The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-27
LET THEM ALL UNITE
Good Things and Things Not So
Good" the Subject.
BY REV. E. J. GROENEVELD
All Christians Should Vie With Each
Other In Speaking Kindly of
Their Neighbors - "Metho-
dlsm" Next Sunday Evening.


of a series of addresses upon the
Good Things and Things Not So Good"
in the different branches of the Chris
tan church. The history and peculiar
tenets of the Baptists was the subject
tonight. The speaker began by saying
that he had always believed in and
prayed for the unity of the Christian
church, but that unity in his view did
not mean uniformity. Many schemes
have been proposed to further the or
ganic union of the various denomina-
lions, but ell have been found TO be
lmpracticable. AS in nature, SO in
grace, uniformity is to he avoided. In
nature 1t would make the most beauti-
ful landscapes stretches of monotonous
plain; in grace it would be the sure
forerunner and cause of spiritual de-
cay and death. In nature il would
make the rainbow a mere ribbon of
white; in grace il would dwarf the
spiritual endowment of the individual
man and repress the characteristic
tendencies which the Creator has
stamped upon his soul. The attempt
to reduce the infinitely varied religious
nature of man to fit into certain deh-
mite and immutable forms OF worship
and thought is unwise and to be dis
couraged. In all the essentials the diff
There was a time when trifies were
unduly exalted. but a most Christ-like
spirit prevails to-day. Churches of diff
ferent denominations are quite neigh
borly now, and the old antagonisms
of the last century have given place to
a more considerate attitude towards
those who do not fully agree in every
non-essential of faith and practice. A
fine-grained spirit could never be sat
lshed with uncouthness of worship, in
which some people seem to delight;
neither could a strong soul feel salts
fled and thrive except in an atmos-
phere which is constantly charged with
strong doctrinal instruction. with
which some of the churches are identi-
fed. AS the most enchanting music
pours forth from the blending of many
and divers tones, so the most perfect
and most acceptable praise and wor-
ship to God come from men, each of
whom eXalts his Maker in his own way
in accordance with his own gifts, all.
however gathered adoringly around
the great focal magnate. Jesus Christ.
/ want to speak of the various diver
sions of the Christian army-of the
good in each, of the service of each to
the church universal and the world,
and of that. which from a Presbyter-
ian standpoint. we do not approve. /
am making a plain presentation of
facts. This is not a controversy. i
all lOI lUt VI
my own congregation. / find many ad-
mirable things in other churches-in
none more than in the Baptist denomi-
nation. The world, as well as the
church, owes much to this people. They
are very numerous in the United
States and growing very rapidly, and
deserVedly so. ~ In the North, South
and negro branches there are at least
$500. 900 communicates separated by
artificial lines, they nevertheless con-
scitute one people-having the same
government, doctrines and general
characteristics. They are the advo-
Gates of an extreme individualism in
religious matters. The simple PROPOSE
ton which Roger Williams advocated
and for which the Baptist church
stands to-day, is the sanctity of the in
diVidual conscience. 1t is the rock up
on which the denomination was found
ed, and not upon a mode OF baptism.
The whole human race owes them a
debt of gratitude, which can never be
paid for their unfalting defence and
consistent allowance of strict religious
freedom
In the days of the Reformation the
Baptists were the radicals. Instead of
the attempt of correcting the corrup-
ton of the church gently, they insist
ed upon thorough work. They utter
ly repudiated the union between
church and state. For this reason
they were prosecuted by the Protest
ants as well as the Roman Catholics.
They furnished many illustrious mar
tyrs from their ranks. They remained
faithful to their fundamental tenets
through IL all.
Roger Williams organized the first
Baptist church upon this continent.
Many regard him as the real author of
religious liberty in this republic. The
ologically, the Baptists are Calvinists.
In 1889 the general assembly of Bap-
lists in England adopted the Presby-
terrain confession of faith, with few
changes required by their views upon
the subject of baptism. This confess
sion was also adopted by the Phila-
delphia association. and lis still the
statement of doctrine most highly re-
garded by the Baptists in the United
States" They are the pioneers in mis-
sionary enterprises. Among things
not so good. there may be mentioned
first, their obstinate eXclusiyeness. The
esprit du corps is strong with them.
Denominational interests are supreme.
4 Presbyterian elder subscribes a large
amount towards the erection Of a Pro-
testant Episcopal cathedral in New
York. Another. Presbyterian donates
500 900 to found Baptist university in
Chicago. The Bible society and the
Tract society, undenomindtional en-
terprises, could not maintain their well
contributions. Whoever heard of an
Episcopalian or a Baptist financially
fostering an enterprise under the con-
troll of Presbyterians?
This characteristic spirit of the Bap-
tist denomination also manifests itself
in their conception of the New Tesla
ment sacraments. They exclude all
but three forms of baptism. and main
tain that no one has a right to a placa
at the Lords communion table except
those who have submitted to that one
form. An emphasis is laid upon an
outward form, which reminds one of
the Jewish spirit in the early church.
and which one would not expect in a
church otherwise so roughly eVangel-
zeal and sound. The New Testament
constantly deprecates forms and out
ward religious ceremonies generally.
and exalts uniformly the gifts and
graces Of the soul. Again, the Amer
lean Baptists fence the Lords table
against people the genuineness OF
whose Christianity they must admit.