Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-25

the various fragments Unity, says
the Lord, IL the characteristic OF His
people. Where is the unity2 There
are about $50 different Protestant
denominations In this country and
this means waste Of energy, rivalry
friction why do not the church lead
ers take up this question in earnest
study the causes, and search for the
remedy? Can It be that most Of them
ure as lnsenslble TO the fate OF the
world. as was Nero who Is said TO have
played while Rome persisted IN names2
Lately a slight tendency to union has
been manifest. During the last week
OF April conference was held at Pitts
burg between Congregationallsts Unit
ed Brethren, and others. with a view
Of preparing the way for union II was
found that even u cre,is We're set aside
there were definite obstacles. The inde-
pendence OF the Individual church un-
der a democratic regime Is at the foun-
dalton Of the Congregational policy
while the United Brethren and the
Methodist Professionals have authorsa-
tive forms OF government closely a.
lied to those OF the Methodist Eplsco-
pal organization. To these two denom-
nations the Congregatlonalists seemed
dangerously lawless The same diver
silly appeared in the matter Of creed.
The United Brethren and Methodlsts
insisted on a statement Of doctrine
The Congregationalists were willing to
indorse a creed In general terms but
refused to sanction one as test to
membership while the Christians
would have nothing TO do with any
confession OF faith ana so abandoned
further negotiations. The other three
stlll discussed the matter. and finally II
was agreed that common general
council be formed to which they all
should send delegates to advise on mat
ters Of general concern, though all the
UNCONVENTIONAL machinery should re-
main as before. The denominations
are to retain their present names. but
to add to them, in afilllation with
the general council OF the United
churches" Details Of the plan are to
be worked out by subcommittee to
meet In Washington.
But beyond these and other similar
efforts at amalgamatlon, the churches
are making war upon one another, and
thus hlndering instead Of promoting the
progress OF the kingdom Of God.
In the meantime the movement back
TO Rome Is becoming very marked in
some circles. Witness the following
written by an Episcopal clergyman for
The Lamp, which appears in the State
Of New York;
Professionals who glory In their Sec
tartan divisions, yes, and Anglicans
who glory in their separation from the
Apostolic See. glory In their shame!
Wherein lies the remedy save to
acknowledge the error our fathers made
four hundred years ago and by concert
ed action TO take the necessary meas
utos which viii in due time heal our
echlsms and make us Catholics indeed
by feconciling us TO the Universal Fa-
Their Of Chrlstendom and reunGing us
with the Holy Roman Crurch, the Mo-
Their and Mistress OF all churches, in
which resides the seat OF supreme au-
th0fity the center Of Catholic unity,
the chair Of the Blessed Apostle Peter,
to whom eur Lord said Thou art
Peter, and on this rock viii build my
church, and the gates Of he'll shall not
prevail against it, .. The Termi-
nus ad QUEEN Of the oxford movement
seems to US to be by logical and divine
necessity the resubmlssion OF the Eng.
ish church 10 the supreme authority Of
the Holy See. and Gods way OF accom-
plishing this Is to multiply the Cath0-
lies within the Anglican fold until they
fully possess the sanctuary and are
able to redellyer the Keys OF the king
dom wrested by force from him into
the hands Of ST. Peter, TO whom our
Lord originally gave them"
Truly Protestant divines have many
things to occupy their attention, II they
do not close their eyes TO existing facts.
Then there is the tendency to inhdel-
lty that is Visible everywhere, the pull
pits not excepted
What are the causes Of It all. II this
question were thoroughly and honestly
investigated, Il would be found that
there Is one chief source from which
all these evils spring. In rejecting the
Inspired guidance OF the Almighty,
they have opened the way for error,
contention, factions, and inhdelty. That
is the cause Of IT, Where the Spirit Of
the Lord is, there Is truth, light, intel
ligence, harmony and unity.