The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-11
THE EVANGELICAL TRENDS-THE
CURSE OF SECTARIANISM.

THE EVANGELICAL TRENDS-THE
CURSE OF sECTARIANIsM.
Side by side in the current number of the
Forum are two articles devoted to religious
topics. The first is by II. X. carroll. who
has been connected with several religious
papers in editorial capacity and was the
special agent of the Census Bureau for the
compilation Of church statistics. His topic
is. Stability OF the Great Religious Sects."
From the census reports Mr.. Carroll finds
a basis for the conclusion that the great
sects are in fact stronger at the present
time than at any previous period in their
history. The census which shows their
membership. the number of their churches,
their donations to religious work and their
charities prove this. He says that a decay
of controversy over minor differences and
the modification of theological views and
expressions have been taken for a decay of
faith. The so-called evangelical churches
have ceased to discuss their minor differ
ences, and there is, in fact. no contro-
versy between them. Theology, ne says,
and especially Calvinistic theology, has
undergone many changes. but these have
not affected faith in the great
Of Christianity. He further declares that
''the time has never been when the divine
mission and nature of Jesus Christ were
so fully recognized as now" He dwells
upon the fact that Unitarianism is not ex-
banding. but, on the contrary, scarcely
holds it's own in churches and communi-
cants as showing the stability of the great
creeds, yet he admits that ''old definitions
Of the trinity are not regarded as salts
f~actory"-a fact which may be attributable
to the silent influence of Unitarianism. How
far has that church been potential in effect
ing radical changes, not SO much in the
illogical confession as in evangelical preach
ing?
The second article, "a Religious Analy-
sis Of a New England Town. is by Rev.
William b. Hale, an Episcopal clergyman.
Born In Richmond, Ind, in 1869, he gradu-
ated from Harvard and from the Episcopal
Theological School at Cambridge. He was
assigned to a mission church in the Massa-
chusetts town of which he writes, by
Bishop Brooks. He tells that seventy
years ago the entire population of the town
went, every Sunday. to worship in the one
Congregational Westinghouse. 1t was
practically the whole community in the
.-A It. -o- ;,Io1I N a.
society. About 1880 the Methodists and the
Baptists organized, largely out of the one
church, and destroyed its unity. Other
sects followed, until. in 1894, there are eight
religious denomination in the town, with
six places of worship in the principal viii
lage. These churches own 100000 worth
of property in the aggregate. and $4,000 a
year is expended in their maintenance, yet
none of them, except the Catholic, has a
fair congregation, and each of them offers
special attractions to secure audiences and
to raise money. One church has aYdramatic
club which gives questionable comedies;
the Methodists raise money to pay their
preacher by an annual clam-bake; one Sun
day evening a month is given up to the
drill of the boys brigade of the Congre-
g~ational society. In short. sensations.
amusements and suppers are depended on
to keep up the societies. This is the re-
suit, says the writer, of 1.-The curse of
sectarianism all over New England" Here
are this Episcopal preachers words:
A multitude Of bare, mean. uninviting,
debt-laden churches; a confusion OF dreary
services varied by sensational exhibitions;
half the women Of New England and four
men out Of five paganized; the loss OF all
meaningful and inspiring; the loss of the
sense of community; the loss of the
strength which union of intelligence, re-
sources and enthusiasm of an entire COM
munity gives; the destruction Of comrade-
ship among citizens; the ruin of dignifed
social life; the pauperization and humilia-
ton Of Christ'S r~eligion-that Is what the
spirit of sectarianism is responsible for.
The remedy for this deplorable condition
is for sects to lay aside the oenials which
have made them sectarian and get back to
simple affirmations. The catechisms and
the covenants are made long by what they
deny and the things which make sects.
More optimistic than Mr.. Hale, Mr.. Car
roll finds the evangelical denominations
nearing each other, and lone thing certain
to come is consolidation of branches of the
same denominations name. Presbyterians,
Baptists, Methodists and Lutherans will
reduce their divisions and greatly increase
their power and influence by unification."
Thus does the Methodist writer see going
on the silent work which he declares is
necessary TO rescue the people in New
England towns from the paganism which
the rivalry of sects has produced.
MODERN DWELLING HOUSES.
Building contractors in this city are aid