The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-08

"Nor do pray for these alone, but also for those
about to believe on Nc through their word; go
that all may be one; rs thou Father in Me, and
In Thee, that they also may be one In ue; 60
that the world may believe that Thou hast sent
Me."-John xvii. 29-N.
There are three great questions confronting the
religious world to-day that involve In their final
settlement the moot momentous results, not only
to but to the world. These three great
questions are-"Christian Union" "The Ami
hilstion OF the Liquor Traffic." and the EVAN
gelzation Of the World" We will never be able
to accomplish the one without the other, SO It
must be evident to even the least observant that
"Christisn Union" is the most important, because
the success OF the other two depends on tho per-
lection OF the union Of all OF Gods people.
We live in an age OF UNCONVENTIONAL decay. Old
man made systems are losing their hold en- tho
religious world. At every great religious gath.
ering tho sin OF sectariR lism Ii being recognized
and plans are being proposed by With Christian
union.
a great many causes are at work now that look
forWatd to bringing the protested followers of
Christ together, but there IL no greater one than
that Jesus prayed that His Church on earth might
be one day, even as He and His disciples were
ono thing. This ia the proper rendering from the
original, and Jesus goes on to say that He prays
know that Christ came from God. Christ never
intended that His Church should be divided up
Christian ought to mourn bitterly the present di.
vlded condition OF the body of Christ, and earn
estly desire the Father to answer the Sons prayer,
tnat LIS Cnurcn may Do one, even as He and His
disciples were one.
Christ prayed for the oneness of His Church In
order that the world might believe that He came
from the Father. Every follower OF Christ recog-
nizes the N cessity OF union, and the most impor-
tant question confronting the Christian world to-
day Is "How this union best be brought
about!" The best way to answer this question is
to examine Into the causes that brought about the
, NJ
protestant churches. We find that 1t was caused
crceds and articles OF faith for the
In studying the history OF any OF the Reforma.
lions 10 the Church wo find that their object al.
to the primitive worship OF the apostles. Creeds
had their beginning in attempts to stem the tide
Of heresies IN the Church, and in every instance
they only increased the divisions and widened
the gulf. Every creed promulgated only pro-
d9ced new sect and further divided the body OF
The time has como in tho history of tho Church
when people refuse to accept dogma for Christ,
when they no longer believe in a creed but in a
person, when there is q determination to take
their religion at first hand from the word Of God,
and not from cIeeds and confessions OF faith.
PREACHERS and Christian teachers might as well
interpret Alright the signs of the times that all
nninsqired religious tests will have to go, and
rnle OF faith and practice, and faith In jesus
Christ as the Son or GOD rs the only authoritative
creed One Of the most evident signs of the times
common people, Those things which satisfied
them In the past 90 not satisfy them now. The
oo idea OF simply believing anything that might
cons. OF that belief is as foreign to the the
transit, poor homes, unhealthy food, bad poiities
or an absurd religion. Creeds were accepted in
the past without question, but oday the cry is,
"back TO Christ"-and old worn.out, errete, man.
created syetems OF religion, that keep alive divls
ions in the Christian world, are being relegated
| stored away, and the world to-day ia CRYING ont
for the onenees OF Christ's Church. the divine es-
His love Paul says in ne coEnthagnsp GwsI 81
beseech you brethren by the name OF our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing
that ye be perfectly Joined together In the same
mind snd In the same judgment" The common
people realize these divine sentiments while min
listers OF the Gospel are tanning the dying embers
OF dead systems In order to keep alive the divisions
aas m ts Of 0hr is The Unity of the
walls OF the city OF Zion, the hosts of evil are
snrging up to the very foot OF the cross in oppo.
waiting like harvest ripe for the reapers where
we s may gather In myriads for Christ, but never
in His name. The mighty Liquor Traffic" siays
should be active against the potency Of sin and
| visions, quibbling over theological points, and
filling up the measure with the Devils chapter of
mon Essentials. u satanic invention ihat keeps
thousands from knowledge OF Christ
Inc Church Oh Christ VIII never be able to &C.
complish its mission until 1t is united. This s
self-evident fact. Then, "Christian Unionn ia a
necessity of the times, the greatest means by
Christ ushcred in "For other Foundation Can NO NJ,
man lay than is laid, which is Jeeus Christ"
creeds were the original cauee OF division in the
church, we can never hope to unite on anything
but the word OF God.
inc nrst creed promulgated, to put an end to
he'esies In the Church, was the thanaeian creed
then the Apostles, which they never saw for IL Is
| not mentioned by Luke, nor was it used until
three hundred years after Christ. After this the
Nicene which was expected to settle tho dispute
| between Arins and Alexander, as to the diviLity
| Heidelberg, the Westminster, the Book of Dis
cipline, and the Philadelphia and the Thirty nine
pressions OF belief, which foster as many diner
en divisions IN the Church of Christ, all OF which
are to set forth the truth as it is in the
Woro OF dod w hioh will you take, one Of these
practice? ""N
And out OF these ten divisions, according to the
last census report, have grown one hundred and
iortytwo branches OF the Christian Church. TO
me lnndei and heather observer it is beginning
to look as IL the Church of Christ was all
with very little body. N'''''
Men and brethren, surely this lie all wrong The
snd ungodly men is the divided condition Of
Chtistendom to y. Christ Himself said a house
alva nH against itself cannot stand he heather
are telling our missionaries to go back to their
own country and agree among themselves before
they attempt to teach them the way OF life
gregational weekly in q recent comment On the the
necessity of Christian Union. Gays: 'A'
speaking OF the difrere tdenominations-thev
nave not the slightest official intercourse with
are not infrequently engaged in unseemiv ,,te'
and some are not even In recognition and recip.
[0city with tho others. They do not Question the
Christian character Of each other; they admit that
they hold the essentials OF the Christian system:
tneir aanerents live In the most de ightful eocai
intercourse and worship in each others churches.
and the greater number Of them can ioin in The
communion services OF each other; but, ecclesias.
tically and In their workTor their one Lord. thew
are soParated Ia the sharpest manner There is