The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-05-18
SERMON BY DR. BRADFORD
PREACHED TO STUDENTS or YALE DIVINfTY SCHOOL LAST EVENING.

At Center Church-The Unity of the Spirit
 World Wide Neoessity-Faotors in tho
 Problem-MistalSes Made in Mission
 Work-Conversions Hindered by De-
 nominationaI Differences-Much Mission
 Money Squandered--A Powerful Address.
 At Center church last evening Rev. pr. A. H. Bradford of Montclair, N. J., and one of the editors of the Outlook, delivered the annual anniversary ser mon before the students of the Yale Divinity school. Front pews were re- served for theological students and the church was well filled.
 Dr. Bradford spoke on "rhe Unity of the Spirit-A World Wide Necessity" He began by stating that all branches of the Christian church which put em- phasis upon the Episcopate begin argu- ments in favor of unity by emphasis upon the doctrine of the church, while descendants of the Puritans emphasize the doctrine of the spirit and from this fact the former favor church unity, while the latter plead for Christian unity. Behind all development is a spiritual force. The ideal of the church will be realized when its members are harmonious not because in one organi- zation, but because with one spirit. The only power which really can unify Is spirit. Unity which is not spiritual cannot endure.
 Dr. Bradford then considered the many factors in the problem of the unity of the church of Christ. He said that the movement toward individual ism so evident through several centu- ries to the student of history is now met by a coordinate movement toward unity. Even nations have made great progress toward what we might call the Unity of the World" Among all na- tions there is a movement toward a limited unity. He then gave examples of this tendency and said that facts go to show that in spite of selfish statesmanship the interests of one na- tion are the interests of all.
 Another factor in the problem is that a united world cannot be conquered by a divided church. The world is becom- ing one and therefore the church must close its ranks Unity does not neces- sitate sameness, but rather the blend- ing of things that differ. Men will get together, but the subtle differences of temperament and character largely the results of physical environment will re- main and since individualities will not be destroyed it follows of course that | intellectual processes will not be ma 1 terially altered. The difference betwe en 1 the mental and moral characteristics of nations is as great as their physical characteristics. While Providence is promoting political unity, making men desire the same things, it Is folly for the church to be divided into many camps, over which are sometimes rais- ed hostile flags.
 l Dr. Bradford next spoke of the null tiplicity of Christian sects in the mis- sion fields, and the confusion caused to the converted heather by the difference, strongly insisted upon, of organization. Multiplicity of Christian sects confuse those who feel the inadequacy of the old religions and who have dared to NJ hope that our Master might be The De- sire of all nations. In the face of a united, defiant and often blatant heath- enism we present a divided camp. True there are sects among the ethnic re- ligions also but they all make common cause against Christianity.
 Is not the Christian church being in- vaded constantly by agents in the in- terests of so-called charities to the peril both of the church and individual souls? Is there not baneful and wicked ex- travagance in the way benevolences and missions are administered? Have we a right to go to our people and urge sacrifices in giving when those sacri- fees in giving when those sacrifices are not in behalf of tn Kingdom of God, but that senseless and wicked div isions in the church may be continued? With cooperation the missionary ser vice of the world might be adminis- tered by much smaller number of ex- ecutiye officers at vastly diminished ex- pense. In order that those who are in darkness may be told of Christ every Christian will gladly deny himself, but if the effect is to supplant one denomin- ation by another we may well inquire if extravagance and injustice have not already been carried too far.
 In regard to this matter Dr. Bradford then said
 These facts, then, meet us as we study the field occupied by the foreign | missionary societies; the work is alto gether out of proportion to the number of missionaries; and there is poor econ- omy in the use of both men and means. Only to intrepid faith Is there hope that those millions will ever be greatly af- fected by the gospel It is opposed not only by natural wickedness, but by the organized aggressiveness of elder faiths which cannot be displaced without a determined struggle. Workers in for | eign fields are opposed by corrupt con- ditions which have behind them the sanction of centuries; philosophical the , ories which regard the faith of Chris tians as absurd; governments which look with suspicion upon everything which teaches men to think. The con- test-except for those who have faith ] in God-is unequal and hopeless. Yet in spite of obstacles young men and | maidens, with courage and enthusiasm, are volunteering for forlorn hopes in i numbers greater than ever. They are taking up their work, and dying in the 1 service as if victory were at hand. In l view of these facts is it not time for the ranks to be closed and for everything | which prevents cooperation to be l swept from the church, no matter who suffers?
 When we turn from the foreign to ]