Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-14

which the different classes of Christian
officials. apostles. evangelistic pastors
teachers, by building up the body O
Christ are TO aid his members to at.
tain, even the unity of the faith of til,
knowledge of the son of God. Meyer
says: The goal then in question L
which the whole body of believers are
to attain is that the best faith in thu
Son of God and the full knowledge OF
the Son of God may be in all one ant
the same. God may be in all one and
tie same. All varieties of admins.
tratiOn. methods. endeavors that are
legitimate then must have unity as
their goal and from the text fairly in.
ttrpreled comes the proposition that
Christian doctrine is the basis or unity
rather than of division and fails Of its
final purpose until it secures such
unity. Yet any proposals toward a
Union of the denominations of Christ
cndor. is Immediately met by the ques-
ton. what about the honest convictions
of the members of the churches, which
hold them fast in their present position
Honest convictions are not to be tri-
fed with but all will confess that many
of the convictions as to denominations
al position are not the result of any
careful or adequate study of the body
of Christian doctrine.
The beginning Of sectarianism seems
to have been in the following of men
rather than Of ideas or doctrines. Ii
was not a study of the sources of
Christian doctrine which led men TO
On Nf .,c r
CephaS, / Of Christi The same has
been true ever since. The followers of
the great leader of the Protestant Ref
crmation in Germany were properly
called Lutherans for in creed and poll
cy they followed the interpretations Of
their master and sought to develop his
ideas. With EothinS but the New Tes-
lament in hand it would Re difficult 10
understand the Lutheran position to-
day. The creeds of the Lutheran Refor-
nation must also be considered TIL?
name of Calvin has been borne by
many denominations and though they
claim to 80 back to Scripture as the
basis of their authority there be many
who consent that their interpretations
tire largely determined by the philoso-
ply of the great teacher of Geneva.
For years John Wesley professed HIM
self III accord with the doctrine of the
Church of England even after he had
established the earliest chur cheS of the
Methodist order and doubtless he re-
garded all that he taught but legiti-
mate Interpretation and development Of
the standards Of the church of his
fathers.
AS Gautama Buddha stands at the
head of a region and Mohammed IS.
tGblished another 50 nave leaders in the
Christian church established a personal
following which has been perpetuated
in different denOmin atoms. The ma
jority of these movements do not long
mourn the death of the founders but
the number that endure Cor few gen
eratlons is not small.
a second source Of division in the
church has been the matter of organi-
cation and control. 1t is surprising
how little is said about the organiza-
ton of the church by It's divine Found
"r. This silence allowed Een TO pro-
pound their own plans for which they
sought 10 find authority in accumulat-
ing tradition. The principles of the
gospel inevitably produce in their ad
herent strength and Significance Cf
character. So the Christian communi-
tics soon came to be tin" most reliable
clement in the State which Constantine
the Emperor perceived clearly when he
secured their loyalty by making Chris
tianity the religion of thu Roman En-
pirc. TO control and direct their new
force in society was thing greatly to
be desired by those who would lead
men and thus receive personal advan-
tGge. The common human desire for
power and rule with jealousy of what
ever has offered that rule has produced
some of the most serious of the divi-
sions of Christendom. These should
rot be charged to Christian doctrine.
A third source of division or means
of pcrpetuating division has commonly
great creeds were adopted as
statements i'm which the majority
Of the churches could find agreement.
Crceds are supposed to set forth what
is regarded as Fundamental and essen
tial to the faith and what none would
question or deny. Each has aimed to
give authentic account of the doctrines
ed ny the Scripture and would be un-
derstood as prepared to teach among
the people. Mans hercs;er and mis-
representations led TO thr formation OF
the first creeds. Formed on protests
against error creeds are liable to go to
the opposite extreme in some particu-
lars, yet each has marked advance
over conditions previously existing.
The time may be nearly ripe for the
formation Of new Christian creed
which based on our best knowledge OF
the significance of the teaching Of
Christ and his apostles, elnhodying the
results of Christian experience and
scientific discovery and filed with the
very spirit of Christ snail prove not
stone of separation but u bond of union
between all who love Christ and who
seek. to do tie will Of the Father who
loves them. This day may not be soon
Cor as Dr. Maris has well said: mo
further creed period can well arise UNI
til new and higher conceptions of the
Gospel have Heen attained or until the
heart of the church has Passed through
some new and more profound expert
ence of grace.
Meanwhile as we come to the new