The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-28
DR.. VANCE ON
CHALLENGE Of
HOME MISSIONS
Newark Pastor Takes Prominent
Part in Convention at St.
NichoIas's Church, N. Y.
CALLS ~SECTARIANISM
A "BARBARIC RELIC"
Must Put Money, Prayers and
Enthusiasm Into Work of
Reformed Church.


The Rev. DR.. James /. Vance, pastor
of the North Reformed Church, was
of the principal speakers at the
Mems Missionary convention at the
Collegiate Church of ST. Nicholas in
New York city this afternoon. His sub
ject was 1.-THE Home Missionary Chal-
lenge." He pictured the struggle Of
the Reformed church and urged his coll
leagues to march on in their battle. DIR.
Vance stated that the church was re-
sponsible for the evangelization of 49,
600, 900 of people in non-Christian lands.
DR.. Vance deplored sectarianism,
which he called a ''barbaric relic" and
he hoped the day would soon come
when UNCONVENTIONAL lines would be
broken down. But in the meantime ne
urged his church to do It's part valiant
ly in missionary work. He said in
part:
Must work Hard.
"Since we are members of the Re
formed Church in America and our eff
forts for the advancement of Christ's
kingdom, if made at all, must utter
themselves through agencies and ener-
gies of this church, Of which We are a
part, it means putting into the treas
ury of this church our money and man
hood, our faith and effort and prayers,
with such steady and lavish generosity
as to enable this church to take a part
In the work of the worlds redemption,
that win not shame us, nor dishonor 1t,
nor disappoint Christ.
I'VE do not want to see this Re-
formed church march out to the battle
and look the enemy in the face and
then retire from the field because it has
no ammunition. We would not have it
come face to face with glorious oppor-
tunities for extending the kingdom and
see them wither and die under it's eyes
because it has no funds to translate
opportunity into power: we do not want
TO see this Reformed church of which
we are members. starting here and
there new enterprises, which flourish
for a while and then wane n stagger
in death and fall into untimely graves,
because at the critical moment, the
church which was responsible for their
existence was unable to extend a help
ing hand.
we must. put ourselves, our money,
our prayers, our enthusiasm into the
work of this church with such constant
generosity and heroic determination,
that as heaven and earth look on at the
conflict, they may near above all the
noise of battle the courageous song of
a conquering cause.
No Plea for Sect.
ST am not pleading for sectarianism
I have no sympathy with hat barbaric
relic. Sectarianism is wicked and
wasteful. Thank God denominational
lines are fading dim and, in some places.
fading out. l shall hail the day when
our Protestant Christianity, without
abating one whit it's glorious freedom
of conscience and soundness of faith.
shall heal it's divisions and achieve
something of the splendid solidarity OF
the church of Rome, and do it not by
means of a papal decree, but through
the gracious indwelling of the Spirit,
who through the long centuries has
been praying that His people may be
one.
Nevertheless, while we hate sec
tarianism and pray for unity, is it a sin
for one to love his mother and find his
sweetest joys and hottest delights under
his own family roof-tree?
This church is our mother. Here in
her fellowship we have our family life.
If We do not love her, no one Will. IL
we do not furnish the honey and men
to maintain her line of battle, her col
ors will wave and be driven from the
field.
I'VE need not be ashamed of our
mother. Ours is a church of which we
may justly be proud. Its history IN
| America runs back to the hour when
for the first time, Protestant Chris
tianity lifted it's face and voice amid
the rising civilization of the western
world. That first church was ours
Through these long centuries his little
Reformed church has faced h battle.
line and contended for the faith once
delivered 20 the saints. There IS not d
stain on its e%scutcheon. With a sound
creed and a scriptural order and a
spiritual Worship, it claims our best.
1t is not a big church. but there is not
a better church.
Church Is Needed.