Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-30

For Sunday Reading. ]
) All Sorts Of Opinions. !

Would Rechristen Church.
IDr. e. 2. Parker's Sermon.)

We have just passed two festive
days of much significance--All Saints
Day and All Souls Day. The first
dear to many christian hearts as 4
day of commemoraticn for the saints
on earth and in heaven. Among the
great company of the departed are
many dear to every local church, and
some dear to every family therein. All
Souls Day, which the Roman Church
celebrates, has long seemed to me of
even deeper significance than the 9TH
er, so much broader and more COM
prehensive. Is it not BETTING that
the church which has or should have
all souls in view of effort and hope,
whose master loved and lived and
suffered for all men. and would draw
them all unto him, should have and
honor an All Souls Day?
| would now express some thoughts
long cherished in my mind, which All
Souls Day and it's contemplation con-
firms. l have long been dissatisfied
with the inappropriate and insignifi-
cant names which our churches bear.
What signifies a north, or south, or
east, or west church? A Windsor ave-
nue.. Pennington avenue, or Asylum
street church? Possibly they have
the significance of larger post.
which is not much for a church. The
Universalists have a Church of the
Redeemer. and are to be congratu-
lated I would like to see this church
christened anew, and Of all the
names there are, that OF All Souls
is the one of my preference. And [
would have it All Souls Church both
in name and spirit, broad comprehen-
sive. undenominational, associated
with Christ and with humanity; oper.
and free to all on the simplest terms
Of communion and fellowship consist
ent with christian institution. This,
with me. implies a few things which
much explication.
First-A church just as much In
fellowship with all denominations-so
far as they will permit - as with any
one denomination: with Baptists,
Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopa-
lians and others, as with Congrega-
tionalists; Independent, and for that
very reason fraternizing with all other
churches without let or hindrance.
Second A church cut loose from
formal and rigid creed and covenant,
with only brief and simple statement
of agreement, comprising the ele-
mental and essential things, upon
which all who profess and call them
selves christians, all who desire to as
sociate together for the welfare of
humanity. in the name Of Christ.
might stand together, in the recogni-
ton and respect of many differences
of opinion. find no more warrant
or sanction. either in scripture, his
tory, or common sense, for many OF
our cast-iron church covenants, than
for many of our church creeds. The
day of their usefulness has departed.
Third - A church which should be
free church in respect of its pews
or sittings, it's sanctuary or house OF
worship for all souls, and not all sold!
To accomplish this some sacrifices
would be necessary. The richer would
have to bear the burdens of the poor
er For my part. I would welcome
such sacrifices This ought to be, and
might be. Only timidity and selfish
ness are the chief obstacles In the
way of it.
Fourth = A church which would
rave the Lords supper in the honor
of decent and reverent observance
putting emphasis on it's original SIM
plicity: but which, honoring' it as
the table of the Lord would welcome
to it all persons, whether members OF
the church or not. who should feel
moved with a desire to participate
therein. And church which, while
practicing and encouraging the prac-
tice of the symbolic ordinance OF
baptism and the administration OF
that ordinance to the children of par
ents desiring it, would not make the
baptism of either adults or of infants
obligatory, but optional: making the
manner Of baptism also optional.
What good reason-bad ones there
are, of course-but what Nally. good
reason is there why Christian church
should not be brough and comprehen-
sive and free enough to indulge many
and wide diversities of opinion and
desire, and to reconcile them by a
recognition and respect of them? My
All Souls church should provide for
such differences; should have services
liturgical and unliturgical; should
baptise by immersion or sprinkling
as the desire and conviction Of per-
500, -, ;oI+ ha. chou1d hantiSe or not