Evening star., 1909-01-24
CO Observe Centennial.
Members of Christian Denomination of This Sec
ton to Unite in Celebrating Tooth Anniver-
sary of the Founding of Their Faith.

alton of the simple gospel. the order of
| things as under the apostles. 1t was not
] reformation that was sought, but a
restoration; not the organization of a
new sect the reformation OF an old
one. but return to Jerusalem, a renewal
of the ancient landmarks of the Christian
religion. a restoration to men of apostolic
| Christianity in doctrine, ordinances and
| fruits.
Native of Ireland.
Alexander Campbell was a native of
Ireland. and educated in the University
of Glasgow. Thomas Campbell was a
regular minister among the seceders. and
as such assigned to the presbytery OF
CHARTERS, in Washington county, Pa. His
view of union. however, and of the suf
| ficiency of the Bible as rel
gious guide, caused his with
drawal from that connection. He formed
THE Christian Association of Washing
tom. In 1909 and in September of the
ton and Address This paper depiored
the tendencies of party spirit among
Christians and the enforcement of human
interpretations of Gods word in place of
the pure doctrine of Christ. and pleaded
for the restoration of simple, original,
evangelical Christianity as exhibited upon
the sacred page, without attempting to
inculcate anything OF human authority.
of private opinion or invention of men, as
having any place in the constitution. faith
or worship of the Christian Church: or
anything as a matter of Christian faith
or duty for which there cannot be eX-
pressly produced a THUS saith the Lord,
either in express terms or approved pre-
cedent. Commencing with the admitted
truth that the Gospel was designed to
reconcile and unite men to God and each
other. the address proceeded to consider
the sad divisions that existed and their
baleful effects in the angry contentious.
enmities. communications and persecu-
tions which they engendered. and set
forth the object of the association Ito
come firmly and fairly to original ground
and take up things just as the apostles
left them" that, ''disentangled from the
accruing emDarrassments OF intervening
ages" they might stand upon the same
ground on which the church stood at the
beginning.
The Lords Work.
"There has been a mighty advance"
said DR. Power in closing. ITO say that
the Campbells and their colaborers have
contributed toward these ends is simple
justice to the truth of history. 1t is
the Lords work If the disciples have
helped in it they are glad. SO the work
is done. it matters not who does it. God
speed the day when all who love Jesus
Christ will stand together. confessing
one Lord. proclaiming one faith. practic-
ing one baptism. united in one body, filled
with one Spirit, inspired with one hope,
serving one God and Father over all.
ITO united church was the grace OF
Pentecost given. BY a united church was
the Roman empire in three centuries
brought to the foot of the cross Through |
the united service OF His people Christ
means to make the kingdoms Of this
world His kingdom. A single drop OF
water is weak and powerless thing.
but an infinite number of drops, united
by the force of attraction, form a stream.
and many streams combined form a river. ]
and many rivers pour their water into
the mighty ocean, whose proud waves. !
defyng the power Of man. none
can stay save the Almighty. So resistless
would be the power of Gods people thus
consolidated and hurled against sin. Pa
tience. There is legend that when
Adam and Eve were turned out of Eden
an angel smashed the gates, and the |
fragments flying all over the earth, are |
the precious stones. Patience! In Gods |
good time we shall fit our fragments to- |
gether and reconstruct the gates OF par |
adise''