The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-05-08

The Military as Type of Church Or
ganization.' He spoke as follows:
In the title of this paper the word
type Is used in preference TO ideal. j
me conception in mind is that of tn.
Church not in its ideal, millennial aspert
when it shall have approximated -
CEurch triumphant, but the Church nj
TINS present hour of conflict and advance
the Church Universal and Militant. ON
oracing ali the branches of the authpn-
tic Church of Christ on earth
OF this organization the Military an
pears TO be most fitting Illustration and
type. This will appear from the consid-
Grafton OF several anaIogies
lst. The Church. like the Army. has
d commander in chief. BY all denomi-
nations of Christians everywhere and al
ways jesus Christ has been recognized
as the Head Supreme. Assuming that
equaiy with the Father, who has com
mllted TO him the mediatorial kingdom.
and equally with the Holy Spirit, who
IS lis representative and Agent upon
earth: Christ is God; there can be no
question that his authority is unriyaled
Not the most despotic of military dicta-
tors has ever welded more absolute
sway Not the most pronounced agitator
LOT Independence in thought or in social
CHRISTIAN order. VIII accord to the Savior
iHythlng less than supreme leadership
AS with the loyal subaltern in the army
so with every devoted follower Of
christ, the one engrossing thought Is
WAT - the order from headquarters
from the Captain of our salvation 2''
Every order self-imposed by the church.
OF every assumed and seemingly indie
ptAuthl movement. is avOWedIy subject
to His countermand Every internreta-
ton of His published orders is with the
"HdedFor To make clear and effective tho
VIII or the Commander in Chief, the Lord
Of Hosts.
The constitution Of the church in the
beginning was OF His imposing: ito CON
llhuahcc IN ITS various phases, complete
5r incomplete. down through all the ages
mas been subject to His alI-wise and ELI
Client CONTROL, its present form in so far
as 1t is the genuine Church of Christ
must De taken as the expression of His
VIII as TO what in the existing condition
and stage Of this worlds regeneration is
on the whole. Wisest and best
IN one OF the magazines there appears
= cut OF the Batte of Sedan. In the
foreground is the headquarters Of the
German army. the prominent figure in
which IS General Won Moltke himself. He
appears standing. his form slightly bow
ed, his hands at his back, his whole atti-
tudc expressing most rapt attention to
what is proceeding on the plain far be-
lev In solemn calm and grandeur his
tai form stands from henceforth ex-
pecttng till his enemies be made the foot
stool of his feet" His master mind has
planned the struggle in all its general
features and each contingent detail. So
Idr as subordinate, human free agency
can work out the Generals scheme. the
mechanism is complete. and the evolu-
ton Of it all becomes from the view
point at headquarters, a realized, grand
Now. very plausibly. a private or sub
ordinate officer. while in the ranks or at
the head of his command. might criti-
ciZe the army and it's movements. he
might stubbornly maintain his controyer-
sy II transported to headquarters and
given the Generals glass, but he would
not dare do so if given the Generals
mind: The Lord Jesus Christ. as CON-
mander in Chief of the hosts of God.
views the church's conflict in this little
world from a view point as high as the
heavens and time limit as long as the
eternitieS.
The becoming attitude of his soldiery is
not criticism but obedience
ID The army of the Lord has not only
us commander in Chief of the whole: If
has also its divisions under Him Lament
these ecclesiastical divisions as we NAV.
they are fact. They have existed in the
past they prevail at present. and VIII
loubtleSs continue for long time to
come. The same is true of the military.
with this difference, however that in the
army the divisions are accounted an ad-
necessity They facilitate rar,-
81 and proper adjustment of forces; they
ievelop in band, in officers and in men,
4 local individuality, and hence the nee
'ssary sense of personal responsibility:
-hty stimulate independent thought ami
l healthy rivalry in duty. Dare We say
The divisions of the church do not the |
same? DO not they facilitate effective
adjustment VI lOICtS- 10 not they tie
'elop local individuality and the conse-
luent sense Of amenabiity? Do not they
stimulate independence in thought and a
vigorous rivalry in kindred duty?
1t may be said that the graduation in /
he army is by a system of subodrin- /
ties, rising from the lowest in the ranks
o the Chief in command whose Will is /
hereby established throughout; whereas, /
n the church, all the denominations :
which comprise the several divisions, are /
coordinate, and removed, but one degree |
rom Him whom they recognize as Head /
thus while the Lord rightly is No / the /
the Methodist, the Rap .
list. and all the other bodies are each and /
Ill No. ?. Is there not thus engendered /
IN untoward rivalry. not simply between /
he sects, but even between the expon- .
ntS of their distinctive doctrines, and .
ne Source Himself of doctrinal author
ty and spiritual life? So near the Foun-
ain Head, and yet the waters of life 40
trangely varied in their flavor!
If there Is this more offensive rivalry
I does not readily or generally appear.
20 far are most of the seCts from ad-
hitting ii, that their real rivalry is Tath-
T In proving, each for itself, flow from
he Fountain Head-a flow, not the How
direct and uncontaminated, a true fac
imile of the Commanders order a rec /
gnition by all of specific, corporate ia
or at the Masters hands.
As TO how 1t may appear to the Master
limself-we know He permits the pres
Mt arrangements for present and tenn
now that the spirit of His rule admits
{ the greatest possible liberty compat-
lie with absolute loyalty; we know that
lis delight is in the near approach to
himself on every worthy subordinate, be
@ great or small, private in the ranks
+ leader Of his most trusted host. Pro- :
lotion is the order with Him, until all
ecoTne kings and priests unto God" :
ct the denominations then stand cO-Cr-
mate and worry near to God.
Moreover, the military is further classi- =
I'd on the basis of the use Of weapons
nd the personal adaptedness of the sol
er TO each specific use. Cannon for the
horse and saber for the
tvalry, the rifle for the infantry.
The soldier enlists in either department
'cording to his preference, and in the
nEental environment thus established
z Is drilled In 1t in ordinary cases he
mains until he has served his time Tha
my encourages this opportunity for
lluntary adaptedness, and 1T does so
isely. Dares the church do anything
SIS? Would the incumbent of an Epis-
pal benehce do equally good service in
camp OF the Salvation Army? Or vice
rsa? Federation is always IN order
Import, as the Generals term it when
eir divisions are In action-but let there
no wholesale obliteration OF division
ies; union let there be when practi-
Die, compactness in cognate bodies
nalsamation even with all the sacrifice