The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-05-16

let one another alone, the perpetratior
 of all these petty differences, time with
 out end, to vex and degrade American Christianity is not an end worthy oi
 us or of Him whom we serve. To cut
 off what each denomination can spare
 in the way of belief and practice until
 a residuum is left for which nobody
 cares, is not a hopeful proceeding, To try to think that our differences are of
 no account, to talk brotherly love, in
 connection with a good dinner, our words softer than butter and war in
 our hearts, brings US nowhere. In this
 matter we want entire honesty, open- ness, fairness. It is a contention not
 for personal victory but to find out the truth and to correct grievousl evil which we have inherited. We did not
 make the divisions in the church but we ought to do something to limit the | injury they do to religion, to open the way to their correction. But 1t is wis CT to keep the high and tue ideal of organic union, and to work for it, than to aim at what is Q makeshift. Slow and well considered approach to what ought to be, is better than a temporary
 arrangement which does not provide a real remedy. Organic union by the &C., ceptanceof the Fundamental truths of faith and order, because they are felt to be true becaGso the judgment of
 Christian history and Christian exper-
 fence Is in their favor, is the ned tow
 ards which to strive. Just now it is of the first importance that we know
 N hat will set us forward in that di-
 rection.
 I would emphasize entire frankness
 and the maintenance of self respect. All
 parties have been at fault. The diff ferences between us are not the great
 est which could be namd, but they are
 real and definite and nor to be d1sguis-
 ed by pleasant words. We cannot all
 be right and we cannot bring into an
 organization our discordant opinions
 and have union worth the name. But
 the manly and honest thing to do is, face to face, to say what we think and
 why we think so and as lovers of the
 truth and unity in the truth, without
 sacrifice of self respect, find out who
 is right and move over to his side. Union may exist without uniformity in opinion or in worship. But instead
 of a number of denominations holding and emphasizing minor opinions and different forms of work and worship, there aught to be a church large enough to embrace whatever may properly be taught or done in the name of Jesus Christ There may ftly be room in one church for the man who wishes to make his confession to the parish priest, and for him who would make it to his brethren and sisters in the open prayer meeting, for those who wish to follow drum or a professional cross through the street, for him who officiates in vestments of correct ec- clesiasticaI pattern prepared by some sisterhood and fo him who offfciates in the new clerical suit seat by some fe- male benevolent society. So with en- tire honesty in the statement of ous be- liefs and full recognition of the differ ences, a larger and more generous con- ception of what the church may be, must prepare the way for union. Per sonal prejudice and feeling must be cor rected by the testimony of history and of experience.
 Receive the suggestion that good will come from Q common effort to fix at JSH blOl upOn BEettL uislluCllNt llulAS and ordinances of the church, some of which by a reaction have lost their due place in the thoughts of Christian people. Is it not true that great de- have lost the true thought l of the nature and place of worship, and of simple, definite faith, once de- ivered and always of authority? Has l not the doctrine of the Incarnation been | 0bscured? In the reaction from the l doctrine of the sacrifice of the mass | 1as not the Lords Supper lost its true | place? In getting away from the .eaching of "the Real Presence" has here not been a disposition to hold "a | Real Absence? Is it not true in- 3tinct of Christian hearts, warranted by | Holy Scripture, but weakened in Amer can Protestantism, that the Lords Supper is the highest act of Christian If am asked if in the litur- sical churches the sense of direct per- Jonal relation to God and Christ trough the Holy Spirit, and other ex- important truths do not need eassertion with renewed emphasis, I 10 not deny it. My point is simply his, that there are great and obscured ruCnS 10 70 TeSIOreQ to InelT pIaceS, l nd if we could agree to reclaim and mphasize them, @ condition favorable o union would be reached.
 I have never allowed myself to think f church union as easy of attainment r near at hand. I see great denomin- tions strengthening themselves year y year and the greatest in numbers roud of their growth and satisfied yith their position. I perceive the re- ults of many generations of controv- rsy and divided action. I know the over of inherited tendencies and what expect and loyalty to the fathers seem ) require. I am glad the church those minister am has made this dec- lration on the subject of church union.
 do not build great hopes upon it. For
 remember that the declaration is pre- snted as simply supplying a basis on -hich an approach towards reunion lay be made. Beyond these state rents which we count Fundamental, l lere would arise numberless questions 5 to what ought to be retained or light be regarded as subordinate. Diff culties beset the way even after agree
 ent on these fundamentals is reached. 1me of us have cherished the hope the