The Mankato free press., 1906-03-30

tants and United Brethren, or else sim
ply to make the Bible our creed, leaving
its Interpretation to the judgment and
conscience of each member. This comes
to practically the same thing.
"Rules of Conduct-Left to the con-
science of each individual
"Government-Demo and inde-
pendent of all outside control. 3.
Form of aptism-Immersion and
what is commonly called sprinkling to
exist side by side as alternative forms,
the form used to be left to the choice
of each individual candidate A baptis-
terry to be provided in the new church
building.
Infant Baptism-To be left, in the
same way, to the conscience of the indi-
vidual parents.
n-Perpetuating the old
organizations in the new, but with new
officers and pastors.
local Name-Immaterial to us. We
suggest some brief name signifying un
ion, such as Brotherhood church or Unit
ed church. The church signboard may
include notice of the bodies included
in the union, if desired for the informa-
tion of strangers.
"Outside Relations-Whether the new
church shall connect itself with one of
the existing bodies of churches or be-
pendent body, we are willing to leave
to a careful study of circumstances and
conditions.
"Property-As neither of our pres
ent church buildings is adequate to a
united church, merge our present prop
critics, use what materials we can from
the old buildings, raise the further funds
necessary and construct an adequate
plant, on new site. GA better one
can be secured.
"These are our proposals. If at any
point they are unfair or Christian,
our committee is open to conviction"
Dir. Orr read the statement from the
Christian church committee, as follows:
''Let it be understood that this is
not a statement of individual views on
this question 1t is meant to be rep
Iresentative statement of the body for
which we speak.
Brother Heermance is right in saying
that we are not proposing a union of
the Congregational and Christian church
es because of our inability to exist
alone. The Christian church has raised,
during the year just ending, nearly dou-
BILE its ordinary running expenses, hav-
ing raised money for large floating in
debtedness and for the final payment
on their church building, thus leaving
the congregation free of debt and hope
full of the future.
is never question of human expediency
or personal convenience. 1t is a serious
and a momentious question. One upon
which the success of the Kingdom and
the glory of the Master depends. What
ever justification there was for the or
igin of our various denominations-an
we are willing to allow that denomina-
tionalism is a movement toward Christ
and one of the inevitable phases of ec
clesiastical development-no rational,
at least, no Christian reason can now be
given for our continuing such divisions
of the body of Christ. In PauFs mind, a
divided church presented to the world a
divided Christ and cultivated sectarian
feelings. U. Cor. LIZ, II, 3.l-9). A con-
quering Christ must act through unit
ed church. Hence, our Lords dying
prayer chat they all may be one" John
/ l7:20-23). We feel that UNCONVENTIONAL
i ism is a great sin against God and that
the church will never be a great power
for Christ in evangelizing and Christian
izing the world until this sin is repent
ed of by frank protest against it and
by serious effort to heal the wounds
of Christ's body. We feel further, that
those who departed from the simplicity
| that is in Christ" by substituting phil,
osophically stated theological dogmas for
the simple religious and ethical teach
ings of Jesus, and by exalting Jewish
ceremonies and heather practices into
the place of His commands and pre-
lcepts, made salvation a matter of priest
Ily ceremony rather than a matter of
spirit and life. Just to the extent that
we consent to and perpetuate these di-
visions, for these or for more modern
reasons, we are guilty of 'the body and
blood of the Lord (I. Cor. HE'D, a
guilt which can be atoned for only by
return to Christ in faith, in practice,
in life and in Spirit.
"For nearly century, the Disciples of
Christ have been protesting against de-
nominationalism and pleading for un-
ion of Christians by return to Christ.
We have lived to see this movement be-