The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-10-03
TALKS BACK TO BEER.
Ernest Thornquest Defends His 20.
sition on the Church.

l
Ernest Thornquest Defends His po-
sition on the Church.
To THE EDITOR: Permit me to-
point out few things in Rev. Beers
article in your paper of Aug. %, en-
titled "One Church Only" This is
done in the most brotherly spirit, with
no other desire than that of arriving
at the truth in the matter. His article
in that issue was occasioned by one
from my pen appearing in the proceed
ing issue. In my article l took the
stand that there ought to be only one
church and that the bible is the only
book that fully describes this church.
Rev. Beer agrees with me in de-
ploring division, even calling it an
''injustiiable wickedness." He then
traces this ''injustifiable" wickedness
to the free use of the bible, saying
there was no such thing as division
''until the bible was placed in each
mans hands, and he was told to read
for himself" Clearly, then, reading
the bible is a wicked thing to do for it
produces wickedness as a result.
Then he goes on to show that the
bible is of itself not enough for our
guidance il trying to determine what
constitutes the church, the one church
for which Christ prayed, and in that
in addition we consult the page of
church history, or in other words ''the
Historic Episcopate." He even says
"the bible is manifestly insufficient"
Now, Bro. Beer, did you think be-
fore you spoke that time? Does not
the bible yield an unquivocal answer
to the question, what must I do to be a
Christian? and what is the church but
a body of Christians organized for the
purpose of winning souls to Christ?
And where will you find an authentic
history of the primitive church out
side of holy writ?
The reverend gentleman seems to
be aware of the strangness of his
language, for he says, II know this
wilt cause some people to open their
eyes widely, for with them the bible
is considered as a fetish, or charm,
capable of guiding even the most
ignorant to exact knowledge" Bro.
Beer, doesn't the book claim for itself
this power? Read Is. 1878. What
would be the fate of most of us poor
mortals if it were not capable of doing
SO? Would God give us revelation
that is insufficient? Rev. Beer points
to the great number of sects as evil
dence of the bibles insufhciency,
these multiplying as the bible is more
widely read. This comes from mag
nifying points of minor importance,
such as predestination, fore-ordina-
ton, election, total depravity, and
making differences of opinion on
these subjects walls of separation.
Now it is not expected, nor even de-
sired, that the church shall come to a
unanimity of opinions on these and
similar subjects, but to unity of
faith and practices as explained by
Paul in Eph. AIS. Let us find that
passage and ponder
Brother Beer says, I'VE are none OF
us SO silly as to remain in sect that
we believe has not the true knowledge
of the word" And yet, Bro. Beer,
you don't for a moment believe that
the bible alone sustains sprinkling as
baptism, do you? Nor do you believe
that it teaches that you can graduate
people as Christians by the process of
confirmation, do you? Nor do you
for moment believe that it teaches
infant membership in the church, do
you? If you do, bring on your proof
from holy writ alone.
Much more might l say, but | am
trespassing on valuable space and SO
shall refrain. Again offering that l
have only one purpose in writing, and
that to unite Gods shattered host,
and show brotherly love to all, l am
as ever, Your humble servant,
ERNEST THoRNQUEsT.
Excelsior, Mimi, Sept. 9th, 1899.
j" ~ n II COT IIAEN