The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-12-06

ages, even if we find, in our Judgment,
they carried things too far. Without
doubt, many of the early reformers dipped
the scale on the other side, but it is much
in their favor that they were reformers
and took hold Of real abuses with strong
hand, if it was at times too rough. We
see that each added some new truth to the
worlds stock, or, what is just as impor-
tant, resurrected some old truth to do its
proper work in the world. At the very
least they brought some fresh feeling, i'm
pulse, or inspiration into the Christian
life of their day.
We believe all churches of sincere Chris
tians are members of the body of Christ,
therefore we unchurch none of these. But
l regard rome Of these as existing by any
exclusive Divine right, so much as by
right of adaptability to work out Gods
design of educating men in right living
and fitting them for heaven. And l thirk k,
notwithstanding the rapid growth of new
sects, all making some pretension to fill
need, or to correct the evils, real or sup
posed, of existing sects, most Of them
viii gradually die out, and the fittest will
survive. The only Divine right which
can be pleaded for any church, in my
opinion, is fitness to live. And the only
proofs of fitness worth considering are the
actual results of its teaching and culture,
visible in the Christian living and charity
of its members.
The Congregational church stood for
liberty of conscience in England when
dissent from the powerful church estsb-
! lished by law, might cost man his for
tune and his liberty, if not his life. 1t
was the home of repnblicanism, denied
the Divine right of kings to rule wrongly,
and fed the armies of Cromwell. His first
regiment of IrOnsides never turLed back
to foe or saw defeat, and they went into
every battle with prayer upon their lips.
| Cromwell and all his most trUs ed officers
| were Independents, which is the name by
| which Congregationalists are still known
in England. And tho the House of Stuart
was restored and the Independents were
fined, imprisoned, and forbidden to wor-
ship, and many of them driven from Eng
land, in the final revolution, when the
great William of Orange assembled the
throne by the overwhelming election of
the people, almost all the Independents
had fought for, which concerned religious
and civil liberty was gained.
Congregationalism was the church of
New England almost exclusively. 1t
founded schools and universities together
with the church, and kept alive the Puritan
idea, that governments exist primarily for
the people and not for kings or lords,
which resisted despotic crown and led
to the birth of the American nation. And
we can say, without going more deeply
into early history, and with a pardonable
pride, that our pedigree as Congregation
alists is more than merely respectable. Is
it too much to say that Congregational
ism ought to be esteemed for its contribu-
tions to education, civil and religious liber-
ty, and Christian patriotism If it had
been more sectarian in its spirit and less
Catholic, il would have deserved less of
posterity, bTt it would have been a larger
church. For those churches, strange as it
may seem at first thought, which talk
most about themselves, claim most, get all
they can from outside sources and use
everything on themselves, spread fastest.
But leaving this aside, if we confine our
view to its present condition and future,
think that we shall find that it has the
promise of life and growth. Its funda-
mental doctrine of individualism; that is.
the doctrine that there is no power or
authority over the individual Christian
and church, save God alone, may all be
wrong. The high Churchman and the
Romanist may be right. There may be
room for argument here, tho we believe
there can be more But assuming that we
are right in this, what church can have a
better prospect Its beliefs are subject
to modification as more light comes to US.
Its spirit is broad, liberal and receptive.
1t believes i'll development in conceptions
of truth as well as things practical. Every
church determines the grounds of its own
fellowsh p without interference of bishop |
or synod. We are not creed bound; some |
may object that we are not bound enough !
But there can be no such friction as that |
which has agitated the Presbyterian church |
for years; for while we, equally with the |
members of that grand old church, revere |
the dead and acknowledge our debt to the |
past thinkers and organizers of the |
church, no dead hand can rise from the |
grave to govern us,even tho it be the hand !
of a king,-a Knox, a Calvin, a Luther,
or a Wesley. DR.. Joseph Parker of Lon
dom for many years past regarded rs one
of the foremost men in English CoEgre-
gationelism, defines the orthodoxy of that
church as an orthodoxy of the heart. At
our State Association meeting must con-
Tess to surprise at the Outspokenncss of
the speeches and papers. had not been
lsed to such free atmosphere for dozen
years, and it almost took my breath away
Tor the moment; but there was no mistak-
ng the fact that all these we're brethren
Ind one at heart.
Then, again, there are moral and prac-
ical questions, as, for example, the
,hurch members attitude towards the the
tire, et,. There is no discipline" to be
laily violated, as in the Methodist church,
where there are many possibly, who feel
that theatres, cards and
lancing are not in themselves wrong.
m not discussing the moral tendency of
hese things, but stating fact. There is
Inference of opinion on such matters,
nd my conviction is, that our church is
light in making them matters for the in
iyidual religious judgment and con-