished fact n
human names are 10 be retained? IL
unity must come on the basis Of conn.,
mon beliefs viii the Herald be kind
10 name those beliefs? We would
be pleased 10 have the Herald point out
what the Disciples require in order 10
fellowship In tn4 Christian Church that