The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-07
ITS 63D ANNIVERSARY
Observed by Broad Street Christian
Church.
Sermon on "The Distinctly. Position OF
the Christian DeG ominati0n.

4th, 1884 The auditorium was testofuily
decorated with flags and bunting, whiie
potted plants transformed the preachers
platform. In the pulpit were Rev. AVA
III. Merrill, ID. d., the acting pastor ana
Rev q. A. Iillinghast, ID. d., who has the
distinction OF being the pastor whose
term Of service is the longest In the his
tory of the church.
Mr.. l.. q. Sherman, so many years the
efficient orgaVst and musical director,
presided at the organ, and the usual cholr
led the congregation In the service OF
praise. Though several members OF the
church are away on their vacation, tho con-
gregation was considerably larger than
usual and took deep interest in the SER
vices.
The acting pastor preached upon The
Distinctive Position of tho Christian
Denomination. His text being Acls XI.
"a, The disciples were called Christians
first in Antioch.
The first distinctive position was with
reference to the NAME as the only name
We wear Is that of Christian. lie ala
not believe that IL was given In derlslon,
but because the followers OF Christ mani.
tested SO much Of the spirit of Christ, ana
so we'll exemplified his teaching that IL
seemed the most appropriate name Tor
them To wear. 1t certainly Is the best ana
most expressive name Tor Christ's iol-
lowers TO wear. IL is the only name upon
which all Christians can unite. Bishop
Coke, at the Church Congress at Hart
ford, i'm 1852 when introduced said that
he preferred TO be known simply as
"Christian. We wear IL In no spirit OF
sacIusiveness, but would have all
Christians use IL TO the exclusion of names
that cause division.
The second peculiar position had refer
ence To church fellowship, as Christian
character Is the only test OF fellowship.
Nearly all other denominations require
the subscription of the candidate Tor mem
bership To some creed, but the Christians
do not. Their fellowship includes all
who sincerely love and obey Christ. They
would receive every one whom lie fo-
ceives, and would refuse fellowship 10 all
whom He refuses. This is certainly the
best fellowship as 10 Is as broad as Christ,
as narrow as His truth, and as abiding as
eternity.
We emphasize this position by teaching
and practice as 10 other denomination
does. The one thing upon which we insist
most earnestly is that the candidate Tor
mem bership possess the spirit OF Christ,
and Is loyal To Him.
Thirdly, the Bible Is our only creed.
While this IL the source from which other
denominations derive their creeds we
prefer to take it as our only rule OF faith
and practice. From our beginning,
hundred years ago, we took our position
upon the Bible AMI we have never
changed, and today we hold IL more
tenaciously than ever especially as the
Christian world Is tending toward our
position. We are not troubled about the
revision Of creeds, and the re-stateInsnt OF
doctrines.
We believe In the right and privileges
OF private Judgment In the interpreta-
tion of the Scriptures. Each Is To read
and judge for himself. Wo regard this rs
very precious privilege, and one that Is
necessary II we are to have aTree church.
1t will be seen by this that We do not
require uniformity of belief, but that
each is To use his own judslnent, under
the guidance Of the Holy Spirit, in inter
pretlDg the teachings OF God's word.
One of our distinctive positions has
been the aim to unite all the followers
OF Christ upon this ideal platform. For
this our fathers labored, anu we still be-
love hero Is the ideal ground upon which
all Protestant Christians can unite. We
ito not underestimate The good that has
been done by those wearing the various
Genominational names, but we urge upon
the attention Of the religious world tho
position we occupy as tho one upon
which we should unite, and mass our
forces against the common enemy, sin.
The need of today is that christianity
present united front againt tho forces OF
evil Not all are willing to be Baptists,
Congregat ionalists, Methodists, Pres by
terians, Episcopalians, but all can be
Christians. simply, leaving of these
human names, sacrificing no essential
thing as they take the name Christian,
the simplest and best.
Having hold this position. toward
which the Christian world Is tending
more and more, for about q century. we
have no need TO change our position.
There is no need that We strike our
colors, but we must continue to advocate
81. ha hnf "A
needs. We still have n mission and let
us grid ourselves for Its fulhlment
Rev. Dr. TilliDgbast then gave brief
historical address. He referred to the
semi centennial anniversary held in 1884
At that time Rev. Messrs. Barrows and
Morton were present ana TOOK part IN tho
services. Mr. Morton was still living at
the advanced age of 93 Five other
pastors are living. viz. Edmunds, Me-
Whinney, Maple, Iillinghast and Powell.
Ii was fitting coincidence that this
church was organized on Independence
day for IL offers for Christian people an
ideal platform as the Declaration of In
dependence stated great truths which are
the underly ing principles Of free govern
ment This church has had varied ex-
perience but no church In this city, ao-
coIding to its membership, has done better
work for Christ than this.
He then read list of nearly fifty names
OF tnOSe WHO Duu uicu siiCo tile stiul-Otu-
tennial, among whom were Dca. j. Dun.
ham and wife. Dea. ii. 5. Vaughn and
wife, y Goff and wife, j. Whitford and
wife, II. Biso and wife, j. ;. Barrett and
wife, A. Dickhout and wife, Mrs. Eliza
Slade, Mrs. Orrell and daughter, Mrs NJ.
w. Pierce, Mrs Hancock, Mrs. Bowen,
Mrs. Shattuck, Mrs. Simmons, ). Brooks,
William Pitts II. Parmenter, j. Luther,
Rev. A. A. Morton. and III. "A. Burlington.
By these deaths tho working force OF the
church had suffered serious loss. The pres.
ent house OF worship was built In 1871. IL
was raised up III 1868 and tho vestry was
built under the church. A few years ago
quite extensive repairs were made, and n
now organ purchased. The last spring the
vestry was improved by painting and a
new carpet
IL Is impossible To measure the work
that this church has done. Nearly OF
quite cvery church in tho city has received
members from IL. so that It's influence has
been widu. IL Is doing good work, and
there is no reason why It should not CON-
tinue TO grow, and he holper in oil good
work. lie urged them To renewed fidelity
assuring them that their faithfulness
would To rewarded. After tho service, by