The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-02-28

The pending merging of the Methodist Con
gregatonal and Presbyterian Churches in Canada in
Organic Union
The New York Conference of eighteen more de-
nominations, last November, for Federal Union"
The pending merging of the Methodist Protestant
United Brethren and Congregational Churches in
Organic Union!"
The comforting together of Methodists Presbvter-
lans, etc, in foreign fields (our own included) and
favorable consideration of ''Organic Union"
The powerful drift throughout the North in
nearly not all of the churches towards
"NdtondtSm" That is, first wiping out the line
separating church and state. Not by formal
edlct, but by incessant and universal med
ding; under the head of promoting civic righteous
ness, and "Christian citizenship on the part of
church courts conferences, pulpit agtators, commit
tees of preachers the floors of legislatures etc
Second, ultimate National Church." with "seat"
at Washington, with grand 'Cathedral' (alreadv in
deed suggested by dgnitary of the most august
body in this land the United States Supreme Court)
IN close proximity to the seat" of the National
Government be convenient for conferenca and
cooperation.
Note now how these movements alone mot to men,
ton others equally apparent, tending to the same end
VIZ: "Centralizaton,O note, L say, how these move
ments slaughter truth Consider
l. The destruction of the Ruling EldershipI Tn
the composite Church, resulting from the piIing of
one denomination another (where Presbvterians
lgure), where will the Ruling Elder be? For an
swer read the congomerate 'creed" proposed as the
new platform which the new composite Canadian
Church is to stand
The Ruling Elder has land of necessity) disap
peared That stabs the very vitas scriptural and
Protestant Church Governments for the Ruling Elder
ships is historically the great restorer and the great
bulwark of both religious and civil liberty 1t also
gives mighty impetus to the rapidly rising tidal
wave of rualism, which is in nearly all the churches
OF the North more or less; unduly eXaltng the min
ister and smotherng in its 'enriching and scented
waters, the simplicity and spirituality which are in
Christ Jesus.
?. The destruction of creeds That is of honest
expressions of truth For criticse creeds as we may
they are at least honest and if an honest mans the
noblest work of God what shall be said of an honest
church? Here, too, another bulwark against
rtuallsm removed; for it's well known that where
churches most ritualistic there you find apathy
II not quiet contempt to truth Tor "doctrinel")
Yes, even to their standards of truth! Better
for the world will it be for the church to have de-
fectve creed, say Arminian greedy than to have
no creed at all! [ would rather our Methodist
friends hold to their Arminian belief and express
It, than to play into the hands of ifeess rituasm by
attempting the impossibility of making it mix with
Calvinism for the sake of unity"
3. The destruction of Calvinsm. That is as a
vital Transforming force. 1t may continue to exist
indeed, "lad the shelf" it did for centuries in
the Romsh Church and does for that matter now
And it is to do hereafter, in the Northern Presby-
terrain Church, if we believe the Rev. DR.. Patter-
son, of Philadelphia, who openly declares that the
Brief Statement will be that church's real creed
hereafter; if believe the New York Evangelist
and scores of prominent preachers; if we can see
any meaning in the complete cessation of all manly
efforts to stem the tide of heresy; in in the turn
ing aside of hundreds of pulpts the fashioned
gospel.
a. The destruction of evangelical faith. But chats
another story as Kipling says to be treated in our
next Only one word here, however. The trouble
IN the North in all the churches is not that there
are not any lovers and preachers of gospel truth
left. There are many, yea, hundreds of them God
bless their fearless, faithful sous For they have
hard time stemming the tide. No, the trouble is