Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-22

the gospel is the power Of God unto sal
walton.
Right Cannot Be Wrong.
The denominations may be right. or
they may be wrong; we are right and
can not be wrong. 1t may be right or II
may be wrong to have human creed
We are right in taking the bible as our
rule of faith ana practice. The creed
says ''the bible is the last appeal. We
say 1t is the first and only appeal. Wheth-
er right or wrong to wear a party name
we are infallibly right in wearing the
name Christian. If we say to a Methodist
brother, You are not Baptist, you are
not an Adventist, you are not "a Congre-
gationalist," he Will pleasantly answer,
mo- in each case. But If we say, You
are not Christian he will quickly re-
sent It. The name Christian is not in
dispute; all admit it to be the proper
name for Christ's followers.
II you have a doubt you, and not God.
are responsible for that doubt. Sprinkling
may be right (for arguments sake), or 1t
may be wrong. All admit immersion is
valid baptism. We are right and cannot
be wrong in practicing only immersion.
If you doubt your baptism, you can re-
move that doubt by being immersed, for
all accept immersion. Not long ago.
while in California, an old lady demanded
immersion. She had even been sprinkled
out Of the water she said, Now know
I am right" If you were baptized when
you were an infant, your spirit does not
testify to this act. You have only one
witness hence, the case is against you.
Be on the safe side.
Our whole plea may be summed up in
two sentences:
/. The union of all Gods people upon
the Bible.
2. A rational plan of salvation.
Our Strength.
Some one may say: your theory IS
very pretty, but will it work." Yes3 it
will work; 1t is working gloriously. In
1927 our people assumed organic form, and
today the people who call themselves
simply Christians and plea for the union
OF all Of Christ's followers number about
1900, 900. No religious movement has ever
gone forward by such leaps and bounds as
has this current reformation or union
movement. The New York Independent
recently gave statistics covering four
years. During that time the Universalists
had decreased considerably. The Unitarf-
ans had increased at the rate of one per
cent; Baptists Q3 kinds), two per cent:
Lutherans (1S kinds. six per cent; Meth
odists OF kinds), seven per cent; Episco-
palians, eleven per cent: Presbyterians Q2
kinds). eleven per cent; congregational
lists, thirteen per cent; Catholics q kinds).
nineteen cent whereas luOS6 CdAluE
themselves Christians, or disciples OF
Christ, had according to DR.. Carroll. in
creased IS per cent.
Fifty years after Wesley started his
movement he had $1,000 followers. In the
same length of time we numbered 10000
communicates. In other words we have
increased ten times faster than the Meth
odists At the same rate of increase,
by the time we are as old as the Meth
odist brethren, we will number 10000. 900
people. We firmly believe that within fifty
years 100000 people win wear no name
but Christians and have no rule OF faith
and practice except the Bible. Creeds and
confessions are falling and the Bible Is
rapidly becoming the book OF authority.
Christ prayed that all who should be-
Iieve on him might be one even as he and
the father are one. It IS for this that We
pray and labor, but the light is breaking
along every hilltop and through every val
ley The future is big with promise; for
the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. and
there shall be one fold and one shepherd