Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-12
AN APPEALFOR UNITY
DIR. KERR's FINE PAPER BEFORE
THE MINISTERIAL UNION.
WORK OF OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
The baptist and Methodist Societies
Hold Interesting Meetings-Dr.
BIackwelIs Addresscs-Rev. MIR.
1roxyn ON Missions In Brazil.

y The Ministerial Union OF hichtnoHu ak
Manchester after a vacation since June
, resumed it's meetings yesterday at moo
in the parlor of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association building. The president
Rev. J. Calvin Stewart. called the meet
ing to order, and In the absence OF Rev
Mr.. Morehead. appointed Rev. MI
Chumbley secretary pro TEN.
In the minutes Of the June meeting the
secretary incorporated a commentary or
a paper on John Stuart Mill, which DR.
]. c. Hden read before the body at that
time DR.. Mercer said that as Dr. Hider
was Baptist, and he was also Baptist
he felt free to make the motion which
followed. that the comment be removed
from the records of the Union, and that
hereafter the secretary be not expected
to express opinions upon papers read be-
fore the body. The sense Of the motion,
he explained, was to let the minutes be
faithful record only of what was done
by the body.
This statement OF DR.. MERGERS brought
DIR. r. II. Pitt to his feet. DR.. Pitt said
the secretary had only followed out the
precedent Of other secretaries. and that
such comments upon addresses and papers
read before the Union frequently occurred
in the minutes. And II, continued he.
this comment be expunged, it would be
only proper that all should be. He then
amended DR.. MERGERS motion to provide
| that hereafter no comments be made by
| the secretary, except such as may be au-
| thorized and made by the Union as a
| body. DR.. Mercer accepted the amend
ment, which was carried.
PAPER ON CHRISTIAN UNITY.
The president then introduced Rev. DIR.
r. Z. Kerr, pastor of the First Presby-
terrain church. who he said, had consent
ed TO read a paper on Christian Unity"
The Doctor said his paper was really a
plea for unity. He began by defining
the word sect. and sectarianism, and drew
the distinction clearly between these and
the more honorable word denomination.
In strong language he deplored sectarian
feeling, characterizing 1t as disappont-
ment of Christian history, most crafty
ing to the Churchs enemies and most
humiliating to the Church itself Dr.
Kerr gave briefly the origin Of sectarian-
ISM declaring that ii was a resultant or
the elevation OF non-essentials to the po-
sition OF the fundamental principles of
Christianity. He thought that it was
well, and necessarily so, that men should
differ in church beliefs; men thought diff
ferently because, as the trees OF the
forest. they were different. But there
were the principal things on which they
could and did agree. and it was allwise
to magnify those things more and more.
TO do so was TO bring the churches into
closer relationship and the people of
common Father-God-nearer together.
Speaking along the line of the funda-
mentals, upon which all Christians agree,
he said: I'VE are named for Christ. 1
am a Roman was a proud confession,
but I am a Christian is far nobler. We
have one Father-God; one saDctiher-
the Holy Ghost one Saviour-Christ; one
Constituton-the Bible; one home
Heaven. Let us dwell upon the things
we hold in common, and not magnify our
differences, st. Paul said: so we. being
many, are one body in Christ and every
one members one of another.
DR.. Kerr was accorded an almost
breathless hearing. and his thoughtful,
earnest plea for a closer walk for the
Saviour's people produced marked I'M
preston upon all In the room. Rev. DR..
r. A. Goodwin moved that vote Of
thanks be extended DR.. Kerr by the
Union, and Rev. Mr. Judkins, of Ashland
who was present as a visitor, suggested
that the paper ought to be published in
the several church organs OF the de-
nominations represented. Rev. Mr.. Ora
watt made a motion to this effect which |
DIR. Pitt seconded. Both motions pre-
vailed.
IJpon motion of DR.. Kerr, committee |
of three. of which DR.. Gravatt Is chair |
m1. was appointed TO prepare a memo |
rial paper in respect to Bishop Newton
and Rev. DIR. Stickney. both of whom had |
died since the June meeting OF. the Union.
This paper will be read at the next meet
ing of the Union.
To Consider Young Peoples Work.
Rev. Calvin S. Blackwell, Phi. d.. recre-
tary of the Southern Baptist Young Peo-
pies Union, who has been in Rich-ond |
for a few days, held three, services on
Sunday. He preached at Leigh-Street
church In the morning. addressed the
Sunday School Association in the after
noon. and delivered an address before a
mass-meeting of the Young People at
Grace-Street Tabernacle at night. The
was held under the auspices
of the City Union, and President III. W.
Cottrell occupied the chair while the
State president. Mr. j. Garland Pollard,
and Rev. DR.. w. r. Hatcher were also
on the platform. DIR. BlackwelPs adj
dress dwelt upon the Baptists' part in
the religious history OF the country. and
the Importance OF the educa-
tional features of the Young Peoples
work.
DR., Blackwell was present at the Bap-
fist Ministers Conference yesterday
and made a very interesting talk
about his work. The conference decided
to devote next Mondays session 10 the
discussion of the Young Peoples work
I'm Richmond, and the members OF the
Baptist Young Peoples Union Executive
Committee were asked to attend
Rev. II. w. Williams, of Elberton. Ga.
an alumnus Of Richmond College, was
present at the Baptist Ministers Confer
ence as was also Rev. j. W. Mitchell,
Of Portsmouth.
Rrief Items from the Churches.
The fall rally of the Epworth League
Of st. James Methodist church took place
on Sunday afternoon. Mr.. Il. w. Bandy
presided, and an interesting programme
was given. which included the names OF
Miss Millie Stubs, Miss Sallie Smith, and
Miss Emma Robelen. Addresses were
made by Rev. II. F. Beadles and Rev. Il.
H. Rawlings Spirited music was rem
Tered during the meeting, under the d.
.ection of Mr.. j. l.. Mitchell.
Rev. w. C. Brown. missionary to :
,razil. delivered a most interesting and
informing address at ST. Paurs church
sunday night before mass-meetng.
cid under the auspices of the Protes-
ant Episcopal Missionary Society. The
iscourse dealt with the great work be-
ne done in Brazil. and emphasized the :
1