The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-06
NEW RELIGIOUS
SECT IN SAVANNAH
HAS NO DISTINCTIVE NAME
PASTOR NEVER TAKES COLLEc-
TON FROM CONGREGATION.

Has no Greed. no Confession of
Faith, and Never Erects a Church
BuiIding-Accepts Bible Literally
and Bases Much of Its Beliefs on
Writings of the Apostle Paul.
Faith and Works Necessary to
SalvatiOn-PrOmuIga Here by
Rev. Mr.. Barton of Philadelphia.
Eight Have Accepted Faith.
A new religious sect has been pro-
mulgated in Savannah and already
there are eight who have accepted the
teachings. The sect is being instruct
ed by Rev. Mr.. Barton of Philadel-
| phia.
The new sect seems to be counter
to the famous saying of the wise Sol
ONION, There is no new thing under
the sum-" in that it is a church with
out a name, without a Greed, without
a confession of faith, and without
collection.
Christ is recognized as the Saviour
of the humanity, almost the only be-
lief of the new sect which is in strict
accordance with Christianity as it is
commonly understood. Not only
faith, but works also, are necessary
| to eternal salvation. The Bible is
accepted as a whole, as the direct
revelation of God to man and at lit
erai truth. There are no exceptions to
the literal truth of the Holy Writ.
No Houses of Worship.
There is no organization and no
church building. The meetings are
held from time to time at the homes
| of those who have accepted the be-
| liefs All the members are mission
aries as Go We into all the world"
etc, is one of the commands laid down
| by Christ. The Apostle Paul is fol-
lowed closely and it is to his writings
that the sect turns for combinations
of what it holds to be the truth more
than to any of the other writers of
| Scripture.
The pastor is supported by what is
known as 1.-The fund" an amount of
money collected in some way and
wrapped in more or less mystery
| which, in all the experience of those
promulgating the new belief, has
never been known to become exhaust
ed" The pastor lives with different
| members of the flock on widely scat
tered visits and teaches them from
|
| A publishing house which publishes
literature explaining the doctrines of
the sect is the nearest approach to
organization of anything in the church.
Rev. Mr.. Barton, the apostle to Sa-
vannah, is an interesting character.
His teachings are simple, direct, and
seemingly earnest. There is an indie
Unable impression of the words of
| Christ Except we become as little
child" about the man that reached
| most of his hearers
Has no Creed.
The beliefs of the sect are strange,
though exceedingly simple. The sect
| Is known as 1.-The church., not using
even capital letters. This is founded
upon the writings of Paul who refers
| constantly to 1.-The church" | Cor. IL
II. Cor. 1-2, etc.), and to 1.-The servant
of the church." (Romans ivi ID.
There is no confession of faith ex-
cept the universal one 'believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ. There is no church
| body. no church organization, no
church creed. There is no collection
taken, and again the Apostle Paul is
| turned to for authority; At different
points in his writing he says, in speak
ing of collections and voluntary con-
| tribution, Il could have" but never
does he say that he did
"All who died before Christ cannot
be saved" said the APOSTLE of the
new faith. They i'll not be damned
however, as they shall come back to
earth. which shall in time be an inn
perfect heaven, similar to the prom
Used land of the Israeltes. On earth
| will be kept all who are not perfect.
even as Christ, your Lord, is perfect.
The perfect will enter heaven. The
Bible is accepted as literal truth and
all must accept the teaching of Christ
as literal truth, must follow them to
the best of their ability, and must take
up the cross Everything is as ii
was in the time Immediately following
the ascension of Christ into heaven and
the preachers are veritable apostles
There is no paid ministery."
The question of future punishment
was not discussed at the meeting, but
was left to be taken up later.
The new sect, being entirely with
out organization, has no particular
headquarters. Ii has a large following
in Philadelphia, where the publishing
house is maintained, and one of the
largest congregations is said to be
formed at Alliance, o. An effort is
being made to spread the doctrines
into all parts of the world in accord
ance with the missionary command of
| Christ.