The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-16

last prayer for all true Christians was
that they may be- one. AZ we are"
This, his last prayer has not been IN
vain said Dr. Mcnzcl AFTER the
short triumph OF a so-caned orthodoxy
which reminds tho historian OF the most
se.otic phases OF Fharisaism. came me
horrors Of The Thlr,y-Ycars' War. Ihen
The great olcctor. Frederick william oil
Bradonburg. and later the Count OF IN
zlnGOrf aud many others tired 10 brhs
about "a consensus OF the churches OF Ne
Reformation. But the sad period o. "a
tonalism swept away al these beginnings
OF Christian unity and God had 10 SEND
new Establishments through the great VA
rolcons victorious armies. ~ last, 20
years after McaucthOn death, his id't9
began 90 prevail"
AT the beginning OF our century the
union between Lutheran and Reformed
Christian was established 10 the
churches Of Prussia. Baden, Hess,
Nassau. the Palat.nate. and other Ger
u.an countries. This union Is also repre-
scmtcd in America by the German Evan
gclical SYNOD Of North America. d large
and influential body. to which 81. JOINS
German Evangelical church In this city
belongs. And through out an the Chris
ton countries Of the world. even where
70 is impossible and would not be wise
10 tear down tho barriers which separate
tho single denominations from each other,
even there the spirit OF Christian unity
has begun 90 manifest It's influence in the
NEST efficient manner. The Evangelical
Alliance. the Ministerial Union of all Pro
testant denominations. tho cO-opera ton
OF an Christians in works of Christian
charity. 10 the propagation Of the Cos
pei. 10 Bible and Missionary Societies. all
these things indicate that the Protestant
churches at large. with only few exccp-
lions. gre conscious OF their duty 10 re-
alile the sacred last writ Of their Mas
ter
"In phillippus Mclancth0n We admire
tho prophet the martyr. the father Of
Christian unity among the Protestant
Churches Sacred 10 h's memory 20 al
true followers Of Christ"
During these services Mr. Charles ~.
Phillips sang as "A solo. "Tho Holy CITY,
Rev j. A. Morchcad. pastor Of The
First English Evangelical Lutheran
church also spoke Of Mclanchthon In his
sermon Sunday night. His subject WAS
'"rhe influence Of Christian Learning
and his text. Acts 1:22
The speaker drew a parallel between
Moses and Philip Molanchthon. showing
that ms regards their use Of liberal learn
ing for the defence OF truth and right
they resemble each other Christian
learning is ncedful TO defend the truth
from enemies both within and without
The church. 10 give definite and permanent
form 20 the truth in the confo ssions of
the church which are the records of
victories won I'm tho battles against error.
10 enrich and strengthen spiritual iifo
The Almighty I'm his wise providence used
Philip Melanchthon TO accomplish an
n.4 ia. If Def
Sixteenth coctury. lie is well called the
Pen Of the Reformation and the Pre-
coptor Gcrmaniac.' I'm controversy he
welded ready pen. i'm the disputations
Of the times. "a ready tongue he had for
The defence and establishment of tho
truth Of the gospel. As an author he
stands pre-emincnt among his contempt
raiies. His Loci Commmes. prepared i'm
l32l was the first treatise Of systematic
evangelical theology The famous Augs-
burg Confession of which ho was the
author. was the first Protestant comics
sion OF faith is to-day the dOctrinM
standard Of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church. and influenced largely the pre-
paration of the confessions of the other
principal Protestant churches.
David recalls Jonathan. Damon pv-
thias. Peter. John; Paul Timothy; Wash
ington Lafayette. Luther, Mclanchthon.
Together they ala their work Luther
gave energy TO Melanchthon. Mcanch-
thon moderated Luther" The latter was
the miners son. who brought the metal
OF faith out of the deep shaft. the former
WAS the armorcr's son. who fashioned fl
into weapons Of defence and offence This
celebration Of the i00th anniversary Of
Melanchthon' birth should cause us to
Doe dovoutly thankful 10 God for his gift
10 the Church. should render as moro
ready 10 study and receive the faith. de-
Tended through so many trials. which was
once delivered 10 the saints. The truth
ms 10 is i'm Jesus and the Church. the pill
lar Of IL. has endured for nineteen con-
turtles I'm the face Of am opposition and
therefore must be of God