The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-11
A FUSION OF CHURCHES
THE REV. &. w. TINsLEY DISCUSSES
THE PROPOSITION.
Only in Cooperation for Good Can Ii
BE Brought About-0ther Church
Services.

-
The Broadway NJ. +. Church pulpit was
occupied yesterday morning by Rev. G. W.
Tinsley, and he delivered an interesting
sermon on the important subject. shall
the Denominations Fuse?" He took for MS
text John, 17-21: That they all may be
one; as Thou, Father. art in me and l in
Thee, that they also may be one In US;
that the world may believe that Thou hast
sent me-" In part Rev. Tinsley said:
Those were the words of Christ in His
last earthly prayer. The last suppe had
Just ended. His disciples were gathered
about Him in the upper guest chamber, the
shadows Of His tragic end upon His soul.
! and for the first time He prayed in their
presence and for them. 1t Is known as the
high priestly prayer. because ii was not
only microscopy, but is c-onsummated In
the sacrifice OF himself on the cross. 1t
| voices the desire of every Christian heart.
We hear a great deal about union CT be-
levers. Much of it is wise and much
otherwise. We want to consider what Is
the truth.
DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH.
I'VE will notice briefly the history of di-
visions in the Christian church. Only
twenty years after the church was
founded there came near being a disrup-
ton over circumcision. The church would
have separated into Jewish and gentle II
not for the wisdom of the council in Jeru-
salem. A short time after the same ques-
ton produced the temporary alienation or
Peter and Paul. In Corinth party spirit.
which marked philosophical schools of
Greece, created four divisions. named after
p1T1l nnl1n Tanh0o and Chrfc in "A ZGe-
tartan sense. There were many scnlsms
before and after the council of 325 "A. ID.
The defeated party. usually sxcommunio
Gated, formed a new sect. Their In the
ninth century the church split in twain on
doctrinal questions of procession of the
Holy Ghost and primary of the Pope, and
Pope is at the head OF the Roman and the
Car Of Russia OF the Greek. They are the
greatest rivals in Christendom. The Sui
Holy Sepulchre and the Turkish soldiers
keep watch to prevent Greek and Latin
monks from fighting on the sacred spot
"In view Of this neither of these churches
e9o9ld ave anght to say sbont divisions
teenth century, the Roman (Western)
Church split during the into
Roman and Protestant. Then the Protest
ants became three Observation-Disclosures.
Reformed and Anglican. The first two re-
manned on the continent. Southern Europe
and ireland remained Catholic. In France
ana Holland the PrOteStantS were tolerated
by. the edict of Nantes, 1888. which was re-
voked in 1855. In Holland Professionalism
finally gained control and England and
consider England alone. we find divisions
again after the act of liberation of. 1865.
The Presbyterians. Independents, Baptists
and Quakers were dissenters. The Episco-
pal Church was the establishment In Eng
land and Presbyterian In Scotland.
COMING OF FREEDOM.
This federation gradually became free
dom, and was extended TO all. Under the
reign of freedom there is no limit to null
tiplication of denominations, and there
should be none. With gift OF freedom
comes risk of its abuse by sinful and erring
men, and therefore we find the largest
number Of denominations In England and
America, where there is the greatest relig-
ious freedom. On the continent Of Europe
it is different in Roman Catholic countries,
where freedom is denied. In the United
states. where all denominations are on a
basis of freedom and equality before the
law, we find many divisions, and the re-
ngious census of 1890 shows 143. But 119 fall
into eighteen groups, leaving twenty-four
separate and distinct denominations. Thus
really there are forty-two different divi-
sions. 1t Is a remarkable tact that in Eng
land. though IL has an established church,
there are more denominations than in the
United States. the 1892 census showing 254
Shall all these fuse into one great or
ganization, one head, one government? We
are often told that this is the very thing
Tor which the Saviour prayed, and that His
dying wish should be accomplished. But
what was 1t for which he prayed? Let us
look into the New Testament for the an
swer. OF course. unity Is involved in every
proclamation of the kingdom of God. There
cannot be two kingdoms. any more than
there can he two hings. The apostles
taught that the church is the body OF
which Christ Is the head. But we must re-
member that this unity was not organic
1t Is under one government. Churches OF
the New Testament were all organized To-
cally. No external bonds bound them to.
Jerusalem had no authority over Antioch
and vice versa. The apostles went forth tc
eSxang was tb ise un woria ans ana "a mot to rule i;
course, there was much similarity, bu
while they were much alike in ~organiza,
ton, forms of worship, details of faith
baptism, Lords supper, singing psalms and
reading Scriptures, yet the similarity is moi
uniformity. Nor was there unity one OF
s~ingleness of origin.
CHRISTIANS SCATTERED.
1.-THE churches spread by scattering Chris
tians abroad. who took their gospel with
them. Nobody cared whence a church gct
its origin. as that made no difference. NJ
one knows who founded the church a
Rome. but the Catholic friends say Peter
did. No one can prove that he ever saw
Rome. Therefore our Lord did not pra,
iOT any oneness OF mere external Organize
ton. He had a deeper and a better mean
ing-the unity based on communion with
Him.
The word church in the new Testament
usage always signifies the whole compan,
of Gods people In all times and places
: But IL the denominations may not fus,
into one organic body, may they not fra
ternize in loving and helpful sympathy
Shall the religious denominations feder
ate? By a federation we mean a union O
different churches, each retaining its owr
freedom and independence in the manage
ment of its own affairs. but all recog
nizing each other as sisters, and co-operat
ing in general enterprises, such as tn,
spread of the gospel at home and abroad
defense of faith against infdeliry, the ele
walton of poor and neglected, of society
works OF philanthropy, charity and reform
Suppose indianapolis were TO nav.
federation of all churches for the doins
of some things, such as seeing that law,
are enforced against saloons. gambling
prostitution. Sabbath dissertation; hoy
blessed, how revolutionizing the effect
would be. This is not a vain dream. /
is already in the thought Of the churches
II will be made actual Tomorrow. and
perhaps, sooner than We anticipate. The,
we shall be one, not in outward organiza
ton, for that will never be, but one il
sympathy, one in cooperation for the over
throw OF evil"