Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-12
URGES BREAKING DOWN
Of CHURCH DIFFERENCES
Rev. ]. L. Lobingier Makes Plea
at Ministerial ASsocia-
ton Meeting

1--WE want to work live 1eaven. grad
ually, to break down all differences be-
tween the churches. Just so this is
consummated little would we care
whether, until it's accomplishment, we
should be an increasing or decreasing
brotherhood; we point-we do not
beckon.'
Those were the expressions made by
Rev. ]. L. Lobingier at the monthly
meeting of the Southern California
Christian Ministerial association yes
terday morning at the First Christian
church. Rev. L. J. Mcconnell. presi-
dent of the association, presided.
"Can the Disciples mite with the
Baptists without surrendering their
plea for union and becoming merely
sectarian?" was the subject of Rev.
Mr.. Lobingier. He said in part:
1.-THE union plea of the Disciples has
always been twofold, the necessity of
union and the basis for 1t. The first
part is now the great dominant note of
the time, being sounded out by the
leading spirits in nearly every church.
The basis for it as proposed by the
Disciples has always been a return to
the Christianity of the New Testament,
in doctrine, ordinance, name, organiza-
tion and spirit. Except for the matter
of name there are practically no dill
ferences between Baptists and Dis
ciples, except upon matters of opinion
and Interpretation. But freedom of
opinion and liberty to interpret must
ever characterize the united church.
Thus, whenever the opportunity comes
for us to unite-and it is true that
even the most hopeful do not think
it possible as veto hold apart would
be a sure manifestation of the sec
tartan spirit to which we are so op-
posed. Our cherished hopes will never
be realized by attempting arbitrarily
to break down the barriers that sep
arate, but loyalty to the message we
have sounded out demands that we
clear away the refuse when those bar
riers have in the process of time grad
ually been destroyed"
MANY PAPERS READ
Luncheon was served to the ministers
at the noon hour by the women of the
church.
At the afternoon session Rev. Levi
McCash read the first paper. His sub
ject was "The Enrichment of Worship
He said in part:
"I think our prayers, as rule. are
too long. The prayer recorded in the
New Testament would put most of our
modern prayers to shame. We nave
to keep up the prayer meeting If we
would be considered orthodox. They
say it is the thermometer of the
church. Well, it may be, but If it is,
it indicates a low vitality. We should
enrich our worship with shorter and
simpler prayers, more meaning and
fewer words. More yearning after God
and fewer bouquets for the people.
"Our song worship could be greatly
enriched, both In words and music. We
have gone daft on new songs. BY the
time we get song so we can half
way follow through the music and en-
ter into the spirit of the words, we
must drop 1t for something new. It is
like a sensational preaching, which
tickles the ear but seldom touches the
heart. And there is another thing that
mars our worship. Much trash has
crept into our hymnology, both OF
words and music"
Rev. j. w. Utter read the last paper
on the subject of "World Movements"
The following officers were elected: