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

| be noted, surely good deal has come
 in the way of better understanding ap-
 preciation of the need of action and of
 existing conditions. Differences have
 not been accentuated. Antagonlsms
 have not been increased. Christians
 of different names have been disposed l to look one another in the face with a
 little more kindness and brotherly in- l terest If we have not come together we know better where we stand what
 can be given up or modified. All of this
 guard had to be covered slowly and pa
 tiently, and perhaps 1t is being covered
 by the discussion in progress, through which the thoughts of the hearts of men | are revealed.
 | like to think that the declaration on the subject of church union came | from the American Episcopal church. I believe that the motive and spirit of
 the men who brought about the decla-
 ration were worthy of all respect. There are in our own, and I suppose in every communion, persons whose interest in church union Is stimulated by the hope | that it will advance the interests of | their own church. This appears not an
 open and manly way of dealing with the subject. There is no lack of persons
 who are very ready to bring about union by arranging that their denomination
 shall swallow up the others. There is
 difficulty in finding Christian bodies ready for union by absorption. I think Ethe declaration originally going from | the American bishops in Chicago in 1886
 sincere utterance, expressing desire net so much to advance the interests of Al, T1.. al,,r T., 4A l,oaI fIa wounds of the Lords body. There are without question a. great company of people in the Episcopal church who
 most earnestly and unselfshly pray and labor for the end of our unhappy divis-
 ions. I think this Is true also of mem
 bers of the Congregational and Presby-
 terian churches. have the feeling that
 it is not true in the same measure of
 the Methodist and Baptist churches,
 whose great growth and prosperity ap-
 pear to lessen the sense of need of un-
 ion, 1t is doubtless true that there has
 been in this last decade more earnest
 thought, more intelligent study, more
 sincere prayer upon this subject of a
 broken and divided Christianity than
 in any like period since the Reforma
 ton, and good in some way must come
 from It.
 As the discussion has gone on it has
 become very plain that agreement upon
 the fourth article in the declaration, concerning the Historic Episcopate, will
 be most difficult to obtain. The great
 body of Christians-at least of all bear ing the Protestant name-appear to hold
 that the Holy Scriptures contain all
 things necessary to salvation and are the rule and ultimate standard of faith. Different theories of inspiration are held within the church which has stated no theory of inspiration--only the fact The substitution of the Bible as an in- fallible book in the place of an infalli- ble church, at the Reformation by ex- treme Professionalism, has failed. But while our theories about the Holy Scrip lures do not agree, we can probably all accept the first statement of the Lam | beth conference.
 Neither does there seem great diff culty in reference to the acceptance of | the Apostles Creed as the Baptismal | Symbol and the Nlcene Creed as the | sufficient statement of he Christian | faith. The creeds are used ever more | commonly by Christian people. The | thought or u tIetu dN d iVSiItCllOI bl l Christian liberty Is passing away, The | historic sense and desire to be in com | munlon with the church of the first days | assert their power. The ancient creeds | as declaring the terms of church mem | bershlp and what was most surely held | and beleved in the beginning command | ever increased respect There are those | who want a creed, as they want their | clothes, their house and its decoration, | of the latest fashion, but there is a gen eral disposition to get back to the sim pler faith of the beginning, beyond the Saybrool5 and Cambridge platforms, l the Westminster confession, the Thir- ty-nine articles and the decrees of Trent.
 The fitness of the third article, the two Sacraments ordained by Christ IIimself-Baptism and the Supper of the Lord-mnistered with unfailing Use of Christs words of institution and of the clements ordained by Him-is by nearly all perceived. The Sacraments are ordained by Christ Himself and their place is established by authority never to be questioned, They stand above all ordinances and rites as from Christ Himself. There Is general ac- eeptance of that view, in the midst of great diversity of opinion about the nature and the proper place of the Sac in the life and worship of the church.
 do not mean to say that because the first three articles of the Lambeth dec- aration have excited so little unfavora- ole discussion that they would be read ly accepted by the great denominations which ought to be united and are not. The difference in respect to them is so small as compared with the difference # opinion in respect to the fourth that attention has not been so closely fixed lpon them It has been taken for yranted that little trouble would arise Il connection with them, and this con- lusion may not be warranted. The de- nand for interpretation, beyond the ,are statement of facts might destroy he dream of harmony. Perhaps the ,lain and great divergence of opinion lpon the fourth has led men to rest in he feeRng that up to that point the curse towards agreement would be asy.
 This fourth article concerning the Historic Episcopate locally adapted in