The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-05-03
CHRISTIAN UNITY OUTLOOK
ADDRESS BY REF. DIR. EDWIN
s. LINES

tieDCe aud Hope Essential.
THE Outlook for Christian Unity" as
viewed from an Episcopalian stand
| point, is the topic of a paper by Rev
| Edwin S. Lines, rector of st. Paul'S
| church, New Haven, in the Congrega
! tionalist of May 3 and the paper is in
| full as folloWs
What shall be said of the movements
of the nineteenth century in church life
as bearing upon this subject? Can we
find in recent years ground for hote as
regards the cause Of Christian unity in
the new century? / have the feeling
that the agitation and discussion of re-
cent years have not been very fruitful
in definite results. The evils Of division
have been emp1a sized and the necessity
of action has been made apparent But
many of those most interested in Chris
tian unity have hoped that their own
religious body would be the center
about which unity would come, and
their zeal has not been wholly disinter-
ested. The representatives of every
denomination think their own body the
for our divided Christianity.
NO ONE DENOMINATION WILL Alb
SORB THE OTHER.
But it is plain that no existing church
or denomination is to absorb the Others
None are ready to be extnguis he'd. The
great denominations bearing the Protes
tant name have in these last years in
many ways strengthened themselves.
Every one is vigorous and hopeful of
the future and full Of zaal The re-
sources of each for support and contin-
uance are greatly increased. No pro-
cess of absorption or disintegration is
apparent. In as marked way as ever,
religious activity is along denomina-
tional lines and for the building up of
existing denomina tions They are
strong in their traditions and customs
and in the devotion of their members,
The dream of absorption and combiaa-
ton passes, leaving some disappointed
And yet it may be fairly said that there
is within each denomination much
anxiety as to the progress of religion
The statistics of no religious body give
ground for confidence. All feel the in
fluences at work to bring disregard of
the ordinances of religion. Common
anxiety rests upon us all and there are
deep questionings among the thought
full members of every church
A good MANY plans to bring about
unity have been discussed without re-
suit Some have thought that as we
were going along roads which had be-
come divergent, the true way would be
to go back to the point where we began
to go apart and see If we could not get
toe ether and go on together, dropping
out of our history by mutual consent a
faw centuries But the world does not
go back to get about difficulties and OBJ
but straight across or
or over them. We cannot go
back to make fresh start and we must
carry with us the history that we have
made, disownine nothing that has been
said or done in the spirit of the gospel,
and for the glory Of God,
COMPREHENSIONS BETTER THAN
ELIMINATION
Some have thought that the end
would be reached by an agreement
among Christian people of different
names to give up much that is pecul ar
~ e'ieih ui'ii VIC. Na'i VIC ny ~ tuii
mon is reached. But the mathematical
process - nv. hopel W y, VIZ ieall., ~
l"ltn anu leeiiils an" sentiment Wnen
IN the old home we try to determine /
nav we can iel 20 OF give away OF
eaNe, we hlla INA we are hiueli more
Altdsleo 70 eit9lil 3liillss not appar- /
71lly important tnan we supposed we
'ahilot qulte spare eiiei'l aiter al II
several ldflllles gre ftluVlhs lllto one
louse TO trN 70 I'VE toset'er, tneS are
very ilhelN 10 WISH ~ carry an theil
soooS WIN thefh ~ tne assure nee OIL
ee!lhS az h'hl" w" nave an Oh W
sathereu ilu3i una y precious ~ our
'-sht since we Ven l''l' anu we must
AIRY IL win US eollili eheiisi3ii ~
more hoPelul "ota III tHis uiseuss'oh
nan eiiiilil'''oi'
~ Wo4-u seem 10 il'e that ths UNI
'uittes ~ eilectils uhltS among Nllils-
IAN peopie navy pecoiile dPpar rent as
ne ulScusslol mas SoliV o'i' anu many
ave become ulscout seu anu hopeless,
revival OF dehomlhauonal zeal ana
oyaltlV mas appeared rather IMAM or
ea' ana unity. IN the church whose
/ am tfere mas peeh strange
eVelopmeht OF severe ana narrow &c