New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-28
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE SUBJECT OF CHURCH DIVISIONS
DISCUSSED.
AN ASPIRATION TOWARD A MEASURE OF
UNION. AT LEAST AMONG MEMBERS OF
THE SAME GENERAL SECT


THE SAME GENERAL SECT.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir In response to what has lately haa, n,,b
hshed on the subject Of church unity I should ike
with your permission to say word In your CORE
sponoence columns. 1t may be taken for granted
mat al VINO believe in the Founder of Christianity
are mora less interested In this subject II has
Been said that the great enemy of all whom we
can Satan. is deeply concerned lest church unity
should become an accomplished fact and If this be
true IL may be taken hopeful sign
Some years ago the bishops of the Episconal
Church were led TO believe that the leading
Protestant churches would welcome an invit alton
10 gather under the banner OF the historic eps-
copate. accepting the two greater sacraments the
Bioie as generally received and the summary of
the faith as IL was restated fifteen hundred years
ago, leaving all not involved therein for subse-
euent discussion and settlement under the guild
ance-of God the Holy Ghost under Whose dispensa-
tion we live This has proved to be but a dream.
and any thought Of its realization is practically
given up but the tion of church unity is still
alive and will probably be as long as the present
wretched conditions prevail.
The writer knows of a village of five hundred
people which contains a Free Methodist a Meth
ooist Episcopal and a Close Communion Baptist
church and another village two miles distant there
FROM OF about the same population. which also
contains three churches-one Six Principle Baptist
Episcopal church These organizations are ali
Struggling for support under the enthusiastic lead
ter and ice parties in the summer are resort
1naintenance The Conditions exisng IN 10 tbese
TWO villages are not exceptional. but may be found
lerger town are two English Lutheran churches
within two squares Of each other. differing very
arste organizations regardless of cost to them
selves or others There is church possessing
considerable numerical strength in some parts of
our country, hopelessly divided. and making two
distinct bodies. not in communion with each other
because they could not agree on so important a
matter as TO whether the male members of the
church should buttons or hooks and eyes on
their clothes buttons being ii orght by many 10 be
an Indication OF a desire TO conform to the fash
No impartial person could study the subject Of
sectarianism without coming to the conclusion
very large degree in the FIRST instance to minds
qlseaseo: there are now twenty-five differing
persuasion; thirteen Baptist and twelve Presby-
basIe wG s6, It not be be, IN accordance ia with
unity In each OF these several bodies. that after
one Lutheran. one Methodist one Baptist and one
Presoyterian Church. and then. after another
together and make united Protestant Church Of
the United States? What a gain this would be
with this United Protestant Church. Catholic and
Roman Catholic might each present the gospel as
make them all one again How the cause both at
way? But we must not forget that he is a great
ey his r Is @ gany & eando mn Nb
which we are confronted respecting the religion Of
But some man will say Cannot men be saved in
Science Church, the Church of the Latter Day
Saints. or any other? Men are not saved by the
and Inerciful All earnest seekers after truth who
heaven and 60 not sin against the light, no matter
70 What sect they be.1ng. or whether they belong
States OF America IN the way of salvatton;
but we not SCI here for some higher and holier
New-York Fec. %, 1SJ2. H.