Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-13
ONE CHURCH FOR ALL
b. HlitAel Discusses Christian Union
ha Ysly Interesting Ill1sl.
OBSTACLES IN TIE WAY.


DR.. Hafcher preacheo uno seti"o" ~
Grace-street Baptist church Sunday night
on Christian Union." subject that u
engaging the attention OF Christian people
throughout the country. The announce
ment made In tho Dispatch that TINS
..ou,d be the theme drew out q 'arse
aggregation 10 hear the discourse. The
excellent music was delightful feature
OF the service. -.
DR. Hatcher read two passages OF
ecr,n,vre-- Ephesians. w.. S-l3. ana St'
80 ~,,u ao-D. The minister said:
There has been quite stir IN our .'''
recently on the subject OF Chr'stia'i ui'o".
r,s matter has taken on fresh in'eres'
"a m. pubiic has been asking what -
80 m happen. Not few or my own
,..on,s have approached me win eager
Questions on their lips. ana to-hish'
,,ro,ose 10 meet this popular curiosity
..,,,s modest deliverance on Christian
~ There is something indescribapIy
.',nas,ne in the thought OF biotting OUT
~ UNCONVENTIONAL lines and In having an
@hr,stians blended into one vast ecclesi-
s,,oaI combination. 1t seems 10 be just
what the most generous sense OF mankinu
,o,,Ia approye. 1t u an END IN user
,,ost des,rable-a contamination most de-
youtly to be wished.
MOVE OF THE BAPTISTS.
=, ,s inst 10 the Baprists to say that
NOV o-iginated the latest attempt TO pr'ns
about n union. This they did In the'r
annual convention held In 1880 In the Guy
OF Fort Worth. Tex. They issued an IN
vitation 10 the various denominations Oh
a conference
~ representative scholars to sit IN Juns-
ment upon the differences which now
senarate Gods children into sects. ana TO
mrpest some common scriptural ground
mon which all might come together. This
fraternal challenge stood unnotceo uhti
our Southern Baptist Convention met III
Nav last at Dallas, Tex. There most
fraternal and courteous communication
was presented from the Disciples plea
santly re-echoing our wish Tor uhioh'
and proposing tentative OASIS OF u"'on'
In response to this dignified and conserva-
tive paper the Baptists appointed COM
mittee to send suitable communication
TO the National Convention OF Disciples.
which recently held its annual meeting
In Richmond. Being MEMBER OF tiis
committee, the only member from tr-
ginia, I had the honor Of presenting that
report: and II Is simple justice TO the
Disciples Convention to say that was
cordially received and heard with a re-
spect well worthy OF those whom / repre-
sented. The main effort In our report
was to induce the Disciples to appoint
committee to act with a similar commit
tee from the Baptlsts. whose business
shall be 10 bring about scholarly con-
ference among all the Christian denomi-
nations Of the world with q view to the
removal Of the difficulties which now
stand in the way of the union of all Chris
tians. The Disciples cordially agreed to
create the said committee. and the Bap-
lists will unQuestionably do the same
thing at their next meeting. This puts
two denominations into line as working
for the unincation Of all Christians In one
body. without any denominational lines
dividing them. This Is the present status
of the matter.
WHAT THE OUTLOOK Is.
II you ask me what j think of the out |
ook for success In the movement I must |
reply that am not prophet. For my |
Fart ] must tell you that the question Of |
success or failure in the undertaking does !
not control me in the least. For one I /
bn.ieve that the harmonious agreement /
4 nd cordial union of all Christians into
que body would be the most sublime and |
-lorious event that could occur upon the
VI rth next to the second advent Of the |
N OF God, and would do more than.
i else to hasten that event. Believing |
do, that sectarian!sm is an evil. and
at the divisions In the body of Christ |
ic hurtful TO the highest interests OF
is kingdom. i hail with unfeigned joy |
cry movement that looks TO the healing |
: these differences. IL could find any
ne thing In the distinctive doctrines Of ,
iha Baptists which stood In the way Of I
the union Of all Christians on a Bible !
Jasis / would discard 1t instantly. and |
nope that the Baptists will stand In the
forefront of the movement for the unifica-
ion of the Lords host on the earth. This
say from the bottom Of my heart. But
let us understand that this Is a vast and |
Gir-reaching question. 1t comes to us
With the entanglements OF the ages upon
I. II has to fight the prejudices OF GEN.
.uries. Bigotry, ecclesiastical pride, po-
itical influence. social intolerance, and
racial hatred are bound hand and hand
against this movement. Those who think
hat 1t will be easy to bring about Chris
ian union have never looked beneath the
surface of the question. Those who EN-
bark upon this undertaking have need to
pray for the faith which removes
Mountains.
We had as we'll understand that senti-
mental enthusiasm. or n scornful crying
3own of creeds. or a belittling Of the dis
Inctive views Of earnest people will not
bring in the glory Of Christian union
Il is easy for a gushing liberalist. charged
With sweet phrases and a melting man.
ler, to whip an impulsive crowd into .
nomentary craze for union. but let some
,harp-to ngued critic begin to assail the
'avorite dogmas Of those who are present
and the foaming tide Of enthusiasm will
ade as the morning cloud.
PLANS THAT WILL NOT WORK.
1t may be well to name some Of the
.alse bases on which II Is proposed to es.
.ablish Christian union.
One plan Is to rub out UNCONVENTIONAL
lines. and allow all Christians to come
In. bringing with them all of their pecu.
liar doctrines and their methods Of work.
That would be an ecclesiastical union
without doctrine harmony That >Souid
be taking back into the new organization
all the differences which at first caused
the separations. 1t would simply transfer
the doctrinal conflicts from the present
arena into the bosom Of the new church.
1t would be union without unity. 1t would
make us one In name. but many in belief
and activity. 1t would take a house now
divided. and make 1t a house filled with
Intestine wrangles and strifes. We need
not hope that n church can be constructed
out OF the present numberless sects which
will be SO varied In doctrines. so unlike
In plans Of service. and yet harmonious
and effective. The dream Is too chimerical
TO command our respect. Union will not
come that way.
Another scheme Is for all sects to throw
overheard their distinctive doctrines. and
themselves into ecclesiastical
IL we can get all Christian peo-
pie TO gather at the gate Of some vast
camp. unload all of their distinguishing
Views. and agree not to believe anything
thet no one else can believe, and not to
Insist on what they believe. then we
can have a universal union Of Chris
tians This proposition involves the re-
lection Of all creeds now existing. and
an entrance into a union which has for
Its solitary article OF faith the supreme
value of union. This would make a
church built on compromise, and without
any vital bond TO hold II together.
Still another plan IL to rally the scat
tered friends Of God back to union on
some one Of the many creeds as held by
the sects. A few years ago the American
Evangelical Alliance met In the city OF
and one Of the themes dis
cussed was Christian union and an
IGNORED Episcopal bishop, now deceased,
was chosen 10 present the paper on that
subject. He glorified Christian union ex-
ceedtngly. and closed by recommending
that we all get together. and adopt the
creed OF the Historic Church. We might
q Vss haa lvx A. -. 4 |