The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-06-21
CALL 1T THE CHURCH
NEW RELIGIOUS SECT RECENTLY Or
CANNED IN PlTTsBURG.
Wealthy Woman OF That City a Chief Or
ganixer and Founder-No Denomination
nj Creeds or Rules Save Those Of the
Apostle.

A new church has been organized In
Pittsburg. IL il the second of its kind in
the Christian world. 1t has neither de-
nominational creed nor laws.
Its followers call IL "The Church." 1t
Is founded on the simple rules which gov
ern the apostolic church, lone Lord, one
faith and one baptism" A lady of large
wealth and wide religious learning is the
organizer of the new church.
1.-THE Church was established in West
ern Springs, Ills, two years ago. The sim
pllcity of its faith, the Bible basis, the alb
sence of all dogmas and doctrines, the lack
of creed or formula, appealed to the inter
est of Miss Mary Moorhead of Pittsburg.
She went TO Western Springs, Ills, where
the first congregation Is located. to investi-
gate She remained several months inquir-
ing into the principles which governed the
action of the church.
None was found save the stanch Bible
doctrine as quoted, lone Lord, one faith
and one baptism" the baptism by i'm
mersion. This principle conceded with
the convictions of Miss Moorhead, who is
known locally as the head Of the Bethany
work I'm Pittsburg, and she announced her
intention of becoming member.
This intention was quietly made known
to the officials Of the Third Presbyterian
church of Pittsburg, in which the general
assembly has just met and Of which Miss
Moorhead has been "a stanch member from
childhood.
The church polity could not permit her
the grant of a letter to the new organiZa-
ton, and Miss Moorhead did not urge it.
Her name was taken from the church
books at her request, and she returned to
Western Springs. There she received the
rite of baptism by immersion and the
hand of fellowship into the new body.
Several associates, who believed as she
did, assembled themselves, and soon the
new church was instituted. Organization
was effected and Rev Ferguson, formerly
Of Western Springs, was called as the head
OF the local church.
Services are now being conducted on
Sunday mornings, at IL O'Clock, in the
chapel of Bethany Homo. Communion,
the breaking of bread and tasting of wine,
is an order Of worship each Sunday. The
membership numbers at present 40 Mem
bers receive the hand of fellowship on the
statement of their simple belief. If they
have never been baptized by immersion,
the rite must also be observed.
Miss Moorhead, when interviewed, said
with the work of Bethany. 1t stands dis
tinct. The workers are Bible students of
Bethany and are of varied denominational
beliefs The faith of the new church will
not be forced on any.
Il am convinced that the new church
organized is the only true Bible church.
The hand of man has nothing to do with
it. 1t is the siiiie as the church as Cor
NTH, the church at Ephesus and those
other churches to which the apostles wrote.
The Bible does not say that those churches
were Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian or
the like. Denominationalism and creed
haze crept in through man. Why, the
Presbyterians used 10 immerse about 400
years ago. But their assembly decided by
small majority to accept sprinkling in
stead. The hand of man rules all religions
of the present.
81 believe that the end of things Is at
hand, and that If Christians want TO be
ready or to have an anchor that will stand
the final test they had better get back to
the simplicity of the gospel. To build on
the Bible, first last and every time, has al
ways been my desire.
"Our organization is simply known as
THE Church. We will build no grand
edifices and indulge in no complicated
services. But we will carry out the pre-
cepts of the Bible after the simple manner
of the apostles, and like them we hope to
add to our numbers daily"
The anniversary of Bethany Home was
held two weeks ago, ut which time interest
was greatly awakened in the new organi-
cation. Reports also were submitted from
all departments of work. Miss Moorhcad,
it may be stated is the first philanthropist
TO open free baths for men in Pittsburg.-
PittSburg DISPATCH