The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-13
best ln.srs.t.I of sosls,y.' sBaIra,.

best interests of society," tBaird's Digest p. so9).
 "rs4s--.rn answer to overtures from certain temperance societies the As sembly unanimously adopted the fol- lowing:
 "'The Church of Jesus Christ is a spiritual body to which have been given the ministry. oracles. and ordin- ances of God. for the gathering and perfecting of the saints in this life. to the end of the world. It is the great instrumentality of the Savior through which. by His Eternal Spirit. He dis penses salvation to the objects of His love. Its ends are holiness and light, to the manifestation of the riches and glory of Divine grace. and not simply
 morality. decency, and good order which may to some extent be secured without faith in the Redeemer or the transforming efficiency of the Holy Spirit. The, laws of the church are the authoritative injunctions of Christ. and not the covenants, however be- nevolent in their origin ana aim, which men have instituted of their own will: and the ground of ob- ligation which the church .as such. in culcates. is the authority of God speak, ing in His word. and not pledges or honor which create. measure and de- fine the peculiar duties of all volun- tary associations. In this kingdom of God the Holy Scriptures are the only rule of faith and manners. and no judiciary ought to pretend to make laws which shall bind the conscience. or issue recommendation wnich snan regulate manners. without the war rant. explicit or implied of the re- yealed will of God. It Is hence beside the province of the church to render its courts, which God ordained TOT spiritual purposes, subsidiary to the schemes of any association founded Tn the human will and liable to all its changes and caprices. No court or Christ can exact of His people to unite with the temperance. moral reform. colonization, or any other society
 which may seek their aid. Connection with such institutions Is matter of Christian liberty. Their object may be. in every respect. worthy or the countenance and support of all good men, but insofar as they are moral and essentially obligatory, the church promotes them among its own mem- bers. and to none others does its Ju- rIsdiction extend. by the means of which God has ordained for the edin- cation of His children. Still. in the ex- ercise of their Christian liberty, as
  the State, from motives of philan- thropy, and from love to God. Chris tian people may choose to adopt this particular mode of attempting to achieve the good at which all moral societies profess to aim: they have right to do so, and the church, as long as they endorse no false principles and countenance no wrong practices. cannot interfere with them. Recog- nizing these propositions as the truths of the word of God. this General As- sembly. as court of Jesus Christ, cannot league itself with any volun- tary society. cannot exact of those who are subject to its discipline to do so: but must leave the whole matter. where the Scriptures leave 1t. To the prduence. philanthropy, and good sense of Gods children: each man having a right to do as to him shall seem good. These societies must ap- peal not to church courts but to church members. When they proclaim principles that are spititual and sound