New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-10
TALK ON THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH.
THE REV. DR. JOHN HALL MAKES SOME
PLAIN STATEMENTS TO HIS
BIBLE CLASS.
HE SAYS THE coNGREoATToNAIIsTs AND BAP-
lists ARE BEGINNING TO ADOPT CHURCH
GOVERNMENT MORE IN ACCORD WITH
THAT OF THE PREsBYTERIANs

GOVERNMENT MORE IN ACCORD WITH
THAT OF THE PREsBYTERIANs.
IN spite Of the Indictment weather over thirty
women assembled yesterday morning at Or. Johh
Halls church TO hear him speak on The Prlmi'Ne
Church" BY that expression he said mat ne
meant to denote the Church in its founcatloh anu
formation during the days Of Christ ana the
Apostles as described in the New Testament
Certain teachings Of the primitive Church said
DR. Hail. "are Of particular interest now, IN con-
nection with the recent attempt to reunite inc
Anglican and Roman churches and the Pope en-
oyclical letter, IN which he declared that 'heie
could be no ainalgamation Of the two. unless inc
Anglican Church abandoned the position II hao
taken In holding that priests need not be ordained
by those who had been ordained by the Apostles
The bishops who have framed a reply 10 the rope
have been criticised by the true Evangehcais as
conceding too much. as lowering the stdndaro VI
Professionalism"
DR. Hall then went to say that the "olo
Church is used in two senses: first, meaning the
great spiritual body Of Christ from the oeSlhniis
10 the end Of time; second the CHRISTIAN Ohurc"
on earth. The Christian Church Is not Noiui'-
tary society. as IS the Christian Endeavor Soce'!'
for instance which may join or not as we
nlesse But the Christian Church Instituted
BIZ Christ and invested with divine authority anu
II has be IN commanded that they 10 whom TIC
Word comes must be IN the Church Inc siea'e
the idea Of personal liberty 'he sieA'ei
there Is on TINS sToVilu-
Dr. Hall next combatted the theory that obtained
such credence during the Dark Ages ana IS sun
held by the Roman Catholic Church, that ON!
those who have had the Apostles hands lalo on
them can be ministers of the Church 1he 'a'ho-
lie dogma OF apostolic succession rests on TINS Ioea
OF tactual succession. 1t is foolish salH ~ ~
Hall 30 suppose that spiritual power coud 9e oP-
FAMED through the touch Of Popes ana CdIo'id@ad
who were notorious Nbertines and fornicatoiS, a
y,ho ~ they were living now. would De pOSec"ttu ~
n ths criminal courts. BESIDES, nowhtIe d Az
Bihie ia IL suggested that the sacrament uo''''
re GOOD from the who administers L., . am
.rThe Apostles of the primitive Church.s &c
tiruad DR. Hall were commdnoeo 70 W ~"
,nee-ro 60 into the world and teacn: Inc. WI
,of N each two things-the WORDS OF N LII,
- truth ee revealed the Apostles u! the ~
SnJri, Those injunctions rule out ihauH nroacb
Sp t.' M, Ibe function OF the minister TO pieacn
seenee and philosophy, but the uitiss Tn The
revealed When he cannot say. nus IL ie ess,,
rorSI IT'S word is OF no spiritual use ~ - ,.',
"a ,,susible 10 say We must be up 10 tne nm
49, 49, esv Iesus Christ is the same yesleI uas e
~ ~ "a forever There can be progress ~ s Vsne
make any change In the relation Oh '''e "
Af.er showing that tho early SnIlS ia me nrac
~, 20 he relied authorities loi wv co.,
,Soae ~ the primitive Church because ,in,o
Ia oiraadv crept into the Church ~ mn NJ IN ne
rae haenss Of the inevitable inaccuTaGy Oh an ms
s tJ wTtjngs Dr. Hall closed his ta!" VIII
r,,,,ia ,ory remarks the facl that -, a
t,nnoi,ste and Baptists are beginning 10 auoPt tba
cbnrcb government more IN line WIN me- arS don
nrs in accordance with that OF the pr'ih''e
Church. . -, .oL nav. week on Essential