The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1894-01-25
CLIFTON FORGE. VA
BAPTIsTS AND DISCIPLES.
The Talked ot Union Between the
Two Denominations.
From the Richmond State.

From the Richmond State.
The State is permitted to print the fol-
| lowing editorial from the forthcoming
issue of the Religious Herald, touching
the question which has been discussed
recently of possible union of Baptists
and Disciples 1t will be seen that the
Herald has little hope of any union
which is not based on doctrinal agree
ment, and thinks that the doctrinal di-
vergence is at present too wide to fur
nish any sound basis of union. 1t is a
matter of congratulation that questions
of this kind can, in our day, be discussed
without the least bitterness, but in the
spirit of Christian charity which marks
says:
The New York Herald has recently
been publishing some sensational &C
counts of an alleged movement in the
West looking to the early union OF Bap-
fists and Disciples with the distinctive
name of ''Christians'' end It's reports
have been reproduced by scores of other
papers, secular and religious, through
out the country. One of our Virginia
dailies heads an article on the subject,
1.-THE Bapt; IS Give Up Their Name"
Intelligent Baptists need not be told,
of course, that the only foundation for
these exaggerated and sensational state
ments is to be found in the utterances OF
few persons, as to the adv stability OF
of clos .r relations between the two de-
nomina tions. Nothing has been done
more than this. Nothing more is likely
to be done. We say this with no unkind
feelings for the Disciples.
We bid them God speed in all their
plans for doing good and we believe that
so long as they hold to their distinctive
UNCONVENTIONAL position it will be al the
better for them and for us that they re.
main as they are now, a separate and
distinct people.
At the meeting of the Dover a ssocia-
ton, held at Four Mile Greek Injecting
House," Henrico county, October, 1882,
a report was adopted from which we ex-
tract the following: ''This Association
having been from It's origin blessed with
uninterrupted harmony and high de-
gree of religious prosperity has seen with
unspeakable regret within few years
past, the spirit of specultion, conJro>
versy aud strife growing up among some
some of the ministers and churches
within it's bou> TIL unhappy state
or rttngs has evidently been produced
by the preaching and writings of Alex
ander Campbell and his adherents."
The Baptists of the old Dover Associa-
ton did not think it desirable to have
Mr.. Campbell and his adherents remain
with them while holding views so utter
ly at variance with their own and they
did not hesitate to say so.
Nor do we hesitate for single moment
to say that as long as our Disciple breth-
rem hold to what was pecnlier to Mr..
Campbell's teachings the Baptists cans
not afford them congenial home. OF
course, if Disciple should find his views
in accordance with ours, that would be
another matter And if Baptist, per>
chance, finds himself in accord with the
Disciple creed let him at once say so and
act accordingly. Our Disciple friends
will not be slow to give him cordial
welcome. This is the only kind of union
that we need to concern ourselves about.
The Baptists are now, we think, more
opposed to the distinctive views OF Alex
ander Campbell than they were when
the leaders of the Dover Association
made their utterance on the subject in
October, 1882. The three score and more
years of investigation and the workings
of the system as developed through all
those years have led, we think, to that
result. But we rejoice to know that the
latter strife, bitter strife, which once
characterized the controversies between
the two denominations is thing of the
past. We are happy to recognize and
commend the many beautiful illustra-
lions of Christian zeal and unwaverine
devotion to our common Lord and Mas
ter which are to be found among oul
Disciple brethren. And because of this
we are all the more DESTROYS that in
Gods good time and in His own good
way the Baptists and Disciples may bt
drawn by the Divine Spirit into such e
holy union in the Word and Work Of
God, as shall make it simply impossible
to keep them apart And for this let VI
all labor and pray.
Let no one suppose that we are oppos
ed to Christian union. On the contrary
we are the ardent friends of any move
ment which, without the sacrifice O.
principle, will bring Christian people O.
every name closer together. But an.
attempt to patch up a union, either 10y
the surrender of cherished conviction
or without such surrender must of ne
cessity be abortive. Unity must conn
on the basis of common beliefs.
So far as we are informed our Disciple
brethren are not dissatisfied with thei
ly confident that Baptists were neve
better satisfied of the Scripturalness o
their peculiar views than at the presen
time. Hence, we see no opportunity TO
union other than that which now exists
AS for giving up the name Baptist,
that is absurd. Under that name gu
people have toiled and triumphed; il
defense of the principles which it stand
for, our fathers have suffered imprison
ment. scourging and death; in it is EN-
balmed much of precious history. Th
Z name will stand and the little sensation
which certain brethren, whose zeal
not according to knowledge, hav
fathered will Snee0ily persh