Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-03-04
REPUDIATING OLD CHURCH PRIN.
CIPLES,

In magazine article published re-
Gently dealing with the causes that
lead young men to hesitate about en-
tering the ministry, the writer, one of
the leading Episcopalian clergymen Of
the Pacific coast stated that one great
reason was the lack of fidelity to
church principles on the part of the
clergy. Clergymen of various faiths
publicly announce their disapproval Of
this or that tenet of their own church
body or proclaim this or that doctrine
as having no binding effect, or of no
especial value, until the young man
becomes confused in his own mind,
wonders whether there is really any,
thing stable in the churches, and fin
ally decides that it is better for him to
pursue some other calling where there
is a definiteness of teaching and of
adherence to faith. The lack of pos
tive faith, of absolute adherence to
the teachings of the church, is regard
ed by more than this writer as the
bane of religious conditions today.
The magazine article referred to is
recalled to mind by statement made
by Rev. Robert Macdonald, D. D., one
of the leading New York Baptist cler-
gymen, heralded with great headings
in the metropolitan newspapers, to the
effect that 'close communion, and bap-
tism are now both dead" that chap
tism is not essential to enter heaven.
and that these teachings have been
buried as worthily as Sodom and
Gomorrah." To quote from the rever-
end gentleman:
Baptism is not essential for en-
trance into heaven While it is a.
good custom, still Christians can enter
heaven without being baptized. This
ordinance, in my opinion, belongs to-
old beliefs, and it is only a matter of
time when in all probability baptism
viii not be part and parcel of the prin-I
ciples of religion.
The true spirit of Christ will lift
the church above dogmatic lines. The
IdCdl C1IuLCn VI IU6 Will not
have any part of the Old Testament in
corporated into it. l cannot be ham
pered with UNCONVENTIONAL shfbbo-
leths,, outgrown traditions that are
Improbable to spiritual upbuilding,
nor by doctrinal requirements based
upon nothing more authoritative than
human inference and logical sequence.
Unfortunately most denominations
have more or less to do with these
sWadding clothes of ancient dogma
tism. The tides of the spirit are rising
too high for twentieth century denom-
inationalism. Revision is sadly need
ed in the churches.
Such revision in our own denom-
ination is seen in the communion cues
ton. And it is no small Joy for us who
were among the pioneers along this
line to notice that the whole denomi-
nation. SO far as delegates from oil our
Brooklyn churches represent those
at an ordination of a Christ
tan minister, rose to its privilege and
about year ago ordained and INSTALL
ed the present pastor of Sixth Avenue
Baptist Church, who affirmed he'll
would invite all to communion, regard
less of baptism and church member
snip, who loved the Lord Jesus.
This act virtually pronounced that
Stacking logical inference, so oppos-
ed to the spirit of Jesus, to be a dead
issue. Henceforth it can be regarded
as dead as the cities of Sodom and
GOmOfrah and as WOrthily buried.
Another and sadly needed reform
has been recently Incorporated in at
least one leading Manhattan church al
so Brooklyn church, of welcoming to
the fellowship and privileges of the
under the term associate Snem- |
bers, those of the congregation who
desire closer Identification, without i'm |
posing baptism upon them, trusting to
the impulse of the Holy Spirit, who is |
here to lead us deeper into the word |
and spirit of Christ, to bring them