The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-03-11
THE CENTENNIAL.
There Is a tide In the affairs Of men,

Is bound In shadows and In miseries."
This thought Of the immortal bard Is
worthy OF our closest following at this epoc
In the history Of the Disciples Of christ.
century ago the eyes OF the world were sud
denly attracted TO Washington. PA. whore
Thomas Campbell read that famous docu-
ment entitled Declaration and Address Of
the Christian Association OF Washington"
as the first demonstration OF christian union
ON the basis Of the word Of God alone, indie
pendent OF the influence Of the papacy and
sectarian demonationalism. Though BAR
ton w. Stone and others who were promi-
nent In the wonderful revival. at Cane
Ridge. KY, and had taken the same po-
sttion earlier. yet sept. Z. 1879 Is universally
accepted rs bearing the same relation to the
Disciples OF Christ" christian or Churches
of Christ that July 4. l7T6 holds to the U. =.
of America That we may know how much
we are indebted to Mr.. Campbell and the
committee of u who stood together for this
declaration OF principles. we quote the fol-
lowing from the address: let none imagine
that the subjoined propositions are all in
tended rs an overture towards New Greed
or STANDARD for the church or As In anywise
designed to he made a term of communion"
Nothing can be further from our intention.
They are merely designed for opening up
the way, that we may come fairly and firm-
ly upon clear and certain promises land
take up things Just as the Apostles left
them. That thus disentaneled from the ac-
cruing embarrassment OF Intervening ages.
We may stand upon the same ground on
which the church stood at the beginning.
Having said so much to solicit attentio and
prevent mistakes-we submit as follows:
Prop I. That the Church OF Christ upon
earth Is essentially, Intentionally and con-
additionally one; consisting OF all those In
every place that profess their faith In Christ
and obedience to him I'm all things accord
ing to the Scriptures and that manifest the
same by their temper and their conduct.
and OF none else as none else can truly and
properly be called christian.
md. That although the Church OF Christ
upon earth must necessarily exist In par
ticular and distinct societies, locally sepa-
rate one from another: yet there ought to
be ne schisms. no uncharitable divisions
among them. They ought to receive each
otheras Christ Jesus hath also received them
TO the glory Of God And for this purpose
they ought all to walk by the same rule. to
mind and speak the same thing; and to b.
perfectly together In She same mind and In
the same Judgment.
3rd. That In order to dothis nothing ought
10 be ineulcated upon christians as articles
of faith; nothing required of them rs terms
of communion. but wha tbs expressly taught
and enjoined upon them In the word of God.
Nor ought anything be admitted as OF d.
vine obligation in their church constitution
and management. but what is expressly en-
Joined by the authority OF our Lord Jesus
Christ and his Apostles upon the New Tes-
lament Church; either I'm expressed terms
or by approved precedent.
9TH. That although the scriptures of the
Old and New Testaments are inseparately
connected. making together but one perfect
and entire revelation of the Divine VIII for
the edification and salvation OF the church;
and therefore In that respect cannot be sep
arated; yet as to what directly and proper
iy belongs to their Immediate object. the
New Testaments Is as perfect constitution
for the worship discipline and government
of the New Testament Church and as per-
feet a rule for the particular duties of its
members; as the Old Testament was for the
worship discipline and government of the
Old Testament Church and the particular
duties of its members.
5th. That with respect to the Commands
and ordinances Of our Lords Jesus Christ.
where the express time or manner Of per-
formance If any such there be: no hnman
authority has power to interfere I'm order TO
supply the supposed deficiency by making
laws for the church: nor can anything more
be required Of christians In such cases but
only that they so observe the commands
and ordinances, as will evidently answer
the declared and obvious end of their insti-
tuition. Much less has any human authori-
" the power to improve new commands or
ordinances upon the church which our Lord
Jesus Christ has not enJoined. Nothing
ought 10 be received into the faith or wor-
ship OF the church. or be made a term of
communion amongst christians that Is not
as old rs the New Testament" Having sub
mitted the proposition he said Union In
truth has been and ever must be the prayer
OF NIL christians In every denomination.
Union In Truth is our motto. The Divine
word Is our standard. In the Lords name do
We display our banners. Our eyes are upon
the promises so shall they fear the name
Of the Lord from the west and his glory from
the rising of the sum-" when the evening
shall come I'm like a food the spirit of the
Lord shall lift up standard against him."
That we may understand how God has IN
creased the harvest from the small begin
uing only hundred years ago, We will
cite only one branch Of the work being done
by the Disciples OF Christ who are now mar
tailed under one spirit of unity, million
and u half strong to carry the gospel TO all
nations In the terms OF the worldwide
commission.
Total receipts last year for the Foreign
Missionary work tz7rf24. sl.2lO OF a loss from
the year before principally In Annuites.
Payments made for the maintenance of the
work $780, being ZOO more than receipts.
The whole amount received since the Or
ganization of the Foreign Society at Louis
willie. KY. IN 1916 S3,sis.oN, an average OF
slOl.i7i IA year for 10 years. We have mis-
sionaries now In Japan. China. Tibet. In
dia. Africa. PHILIPPINE Islands, Hawaii