East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-10-14

merly Pastor OF the First Christian
Church, COmmends the Suggestion
OF This Paper-Further Able Ar
gument by Rev. Doris.
Rev Victor Dorrls formerly pas
tor of the First Christian church or
this city, but now conducting most
successful series Of eyangelistic meet
Iings at Salem, writes the East Ore
gonian as follows on a recent editorial
lappearing in this paper on the sub
ject of Church Unity:
Salem, Ore, oct. 14.-(Editor East
Oregonian. ALLOW me to note, with
genuine appreciation, the editorial on
"Unlty of Religious Faith" appear
ing recently in the East Oregonian.'
The apt selection of so appropriate
scrlptural authority for the thought
urged, together with the clear. and
noteworthy comments added, merits
the hearty approval Of all every
where, who really long TO see our
Lord and Savior accorded his prop
er place at the head Of the "One
Body" to reign universally and tri-
umphantly as the zone Shepherd"
over the zone Fold"
From the beginning, unity OF his
forces has been urged and command
cd by the Father. and distress and
|
forts. This is distinctly obvious to
every one acquainted with the history
Of the cause OF God and OF Christ.
In line with the strong reasons con-
tanned in your splendid editorial,
might be added much more. such as
"Now l beseech you. brethren,
through the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that you all speak the same
thing, and that there be no divisions
among you; but that ye be perfected
together In the same mind and in the
same judgment" Corinthians.
Ito.
Also the prayer of our lord. re-
corded In the seventeenth chapter Of
John; and especially clear are the
words OF the 21-22-23 verses where
he prays that they may all be one"
and that they be "as thou. Father.
are In me, and In Thee" indicating
distinctly the kind and manner OF
unity meant; and gives as the object
and end of this unity. that the world
may believe that Thou didst send
me-" Then further saying that the
"Glorv" which the Father had given
him had in turn been given to them
in order that they may be one even
as we are one"
Three things are very apparent:
First. that our Lord. the holy spirit,
and Paul and others caught the clear
doctrine OF a united church. This
will not be questioned by any sincere
Bible reader Second. that the kind
and character of unity taught is not
apparent harmony, good will and
general fraternity, simply, nor is 1t
not through any form OF denomIna-
tional. federation" now being urg-
ed, but the closest possible, oneness
such, exactly, as is between the
Father and the Christ.
Third that just in proportion that
churches and church members learn
and accept the fact that all Christian
authority is with Christ. the Head
of the church, and that nothing bear
Ing the mark OF human hands or hui
man legislation, In the history OF
christianity, is for one moment wor-
thy to stand in the way OF this grand
result-just in this proportion will
conditions grow till party names,
creeds and doctrines, will be aban-
doned for the truth. strength and the
glory Of the zone body, (which is the
church,
NOW, | am not so far forgetting
the laws of proper reasoning as to
beg the question and assume that
the cause or religious movement with
which / am indebted offers the sure
solution of these questions: but I do
insist that, inasmuch as Chrlst's word
teaches this distinct unity, and that
He Is the head of the church; there
fore 1t Is preemlnently safe to insist
that faithful following of Christ's
plan of salvation, Christ's leadership
and guide, will lead to the Church
or Christ" which was established un-
der his direction in the city of Jeru-
saIem on the day of Pentecost.
unity on any other basis is neither
desirable, practicable nor durable.
When that unity comes, IL It does not
find our movement on the right ba-
SIS, that will be our misfortune.
Let 1t come as above Indicated and
glorious consequences beyond our
ability to comprehend will follow.
believe my brethren all over the land
VIII accord with what I have here
written. Offered for Christ's glory.
VICTOR DoRRIS.
| The old