The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-09-24
BLACK BREAKS AWAY
SEWERS CONNECTION WITH CHRIS
TIAN DENOMINATION.
Declares in Sermon at Duluth Sunday
Morning That Christ's Teachings
and Principles Are Being Made
Mere "Goat- Riding Performances"
By Members and Others to Get
Into Church; Word to People.

Duluth, Sept. 2'-Thats no religious
denomination ever confessed its human
limitations and weaknesses more frank
ly than has the Christian church in
its action to compel him to abide
by its rulings, was the Charge made
by Rev. B. V. Black Sunday morning
before large audience at the Knights
of Pythias hall.
The service was attended by more
than half of the original congregation
of the First Christian church. Rev.
Mr.. Black declared that his connec
tions with that denomination are for
ever severed, and emphatically stated
that hereafter his efforts in religious
work will be devoted to Independent
lines.
Broken Away From Bible.
The Christian church, he claims, has
broken away from the Bible. 1t is no
longer its guiding treasure book, but
has been supplanted by doctrines and
principles, all of which are man made.
Christ's teachings and principles, he
said, are being made mere "goat-rid-
ing performances" by the members of
the church and others to get into the
church.
Rev. Mr. Black admitted yesterday
that the state board of the Christian
church had seftt him communication
L. l. ol,,1- Il
tions and was asked to use his efforts
to unite the two factions of the dis
rupted church and then seek other
fields in the state to work for the
church.
Cowardly Cause, He Says.
To carry out their plan, he states,
would be cowardly practice for him.
The only other course, he claims, is
to leave the brotherhood for a wholly
Independent platform.
I'm part. his sermon was as follows:
YESTERDAY | received an official re-
port of the recent decision of the
state board of the Christian church
regarding the difficulty in the local
church. | do not care to discuss the
merits or dement's of The decision other
than it refers to me and my immedi-
ate work. In brief the decision pro-
ceeds to place the whole responsibility
upon ne for the disturbance. L shall
make no defense of my corduct or at
tempt to place the blame where 1t
logically belongs. | only regret tfac
the state board seems unable to und =
stand the facts. | hope that time vi |
be able to reveal matters as they
really are.
despite many assertions that heal
ing is but part of my work, the
board entertans constant fears that
and the church will stray away
from the traditions and drift into the
mire of mysteries. | have always been
Taught as a member of that church to
know no limitations to either my
beliefs or teachings, but the Bible.
There is not, in this decision, even an
attempt to censure me as untrue TO
the Bible, but Our position and Our
principles seem to have supplanted the
Bible as the sole rule and guide OF
faith. | am rebuked for having trans
crossed the teachings OF Our prlncl-
ples.' Does such church merit its
claim to being creedless church! L
question if any denomination more
frankly confesses it's human limlta-
lions than is stated in this decision.
"The recommendation urges ne TO
do nv best to reunite the two factions
and then take another charge away
from Duluth. The force of this APP
peal lies in the fact that | agreed to
abide by the decision. Freely stated
this recommendation urges me to with
draw, silently confessing guilt to the
charges and willingly assuming all
blame for conditions. L have but one
of two courses to pursue. Either L
must acquiesce and leave under re-
proach or else [ shall be compelled TO
| leave the brotherhood for wholly
independent PLATFORM
First Course Would Be Cowardly.
"To follow the first course would be
cowardly retreat from the truth. Inc
! last course is the one chosen by many
men when forced to submit to unreas
enable DEGREES. Such an action may
be jumping from the boat into the
deep, but what have I to fear If the
Master stands with outstretched arms
upon the deep? 1t shall serve only to
increase my faith. .>n
cat the meeting last Monday night
! I was accused of being Spiritualist,
Theosophist, a Christian Scientist
and a believer in new Thought. Yes,
II am all of these and more too, |