Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-03-15

Some days ago. In commenting In
terms Of praise upon the union OF the
Methodist, Presbyterian and Congre'
eational churches Of Canada. we sug'
gesied that a lesson might be learned
BY the divided Christian church OF
this city, We publish today a letter
from S. l.. Barker OF Beulah, IN
which, while setting forth strongly
the advantages OF the union Of denom-
nations In general. he seeks to show
reasons why his arguments should
not apply 10 his own church. II Is
often thus.
Years ago the matter OF the use Of
the organ In churches raj fought out
by the Presbyterians, the Christians
and other denominations. Still here
and there IN these denominations you
find those who believe II Is q mortal
sin TO worship the Lord by means OF
an organ. The general feeling OF the
people today. though, 10 that there u
somethIng radically wrong with the
man who seeks 10 erect or strives to
maintain barriers between Christians
on such trivial and n~on'essential
grounds as that. II may he that the
Christian church Of today follows
pracwces that Campbell did not
teach, Just as the Methodist church
does not adhere to the teachings OF
John Wesley In all respects. The
light that descends from heaven to
earth does moi encourage the churches
to stand still, or to. continue TO accept
slavishly the teachings OF any hui
man being. BY that Hight the Christ.
ians Of today seek to interpret the
truth and form their beliefs for them
selves.
VIZ did not intend to devote much
space to the unfortunate division that
exists In a denomination here. We
know the feeling that exists In the
community regarding the matter and
| that people Of all creeds and OF no
creeds regard the formation OF two
congregations by q church not strong
| enough to maintain one, and which
could find every essential OF Christ
| ianity In some OF the struggling
| churches already established here, o.
pretty nearly ridiculous.
But we had intended to comment
again upon the remarkable movement
for the union OF evangelical churches
that Is now going on throughout the
world. We have mentioned the Meth
odists and Presbyterians and Congre'
g%ationalists OF Canada. But the Meth
odists and United Brethren and Con
gregatlonaiIsts Of the United States
are seeking to form a complete union
The Associated Press dispatches Of
yesterday brought the news OF
movement which Is expected to re
suit In the federation Of the Presby
terians, Presbyterian church OF the
south, Reformed church Of the United
States, Reformed church Of America
Reformed Presbyterian church, ant
United Presbyterian church. In Can
ada and In England a movement Is 81
foot for the union Of Missionary Bap
lists. Freewlll Baptists, Christians
and other believers In the doctrine 81
immersion into one church. There Il
In England a movement looking to
ward the union OF all evangelical
churches. And In the United States
the different kinds OF Baptist churches
are trying to get together. In view
OF all this movement In favor Of union
II Is not a pleasant thing to see divi
sion In a small church such as the
| Christian church OF Las Vegas. The
day OF quarreling In the name Of
Christ Is assuredly fast passing,