The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-23

some one thing as the essential thing
| In which TO believe we would be anxious
| first Of all what some one else thought
about II. We should want to know II any
one else had believed in Just that.
This Is natural. We wouldn't try a
bottle OF patent medicine without some
kind OF recommendation. Yet this
principle I'm its extreme form works out
bad. A large per cent. OF people who
wouldn't take Hoods sarsaparlla unless
II was recommended take II for no other
reason than just because it Is recon-
mended. Most people take their creeds
I'm the same way. The virtue OF this
mans creed lies I'm the fact that IL was
his own. II was not the belief Of his
father or his mother, or the Jews, nor
was II something taught him by Jesus.
One thing / know.
II you know some one thing don't be
troubled about the fact that you can't
find IL In the Apostles creed. II IL Is
something vital to life the probabilities
are that you won't find II there or in
any other OF the church's creeds. IL may
have all the more value because you
don't find here or anywhere else. It's
yours. It's an outcome OF your own ex-
perence and as such IL is worth more
to you than the combined experience OF
the world.
There are many things that can he
made alike; but there are no two things
that can be grown identically alike. The
potter can make two vessels that can
not be distinguished The size form.
color OF one are Identical with those OF
the other The gardener. however. can
not grow two roses alike. He may take
two seeds from the same pod. plant them
only few inches apart and the flowers
on one stem will differ from those on the
other Nature is freaky. Life plays
pranks. You can control chisel and
hammer but you can't control sap. You
can paint your house any color you choose
but nature will paint her flowers and
fruit TO suit her taste. The time may
come In the Christian church when every
body will believe the same thing.
WILL SERVE ONE PURPOSE.
When that time comes however. the |
creed will only serve one purpose viz, an |
inscription on a tombstone over which |
may be written. Here lies buried the
Christian church. For we shall never |
all believe the same thing until we be-
come spiritually dead That's the con-
dition necessary and the only condition
for a common faith. A creed Is not
something given you ready made which
you are to believe and which. when be-
lieving. will create an experience within
you. The experience comes first and the
creed is an Interpretation OF that ex-
perience. Your creed Is an interpreta-
tion Of your experience and II you haven't
had any experience you haven't got any
creed, you don't need any.
II there is one thing that men who have
the best wishes OF the Christian church
upon their hearts long for more than
any other II is that the church OF God
may become united That at least
may put aside its petty
differences and unite as Roman Cath
olicism Is united for one end and pur-
pose.
We have become so accustomed to a
variety Of sects that II occurs to us
when We think OF II at all as the most
natural thing in the world. When we
look at the actual facts. however. In the
this separation and division and strife a
disgrace 10 the cause we represent. There
are not only Methodists and Presbyte-
Gus varieties, too numerous to mention.
Every business concern Is an institution
to itself. II sets itself UP as compet-
in that particular line. But the condi-
society OF which the church is a part.
business of one kind throughout the
country TO unite under a single head.
has not ceased; II has only
longer one branch OF certain business
with another of the same kind
n the same city; II is the steel trust and
!
States competing with the world. We
may look with distrust upon the concen-
tration OF great interests. but such con-
has enabled American capitai
md American labor to put Its wares in {
he Orient and sell Its output In the isles
" the sea. ,
singdom OF God II the churches in this
'ity and In every city In this state and
n every state should tear down thdr
|
themselves I'm combined competition to .
he world of sin? II you have observed
llong this line you will be struck with
he fact that the churches and the men
Who have 80 often proposed union have
proposed Il on the basis that all the rest
II Christendom believe as they do.
The Protestant Episcopal church began ,
o agitate this matter a few years ago.
Protestant churches should ali unite il
meant virtually that the other churches
hould come into the Protestant Episco-
'al. The Roman Catholic church would
unite with the Protestant church
IN the same basis.
UNION BASED ON BELIEF.
Not only is a union based on belief i'm
,ossible; such a union IL undesirable.
What is needed Is not dead corpora
Z @ Sns ssoe,a.ion .Isea msae p
,ether by a common purpose. and that
he purpose OF Jesus Christ The pur-
ose OF lmparuhs the lre 600 mas given
o other men.
II we were trying 10 unite theological
eminaries we might need 10 seek a COM
non basis of faith. But let us thank
iod that the Christian church is some
hing more and other than a confused
ot OF theological Institutions The Chris s
Ian church Is not n grist mill to grind
ut faiths, but dynamo to put life into
ying men. That ought to be it's pur-
ose. Because IL isn't and because the
urpose Is paramount I'm certain quarters
foster the doctrine Of Baptism. Apos-
olic succession. etc. and secondariiy 10
nrther the purpose OF Jesus Christ we
emain apart.
No. this mans "One thing 7 know" is
'orth more than all the cheap talk about
ne church uniting with another by get
ng the other to believe as II does
There Is one thing remaining about this =
ian's statement that we have not men
oned, which IL the most important OF
II. This profession OF his has the ele-
tent OF certainty In it Most Of our re-
gious statements are what men think.
- L. L. as. - ii