Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-09
TBEeUNION MEETING.
ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE SER
VICES IN orr HISTORY.
1 VAST CONGREGATION PRESENT.
The Academy Crowded 20 the Doors
Fine Music and Excellent Speeches.
ny Ministers Representing the W"
rious Denominations.

The union meeting OF all the evanseii
cal Christian depomipatons, Oh hiohH'on'
and Manchester, so devoutly longcd io'
NV many. and held Sunday afternoon a
4 o'clock 10 the Academy OF Music, wal
AN overwhelming success. and viii aot o'
forgo,ten in many years by any man
woman. or child who attended H.,
There were scarcely less than 1000 peo
,le present Every inch of space, seat
ing or standing, on the steps of the III
cllncs. In the aisles. and on the stage. wa
occupied. Many stood during the en'ir'
period OF the exercises. The weather was
cool and damp outside. but ideal for tbs
house.
Tho committee, OF which Rev. H. A
Goodwin was chairman, had done 's
work most faithfully and not one h''cn
IN their arrangements occurred. Every
feature passed off smoothly. The sing
ing of the familiar hymns was spi'i'eu
the addresses of the ministers were
Astounding IN fraternal love and good VIII
towards all people, and spirit OF ira
ternify and fellowship pervaded the vast
gathering.
ADDRESS OF DR. KERR
Tho opcning service was brief Rev
MIR. Goodwin, who presided, read the lou
Psalm. and the audience rose ana sang
the long metre doxology, after which,
they repeated the Lords prayer Inc
snlendid choir. under the direction OF
MIR. J. l.. Mitchell with Mr.. Shepnerd
webb as pianist, sang seVeral hymns
win decided spirit. Dr. Starr read the
scrinture lesson, in the absence OF kew.
DIR paul l.. Mcneil, and Rev. Or. Jere
Wnherspoon offered prayer.
Rev. DIR. Robert +. Kerr, upon whose
motion this meeting was held, was inc
first speaker. He said in part:
This is "A scene upon which SAINTS
apostles prophets, martyrs, angels, ahu
chr,ef must look down with deep com
placency and 80 some OF US mere TINS
is one OF the happiest religious expert.
ences Of our lives. The subJec'l. C 1u
Vital Oneness a. Christ, taxes II III
granted that we already nave UNI ibriet
this Is true, for we are one In Cnrist'
The Invisible Church. composed OF an De-
levers on earth and In Heaven, Is lhe
Kingdom of Christ, and tnis the true
Church OF God. Is, next 20 Goa, me great
cot fact known among men. moreover
The Church Is the only immortal organl-
cation on earth. The invisible Cnurch
having absolute unity, the visible Church
ought to express this unity IN every pos,
sible way looking TO God Tor ways anu
means OF coming together more ana
more. The basis Of unity is not the TACT
that we have one Bible, one COS
pei. ana one Heaven.--it is Christ; lie
Is the basis Of our unity. We are one
with one another because one win nm m
IL is a vital or living unity, as OF the
vine and its branches. Christ IS III every
Christian. and His life is the life OF the
soul. We shall never get together any
where but at His feet.
"A little girl In a heather country found
me walking among the ruins OF an idol
tempiv and after vainly endeavoring TO
talk with me In a strange language, az
last said. looking into my face, Jesus!
jesus She was claiming kinship with
me. i was her brother. SO to-day, pre-
threD, we clasp hands, and this is our
common greeting Jesus! We are
one in Him"
BENEFIT TO THE WORLD.
Rev. Dr. W. q. Starr, OF the Methodist
Church. followed DR.. Kerr. His subject
was, THE Benefit to the World of Mani
Testing Christian Unity" He said:
GOD drew the line long years ago.
Christ retraccd it In the fifteenth anu
sixteenth verses OF the seventeenth chap
ter of the Gospel by ST. John. The world
Is TO be found OF one side of it; the
Church is on the other The business
of the Church is 60 save the world. If
the work be hindered. we must invSsti-
gate until We find the cause. If that
cause be lack Of brotherly kindness
among processing Christians, II must be
removed out OF the way. a sectarian can
be Il churchman but never a CHRISTIAN.
a sinner. with the hundred eyes of Argos
10 help him, can find faults and flaws In
the practice of what Is taught by the
Church Of God, but he ought never 10
discover a lack of love between those
who profess TO serve a God of love.
II the people OF God in all the evangeli-
cal denominations display in personal eX-
perience that spirit OF brotherhood which
ought 10 characterize the followers of
Christ. certain results VIII be visible
among fairminoed men outside the
Church OF God /. They will give evidence
OF a conviction of the reality OF our pro-
fession of faith. 2. They will reverence
the doctrines which produce such Won
uerful transformations OF character. 3.
They viii suspend their opposition to the
saving work OF the Church In the world.
{. In many instances they will make pub
lie a. deliberate choice to honor Christ
and be menlbered with His peOp.e.
A church bound together by the strong
bond of Christian fraternity is a divinely-
appointed ante-chamber TO the Kingdom
OF Heaven.
HOW UNITY Is SHOWN.
The hymn, Jesus, Lover of My Soul"
was sung. the assembly standing and
Rev. Ii. - Garrison, of the Disciples
Unity Shown by the Work, Prayers, and
Hymns of Christians and he said:
81 love 10 emphasize the good that is
in a man. not because he is perfect, or
because we are satisfied with him, but
IN order to make MIN better. The best
cure for any fault is TO cultivate the OPP
pOsite virtue. Even so We emphasize the
unity that exists among Christians, moi
because II il that perfect unity Tor which
our Lord prayed, and which was cXem-
plifed In the oneness between Himself an'
the Father. but In order that this higher
unity may be attained.
There is unity underlying denomina'
tional diversity which can be appreciated
only when it is remembered that all ar,
workmen under one supreme Architect
and that 80 each denomination has beer
assigned a special task The speaker thei
brieny stated the special truth for which
each denomination stands. ana contlnu
ed by asserting that these particular doc
trines have now become the property u
oil Christians, that this was Goa IS me
thod of resculng the truth, piece by piece
from the rubbish of the Dark Ages, an,
that the call of God in the present da,
Is for a forward movement unto highe
unity This higher unity Is demanded OF
account Of the evils resulting ifoin IN
present divisions. IL docs not mean ina
there Is to be no diversity, but II does
mean that there shall be such co-opera
ton as to prevent the present system q
attempting 60 establish hye or si'
churches in small towns, where there
should be but one. Union is demanded
by the spirit of economy.
Rev c. A. Marks. pastor Of the Firs
English Evangelical Lutheran chureh
spoke feelingly on the subject, ''Cbristial
Unity Foretaste OF Heaven.
A PROOF OF DIVINITY.