The Newtown bee., 1906-05-25
HOME NEWS.
' en- Paxsa

MISREPRESENTATION COr1lTY.
A PLEA FOR THE COOPERATION OF
| THE DIFFERENT CHURCHES.
| While in my official capacity l am
here to serve the Congregational
church, in my private capacity l am
in sympathy with all Christian enter
prises, and I feel that ought to make
strong statement Of my attitude
and publish it in order that all Chris
tians in the neighborhood may under
stand beyond all doubt the principles
for which am working. l believe it
to be burning shame that Christian
churches, or mem berS of the same,
should compete with one another in a
jealous or hostile manner. l believe
1T to be an equal or even greater shame
that they should not cooperate. Sins
of omission are just as grievous as sins
of commission.
A noble and honorable family, with
all which that implies, is the symbol
of the Christian Church universal.
Do all Christians feel that they are
members Of one family, or do they feel
that they are members of various
families? The New Testament says,
"All We are brethren" is that true or
Is it not true? Answer that!
Do not all true-hearted members of
really honorable family stand by one
another, defend and protect one an
other when need be, and at all times
live sympathetic helpful life with
one another? Answer that! Do
Christians everywhere, members of
fist, Congregational and other church
es SO live? What is your answer?
Brethren, it is time to take these
questions more seriously to heart and
work to better our condition.
When such day as Memorial Sun
day comes arOund-and it comes only
once In a year-can we not make q be-
ginning, and have one union service
for all Christians, now in one church,
now in another? "Oh no, no, impos-
Sible" hear chorus of voices saying.
What, meet in another church!
'twould be like eating in the enemy's
country" But why? Answer that?
Why should 1t be so hard to do one
every day In the year, namely, coop
crate? In regard to this coming Me-
mortal Sunday, 1t is now too late to
plan and put through a scheme for
union service, but in future years it is
to be hoped that the churches of the
region may unite at least for an after
noon service.
When our soldiers enlisted in de-
fence of our country those of all class
es and creeds fought side by side.
What occasion could serve better as a
first step in the right direction than a
friendly, patriotic fellowship of the
then may it lead on to a larger COOP
AFQf3nn fhrOnOhOy1t the VoQrS1
I plead for Observation-Disclosures
comfy, instead of Observation-Disclosures
al comedy. l, for one, would be glad
to welcome all true Christians as
brethren in my church, or to go and
be welcomed by them as brother in
their church, to work with them, by
them and for them, and everytime
might happen to fall short of my duty,
should most bitterly accuse myself
as an offender. In an ideal family do
not the hearts and faces light up with
not the love express itself also in such
service as hard practical work?
Conditions cannot be changed, you
say. Brothers, conditions must be
changed and can.
Finally let me state that the princi-
pies OF Christian fellowship and coop
Grafton which l am advocating, are
the principles for which all true Con-
stands [ do not say
that all Congregationalists, nor that |
all Congregational leaders have always
taken this true stand, but I do say
that If they have not, then they have
not stood for the true principles of
Congregationalism, nor of any other
ism which is founded on the teachings
of Jesus Christ.
Conditions not only can be changed,
a large number who say hearty
"Amen. ~ Ralph E. Danforth.