The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-30

had been gain Of one preacher and one
congregation every q hours, one Bible
school every IA hours and one accession
to the church every II minutes.
The growth of the church has been
truly marvellous Mr.. Tilburn said, and
all over the middle and eastern states
the gain has been particularly large.
There is a better feeling among the va
| rious churches than formerly, and the
| prelate ventured the assertion that the
| changed condition was due largely to
| the organization of the Christian church.
which is working for peace and unity.
At the afternoon session yesterday
| President Kenyon announced the follow
ing committees:
State work-O. F. McHargue. Frank
Minnick E. o. Tilburn, w. M. Jordan,
| Bruce MoCully B. c. Black, B. L. Klein
and H. e. Russell.
Nominating-Wiley Mountjoy. William
Jordan, Mrs. William Williams. Mrs.
Addie Harper Mrs. Sue Jones.
Time and place-Mrs. e. Scharnikow.
! Mrs. s. Pipes, Mrs. Frank Nase.
us the Church Of Christ Denomina-
tom" was a subject ably handled by
Walter NJ. Jordan Of Helena, who said
in part:
Denomination, as defined by the die
tionary, means "a body of Christians
united by common faith and form Of
worship and discipline:" as Baptist de-
nomination, Presbyterian denomination,
| Methodist denomination. The followers
Of Christ have differed from each other
in opinions regarding faith and practice.
and because Of which difference have
separated themselves into distinctive or
ganization with distinctive names. The
names of the various organizations, in
many cases, indicate the particular thing
in which they differ from their religious
neighbors, or the point upon which they
place special emphasis in their religious
faith and usage.
us the church of Christ a denomina-
tion?" is the great question for US to
answer. In other words. is the church of
| Christ or Christian church, or the re-
ligious body represented in this conven-
| ton. of which we are all part, is 1t
denomination? 1t depends very large
~ from what point we look at 1t. mas
much as we differ from our religious
neighbors in certain things pertaining to
faith we would be called by them a de-
nomination. But we prefer to be meas
used by a New Testament standard.
Viewed from the light Of Gods book.
Is the church of Christ represented by
the brethren in this association a denom-
nation? Let us answer this question by
asking another. Was the church OF
Christ in the first century. in the days
of Paul and Peter and James and John
and the rest of the apostles, was 1t 6e-
nomination? We all answer, No! Then
If it were not denomination in the
first century why was it not? Because
it was not divided.
Now, the church Of Christ, which VIC
represent today and of which We are a
part. is proud to wear the name of the
church of Christ of the first century
We love to be known as only Christian s
and Christians only: but not in any ex-
elusive sense. We use it as a basis for
the sweet peace and unity Of the church
in the beginning. We believe that In
no better way can the church show its
loyalty to Christ than for the church, the
bride, to wear the name of Christ. the
bridegroom. The church of Christ OF
today also believes with all it's heart tina,
Jesus is the Christ, the SON of God and
the Savior Of men.
Let us say in conclusion that since de-
nominational names and differences
hinder the answer of Jesus prayer thai
we all might be one as God and Christ
are one. Let us work and pray thai
God, in his goodness. viii hasten tbs
day when these hinderances shall vanish
away and when all believers shall b.
united in name and faith and life anG
practice; that the whole world shall bt
made to believe that Jesus is the Christ
! the Son of God.
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK.
This morning was taken up by the SEES
sion of the twelfth annual convention Of
the Montana Christian Sunday Schoo
association. which was presided over BY
] the president OF the association. Franz
! Minnick.
RI The devotional exercises. led by O. F
McHargue Of Bozeman. opened at S:3
o'clock. and were followed by the reports
Of officers.