The Mankato free press., 1906-03-30
MANKATO FREE PRESS

dyihS, eiat we greatly reJOIce aC tnIS
opportunity to make a public statement
of our position, and to confer with our
Congregational brethren with reference
to closer union between our respective
bodies. For we believe, all things else
equal, that that body of Christians
which is making protest against the
sin of division and earnestly planning
for union in Christ for the Kingdom is
most surely following the lead of the
Spirit for this time. And, for this very
reason, there is growing up feeling of
brotksriiness between the Congregation
al and Christian churches which we wish
to encourage.
''We most heartily approve the frank
ness with which Brother Heermance has
stated the position of his church. For
real union can come, if at all, only
by a perfectly frank statement, on both
sides. And, herein is the proof of a
growing Christian spirit. The time was
when it was hardly possible to have a
frank and sweet conference on our diff
ferences.
"We agree with our Congregational
brethren in condemning the folly and
the sin of division and that union is
Christian, desirable, practical, and ne
eessary. But, as might be expected, we
disagree somewhat on the basis of such
union; and this disagreement can dis
appear only by frank discussion and
open fellowship as Christians.
"One-we plead for union that shall
be both Christian and catholic. The
union must be Christian but it must be
catholic enough to take in all that is
Christian. Hence, we plead for a SIM
pie return to the Christianity of Christ,
as pictured in the records of the New
Testament.
Two-They plead for union on a
basis broad enough to take in practices
arising in the course of Christian his
tory, not now regarded as having a
Christian origin nor as being vital to
the Christian life, but, as they think,
a necessary concession to the possible
union of Christians who differ about
such matters. Thus, one makes greater
show of loyalty to the teaching of the
New Testament, while the other makes
a greater show of Christian charity.
Yet, neither will accuse the other of
less loyalty to the truth or,to the Spir-
it of Christ. Each aims to conserve
both the truth and the spirit, The public
may judge the one uncompromising and
the other latitudinarian; but we are
more careful to promote truth and right
eousness than to form union that
would do neither, simply to win the
praise or to avoid the criticism of an
undiscriminating public.
The basis of union we propose-Then,
praying the Divine blessing upon this
conference, we proceed to make state
ment of the terms upon which we court
union, not only with the Congregation
alists, but with any. and all of Gods
people. If you are tempted to think us
ncompromising just remember that
compromises only put off the day of
reckoning They never settle matters
of principle; and, therefore, in the end,
do not promote either morals or relig-
ion. rs.,si i,.., sat, 4.a
Christian unity is more important
than mere union and certainly more. inn
portant than uniformity. We may be
very liberal in giving away the nones-
sentials that have attached themselves
Ito Christianity in it's course through
the centuries; but we cannot be SO lib
eral with the things of our Lord, even
for the sake of union. Such union
would be too dearly bought; and, in
the long run, would not promote Chris
ian unity. ~
One. The Creed-We are happy to
state that much is held by us in COM
mon with all evangelical bodies, and es-
pecially with the Congregationalists.
Nay, there is scarcely anything rec
ognized by them as essential or vital,
that is not as truly and as firmly held
by us as by them" Therefore, we are
opposed to creedal statements as bonds
of union. History shows that such
statements divide the church, crystalize
these divisions into unprogressive sects,
and thus perpetuate division and hinder
Christian unity. Hence, we adopt the
Congregationalist's statement simply to
make the Bible our creed" Or, to be
more specific, we are willing to adopt
the New Testament, that portion of
the Bible which records the perfect
revelation of God in Christ. For the
Bible. is not uniform in character or au-
The Health Nf