The San Francisco call., 1896-02-13
OAKLAND. Feb. 10. 1896

OAKLAND. Feb. IL, 1896.
To the Editor of The Cal ] most respectfully
DECLINE TO continue the discussion with Father
Yorke or have anything further to do with so
unscrupulous an an tagonist; one who is not
fair minded or courteous in debate, and who
evidently cares nothing about the truth in any
disputed question, but is simply concerned, by
fair means or foul, TO win the partisan ap-
plause OF his followers. ] shall therefore ignore
anything he has said or may say hereafter.
But there are many interesting questions in
volved in the discussion which has lately been
carried on in your columns by various writers.
One of these-the topic of Christian unity-I
venture to treat of to-day, anticipating that
many, both Protestants and Catholics, viii
differ with me in my conclusions but trust
ing that the spirit in which offer my contri-
button may be appreciated even If my reason
ing be not always approved bV the reader. To
be able, through your courtesy, 10 place my
opinions before so large circle OF intelligent
minds is an opportunity too tempting and
profitable 10 be refused.
/ would speak to-day of
THE UNITY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Has it ever existed? Is it possible, and, if so,
on what basis?
To unite all the followers of Jesus into one
great universal church has been the ideal aim
of the Christian world in all ages. The Roman
Catholic church places this idea at the fore
front of its pretensions, as is indicated by the
very term Caiholic-Which means the one,
universal, all-including church
Throughout the Christian ages the church of
Rome has persistently advocated this claim to
unity and universally, Notwithstanding the
facts of history abuudantlv disprove it. Only
recently Catholic clergyman in these col
umns, in commenting on the many differences
of opinion and sectarian divisions among
Protestants, complacenny called attention to
the unity OF sentiment existing in his own re-
1igious household. This. he maintained
proved the latter to be the one, only, all
embracing and all-suffcient church of Christ
on earth.
But is this claim of the Catholic church a
true and just one Is there now, or - as there
ever time when the Roman Catholic doctrine
and administration were accepted by all Chris
everywhere. o ASSentPd
by herown adherents? An examination into
the facts of history shows US that this vaunted
that IT was never more than splendid dream
sublime Utopia, which never was realized.
and never win be realized on any OF the lines
which have been laid down for it.
THE FIRST DISCIPLES =
If there was ever generation of Christians
in which We should expect to find this uni
formity of belief and practice, il was among
the first and immediate disciples of Jesus Yet
the most casual reading of the New Testament
shows us what differences OF opinion there
were among them concerning the personal
mission on earth. Some thought him
an ancient prophet restored TO life
again. Others held him to be simply man
who through his righteousness and holiness
had been exalted by the heavenly Father,
after his death to sit at his right hand and
share in his glory. Others, again, conceived
him TO have been pre-existent, heavenly
being whom God had sent down 10 earth TO
dwell in a fleshly tabernacle and execute his
UlVlne mission ana then TO return again to the
Father and resume his exalted and heavenly
rank which he hao before the beginning of
the world.
How differently, too, they thought on the
subject of the Christian life. Things which
seemed allowable 10 some were an offense and
horror 10 others. Paups epistles are largely
occupied with attempts to settle these differ
ences. The infant church was divided into
two opposite and hostile parties-the party of
Peter, whose center was in Jerusalem, and
which desired to confine the gospel as much as
possible TO the Jews; and the followers of Paul
who proclaimed the glad tidings to the Gentle
world and sought TO establish Christianity
independent OF the law of Moses.
The contest was waged with great ardor and
often bitterness. Paul writes that his life was
brethren"-that is. Judaizing Christians. He
calls them "deceitful workers." t'Satan him
self transformed into an angel of light whose
end shall be according to their works." 1t is
evident that there was no such unity of senti.
ment and practice in the early church as is
usually claimed for it, 1t displayed as great
differences of opinion and practices as exists
among Christians to-day. :
THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
This early apostolic church consisted of a
number of Independent congregations with a
simple and democratic form of government,
copied from that of the synagogue. These
churches were hospitable and helpful to each
other, while disagreeing on many points of
na1 1sltn ana @ praenSe. They held the apostles in
gational independence In the churches
founded by the Apostle Paul among the G en-
very active intellectual life, which gave rise to
great differences of opinion.
In Corinth, for instance, there were in the
time OF the apostles not only followers of Peter
and Paul, but of Apollos and Eephas and
Others, WHO also claimed to build on the word
OF Christ: There were in the same congrega-
ton mem mbers who denied the resurrection and
the life TO come; others who held marriage
and the use OF animal food to be sinful acts
In the church at Colosse speculations arose
concerning the angelic world and the nature
OF Chrlsts glory with the Father. Everywhere
In the church innumerable heretical sects made
their appearance. They were called Gnostics
by the more orthodox believers. We should
term them to-day rationalists or radicals.
These maintained the most antagonistic doc
trines: some profound and others puerile, lust
as II is among radical thinkers to-day
The next generation OF Christians inherited
and continued these divisions and strifes and
gave them literary expression. The writings
OF Phllo. OF Justin Martyr, of Iranaus Tertui-
Ian, Origen and others of the early fathers
contain widely divergent opinions on the sub
- gect OF CHRISTIAN doctrines. But with the grad.
ual introduction of the gospel of Christ into
the Roman empire there arose the dream of a
great universal Christian church which.was to
convert ana possess the earth. This splendid
vision dazzled out of sight for the time ali dis.
agreements and rivalries. For mutual helm
and to aid in the spread of the new faith .
closer union OF the apostolic churches took
place. Toward the close OF the third century
there seems TO have been also some agreement
on the points OF belief essential TO Christian
discipleship, of which an echo has come down
10 US IN the so-ealled apostles creed, which as
PROFESSOR harnack ana others have amply
shown. Is not itself of apostolic origin
We know the story of the triumph of the
Christian over the pagan faith The Roman
Emperors made their state religion. At the
ilrst general church council at Nicea, in the
year 325, the articles of Christian faith were
sharply defined in what is known as the Nicene
Greed, and the latter was enforced by the i'm.
perial power as the only and orthodox belief.
Here, at length, there seemed TO be a reaiiza.
tion of the unity of Christians The hoIv
Roman Catholic church-universal alone.
saving and all-sufficient began its eyentf,,,
career on earth.
CHURCH CONTROVERSIES
But its authority did not remain undisputed
The very distinetness with which the Council
OF Nicea had defined the true doctrines led 10
great dissension in the church. which con.
vulsed the empire for long years, and whose
central topic was the deity of Christ. The
Arlan and Athanasian controversy ensued
Arius and his followers affirmed the divinity
OF Christ, but denied his equality with God