The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-18
THE BAPTIS1S And THE DISCIPLES
The Religious Heroid Kepiies to the Article
In the Christian Guide


The Religious Terald replied last week
TO the article in the Christian Guide or
The proposed union Of the Baptsts and
| Disciples. In referring TO its own former
! article on the same subject. the Herald
says:
OF course. nothing was further from our
| purpose than a Misrepresentation Of our
| Disciple brethren. We did not use the
word "creed' as indicating n written
| formula Of doctrine" We fully under
stood that the Disciples. like the Bap-
lists have no authoritative written
statement Of belief. But, nevertheless.
they have a creed. which is just as real
and Just as distinct as the Methodist
Discipline or the Thirty-nine Articles.
That is. they have a body Of belief on
religious subjects. For the sake of this
creed many of them left other churches
and helped to organize a new denomina-
ton. And. while We do not agree with all
the articles of their creed, we honor the
Disciples for their fidelity TO II. i'm view
OF the fact that they believe it has d.
vine authority.
The Guide disapproves Of our sentence
I'm which the Disciples were spoken of
as "hoding to what was peculiar TO Mr..
Campbell's teaching" Mr.. Campbells
teaching was certainly peculiar in many
respects. These peculiar1t1es were so
marked that he could not find rest in any
denomination then i'm existence. Hence
the Disciples. Now, so far as we are in
formed what Mr.. Campbell taught IS in
all essential respects still taught by the
Disciples. If they are rejecting anything
which he taught, we should be glad to
know IL.
We wish TO be perfectly frank and per-
fectly sincere. We do not say that the
cause Mr.. Campbell taught them. They
are doubtless teaching them because OF
a belief that they are found in the Bible,
but we are equally confident that they
are not found in the Bible. and there we
are-juSt about as far apart as ever,
except that, the bitterness of early con-
trcversy having passed away. we may
love and respect each other despite our
differing beliefs.
We have no notion that the Disciples
are seeking a home among the Baptists,
any more than that the Baptists are
yearning for rest among the Disciples.
We said in that article what we now re-
peat, that both denominations seem very
well satisfied with their respective doc
trinal positions
We confess to some surprise that the
Guide should at this late day revive the
hpti'H mat tuf way " Nhit NtiVliiiiitA-
tionalism is 10 found a new denomna-
ton. There was never anything more
unreasonable than the claim of the Dis
ciples that they organized a new sect for
the promotion of Christian unity. The
visible, tangible result of the movement
led by Mr.. Campbell is an additional
Christian sect, with quite well-deiined
beliefs, Of which they are notably tena-
cious and in whose propagation they
are exceedingly Jealous.
We know of but one legitimate and
effective method of forwarding unity
That method is very simple. Let Christ
ians everywhere and always seek to know
and do the will of their Lord When they
all come TO the true Interpretation OF
His VIII, unity will be accomplished
Speaking for our own people we are
prepared 10 say that no scheme of union
would be acceptable to them which
would involve the surrender or the OBJ
scuration of any doctrine held by them.
They hold no doctrine which they do
not believe to be taug.-. by the Word of
God, and. of course. could not consent
to be unfaithfu to that Word
Meanwhile let us all rejoice in the |
growing disposition To refer all doe |
trlnal differences to Gods Word. and let |
us all rejoice in the spirit of brotherly |
love which prevails For the rest. we /
are convinced that the less frequently |
Christian union Is discussed the more |
speedily and surely will it be achieved