Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-05-13

OF the universe. Inc stars might All
have been of the same size and
lustre. The flowers might have been
of just one color, the leaves of the
trees of the same size and shape.
Mountains might all have been of the
same bulk and height; the rivers
might have been of the same length
and breadth There might have been
but one species of birds, one of fish,
one of reptiles, one of beasts. AL peo-
pie might have been of one color, one
size, one custom, one mind. They
might have been created fac SMILES
OF each other in form and feature.
But what a dull, uninteresting. un.
satisfactory world this would have
been under such conditions wood
en- world, a lack-luster world. Sup
pose the grass had been black, the sky.
green, the water red, the flowers
white, the trees purple, the snow blue,
the stars crimsonl The finest color
we can think of for the sky is blue,
for the grass is green, for the water
is crystal They are restful to the
eye, stimulating TO the imagination,
entertaining to the soul. We can
think of no improvement.
This world is a matchless place of
residence because of its infinite vari-
ETY.. Who ISLANDERS the world Sian.
ders God. No two leaves of the for
est just alike, no two blades of grass
just alike, no two wheat-heads just
alike, no two human bein a just
alike. Nature never repeats herself
God is a being of infinite resources.
But while this is world of variety,
it is world of unity. Variety, but no
discord Differences, but no quarrel.
A wonderful blending of colors to Gre
ate harmony, wonderful arrange
ment of contrasts to produce beauty,
infinite combinations of people and
things to keep the world from becom-
ing mOnotonous. 1t is a grand and
wonderful world which ever way you
look at it.
Now there are some people who be-
ieve that when it comes to the ques-
ton of the church all that divine and
perfect plan should be upset and alb
rogated. They believe the Almighty
has one law for the physical universe
and another law for the spiritual
world And they point to the prayers
of Jesus in the 18th chapter of John
as their authority, where He prays
"That they all may be one" These
people call attention to the divisions
of Christendom as a proof that that
prayer has not been answered.
It is true that there are a vast num-
Der of denominations. 143 varieties
and over in the United States. There
are six kind of Adventists; there are
Is kinds of Baptists-regular, irreg
uIar and defective; there are six kinds
of Christians; there are II kinds of
Methodists; there are IL kinds of
Presbyterians; there are II kinds of
Lutherans; there are IL kinds of
Mennonites; there are Z kinds of
Catholics, to says nothing of number
less small and obscure sects of whom
it is has been said they may all be
classed under three heads, mission,
anti-mission and omission.
It is felt by many that this multi
plicity of sects is forbidden by the
prayer of Christ THAT they all may
be one" But why? He does not pray
for uniformity, but only for unity.
His pattern is THAT they may be one
as we are" AS He was one with his
Father who sent him-that is the
pattern. Nothing would be gained,
but much lost by plotting out denom-
national lines. If that were done to-
day, tomorrow people would begin to
organize in different branches. That
does not imply quarrelsomeness, but
congeniality The stars do not quar-
rel, and yet they are grouped in plan
ietary systems. and consultations, and,
galaxies and milky ways. The leaves
do not quarrel, though the beech,
birch and maple grow on separate
trees side by side The flowers do
not quarrel though the landscape
gardener puts all varieties in the
same public garden. What if all the
stars were Jupiters. what if all the
rivers were Amazons, what If all the
flowers were sunflowers, If uniform
ity is desired nothing would be gained
by making all churches alike, for
there is as much difference between
the members of any one church today
as there is between the different de-
nominations in religious belief.
No, the denominations all have a
mission, and yet hold out hands of
fellowship to all their fellow laborers.
Time was when the churches were
like freight train. every car separate,
and distinct of itself: now it is like
a Pullman trains. every car vesti-
bule coach. the whole train open from
end to end, passengers enjoying the
society of all the company through the
whole journey to the grand central
depot
Or. to change the figure. Suppose
the work of world reconstruction to
be like that of watch factory. Then
IL is the business of the Arminians 20
stir up the blaze-they are the red-hot
Methodists. 1t is the business of the
Calyinists to hammer the rivets-they
are the Congregationalists. believing
in stability. 1t is the business of the
Eniscopalians to make the exquisite
case-they are lovers of the beautiful
If is the business of the Baptists to
wash of the works-they have strong
proclivities for the water. Thus, alto
rether working in harmony. each do
ing what he can best perform, after
awhile this world, which was thrown
out OF gear at the fall, will become