The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-02
RELIGIOUS UNITY DESIRED.
REV. A. VI. WILLIAMS SERMON ON
THAT SUBJECT LAST NIGHT.

The Desire for Unity Among the Re-
The Address of the New York
Rabbi Was the Starting Point.
Bishop Nelson's Sermon Referred
TO-There Is Good in All Creeds,
and Hence They should Not Fight
One Another.
Rev. A. NJ. Williams, pastor of Wesley
Monumental church delivered a very in
teresting talk last night to an attentive
audience upon the theme christian IN
ity." 1t is a topic that the religious
world is now devoting much attention to
and its discussion was timely and appro-
pirate.
Taking his text from II. Corinthians.
fife: THE letter killeth, but the spirit
giveth life" The preacher said in part:
1.-THE desire for unity among Gods peO-
pie has had several expressions in Sa-
vannah of late. The eloquent address of
the New York rabbi last spring, the very
able sermon of the Rev. Mr.. Lanier and
Bishop Nelson's Endorsement of the
Lambeth plan of church unity
as reported in our papers last week, are
the forms it has taken. Other utterances
have been given, and it is worth while
for the Christian to think over the mat
ter.
GAS far as the desire is a real expression
Of the heart and not mere pretense for
advancing ones own ecclesiasticism, it
is a source of profound pleasure to lover
of humanity. The desire to get closer to
our brothers in the highest realm of our
being is noble aspiration.
The speaker here enlarged upon the idea
that many sought unity by making it a
point that others should surrender their
convictions to them. Many instances of
the material points asked for by differ
ent sects were mentioned. Some
churches were bold and candid enough to
admit the fact while others sought it
through hidden means.
I'VE may hope for little unity through
these sources" continued the speaker.
THE history of the church is full of
such efforts and they mean simply an
increase of the evil instead of its elimina-
ton.
True unity in religion must come from
within, not without. There can be
formed no creed broad enough for all the
millions of mankind to stand upon. The
real germ of union is in the love of which
our brother Lanier and the
Rabbi spoke. Let us preach
love to all. Let US practice love to all.
Avoid trying to make the world see as
we do. Give up hating and destroying a
man because he won't wear your collar.
The unity of humanity is within itself"
True unity, the minister stated, cannot
be manufactured. 1t can only be grown.
This man cannot do. He can sow the seed
under favorable conditions, but the power
of growth is not in him.
True unity takes time. God is at the
helm. He is bringing His people together.
The movement inside the churches all
point to ultimate unity.
True unity does not necessarily imply
uniformity. The great law of the universe
is unity in diversity. The principle of
evolution is that the same is transformed
into the diverse. If we only have the real
love of the true, the beautiful, the good in
our souls it matters not in how many
forms it displays itself. There is a real
advantage in diversity; it use more soul,
it affords opportunity for more workers.
II may preach the good as 1 see with a
view of winning to the good as many as I
can. must not cry down another more
earnest than myself because he cannot see
the good as I do.
True unity is in honest love for God
and man. said he in conclusion. "Other
methods of seeking it will prove failures.
Love seeks not her own and will not cut
down because another's expressions is
unlike it's own