The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-21


Word, as every disciple should have. But
where was such tenacious tolerance ever
exercised as the great apostle practiced to-
ward many with whom he walked and
worked.
There were many who regarded his easy
way of practicing circumcision on Timothy
and his refusal 10 have it administered to
Titus as evidence of a vacillating spirit,
perilous to the stability of believers. One
section of the churches was in constant dis
content because he suffered others to OBJ
serve customs which smacked SO much of
idolatry as. in their judgment, to scandalize
the worship of God. But to their restless
complaints Paul replied with forbearing
cIemency. breathing the spirit of Jesus,
when he said Let both grow together un-
til the harvest An offender had to be as
outrageous as Elymas and as insolent as
Ananias to exhaust the patience of Paul
And with those two 1T was for wicked
works rather than for wrong ideas that his
Indulgence gave way to wrath and resent
ment.
Though 1 should subscribe my be-
lief in every vowel point. paragraph
and portion of the Hebrew Scriptures
and to every accent and afFirma-
ton of the received New Testament
and though 1 were ready to drive out of
the church, put to death any man who
would not agree to such an extreme doe
trine of inspiration, yet if my heart were
not gentle and tolerant and tenderly care
l am nothing-Ouden Eimi, of no account,
according to Paups estimate of what it
takes to make a Christian. Then let con-
science do its perfect work and place us
each where we belong, whether inside or
outside the line of believers. Should 1t be
that we have been ardent advocates and
defenders of true views of the gospel, which
1t were well to be. but have been guilty or
a warning spirit and of wounding others
and have, although knowing it, let what
hurts we inflicted ranke without one word
of sincere regret being offered to the suf-
ferer as medicine to soothe the pain, then let
us repent at once; or else cease now the
pretense of appearing to be Christians when
the Holy Ghost, by Paul, casts us out
as of no account.
For this crucial is the charity test
Above all things have fervent love among
yourselves, seeing that while there abide n
faith, hope and charity, the greatest of
these is charity and charity worketh no
iii to his neighbor And if charity in creed
and conduct affords most evident proof
that one is Christian indeed, it is as much
needed.
Can any one estimate the salutary effect
1t would have upon those making no claim
to the Christian name, II from this DAY
on there should never be heard one harsh
word between those who profess 10 be
brethren in Christ? Divergence of views
there must be, arising out OF constitutional
and educational causes. Nor is it needful
that harmony of faith in formula shall be
perfect, to every syllable of belief, in order
to exhibit that oneness in Him, which Jesus
declared would convince the world of His
claims: That they may. be one in us, that
the world may believe that Thou hast sent
Me- But what is needed is such feryent
charity among us that conflicts between
Christians would be as unknown as dis
cords are unheard when GODS atmosphere
plays upon the Aeolian harp in your open
wi i!Ta3 , a,.,o shau Dro,,ou
among Christians, men of the world VIII
not mock us if we use the text: Behold
how good and how pleasant 1t Is Tor
brethren to dwell together in unity, as now
fhaxr 1atir1 III h1U w
see faction pulling the hair of faction as
soon as the amen ends a pious service OF
prayer and song. In that happy ana nal,
cyon day, which we may hope for the world
outside the church, tossed as the world is
with troubiouS thoughts of civil SconVul-
sions, will see such conditions of amity and
calm within the communion of saints as
will make multitudes crave admission, as
ever sailor did a safe harbor.
THUS can the worry be won, and by no
other means. The poor heart of humanity
never becomes so hopeless as not to be-
lieve in the power of charity and in the
felicity of fervent love to lift it to better
life and make it happv there And this it
expects first and most from those who
claim to be His who said, / command We,
that we love one another
And if all Christians need this chietest
grace to prove their title clear, and to give
them winning influence over those without,
may we not add that Presbyterian Chris
tians need it pre-eminently?
Come to think of it, other churches have
ways and means which we have not to
centuries the Papal Church has educated
the world with the idea of their claim that
the voice of the Vatican IS the voice OF
God: and that obedience to the church Is
the first condition of ever entering the KING
dom of heaven. Hence whether there is
conflict or quietness within their church,
does not affect the good will and confidence
of those they would influence.
PRESBYTERIANS BOUND BY LOVE.
And something similar may be said of
other churches where preatic authority,
elegant ritual and stately ceremonials sat
isfy the eye and ear and the religious SEN
sibilities with beauty and grace. So that
if disturbing issues do arise, and divisive
measures do prevail, they do not seem to
distract the interest which is felt, say, in
the Episcopal Church. They are not bound
together with cords of love alone, as Pres
byterians are. OF old there were bonds
that bound our own fathers of a common
faith, but which have since fallen on AS
il was when issues of religious liberty
called armies under the blue banner, which
Presbyterians were brave to follow. I'm.
listing under that standard disciples or
Calvin and of Augustine, after Paul. were
held together firmly But there are no such
perils to unite us now. me time was Wneh
at the sound of an alarm the Presbyterian
hosts would rush to defend any point OF
doctrinal belief against which a critic, high
or low, might cast a stone. And they VIII
STILL if it is ascertained beyond doubt that
a
.sMeanWhile there is less zeal than once
given to ones bond to be burned and it be-
comes more difficult to establish molly al
lance among u.s., bound together chiefly
with schemes and systems of doctrine.
Something other is needed; and we know
well what it is-charity. Through several
years preceding the present it seemed as II
our venerable body We're losing rather than
gaining, this grace, which increases
strength and conserves unity. =
when year ago, at the assembly IN
Saratoga, the retiring moderator described
the conditions of contention ana distress
which had prevailed for years ana sun pre-
vailed, his words We're grave and Welgnty.
He said: There are, to say the least, mis-
understandings among us which threaten
to diminish if not overthrow the OLD time
loyalty to the interests in our church life.
It would be utter fooliShnesS to ignore the
fact that there are misunderst landings
which conflict with the peace and the pros
perity of our Presbyterian Zion To many
this controversy has been ineXpreSsibly
painful, and there can be no doubt that ii
has materially interfered with our financial
prosperity"
',Then (although recognizing the irregu-
iarity of Offering such a suggestion in his
Sermon), the moderator suggested the call
that divides us, and what is required for
the abatement of strife and the reconcilia-
ton of parties at variance. Thus spake
the Rev DR. Booth, while commissioners
held their breath, and under their breath
whispered of further conflict, which was
sure to break out when the new assembly
should settle down to its work.
But what a blessed surprise the spirit OF
God had in store for us, after the first
hours, is too well known to call for extend
ed description. How the heat of unfriendly
feeling, so felt at first, began to cool off
from the atmosphere; some of us recall it
appeared to feel His presence whose first
salutation to the assembled disciples after