The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1910-03-25
A COMMUNICATION.

To the Editor was my privilege
during the week TO visit Pendleton and
worship in the magnificent new edifice
erected by the Christian Church of
that city. I wanted to avail myself of
the opportunity of hearing the noted
evangelist, Chas Reign Scoville. I
assure you. was amply repaid.
But this is not the real reason that
impels me to write. consider il
matter Of more than passing interest
to not only the immediate locality but
to the surrounding country, when
Christian congregation chat was burn
ed out of its working quarters to so
speedily and so splendidly-Phoeni
like-rise from its ashes and SO beau
tifully readorn herself. 1t shows they
| believe In themselves. in their mission
and in their God. and wish them the
largest success In winning men and
| women to the largest, broadcast and
deepest life in Jesus Christ; and yet
there is a more cogent reason ] have
in writing. It is the splendid united
fellowship and communion service
they held in that new building in the
afternoon of last Lords Day.
am told that the Methodist and
Baptist pastors were there and assisted
in presence and prayer in that service.
consider it good omen, and am
compelled to ask: If Ohristians-fol-
lowers of the One Lord-why should
they not do it, not only once, hut all
the time? And if it is justi6sble on
one ocoasion, why not on every ooca-
sion? 1t disarms criticism and elm
mates strife when brethren dwell to-
gether in unity. The Kingdom of
God has always had to make progress
in spite of and in the face of the crit
ioism and obstruction Of its professed
friends; and it is true indeed today as
ever, .he enemies the church of God
has most to fear are those within It's
own house.
am the more glad to commend the
large heartedness of these other pas
tors and people who could SO unite in
fellowship and could wish that all the
barriers which divide Christian people
were broken down. '.7"'N St' s
have in my possession an article
from the Baptist Union, our former
National organ of Baptist Young Peo-
pie, which commends and urges Bap-
tist pastors and churches to exchange
pulpits and intercommune and get to-
gether as much as possible. And ]
was made glad to see In the last issue,
March 10. of our greatest Baptist pa
per, the Standard, of Chicago. an cd
itorial on Baptist Affiliation With
Other Christian Bodies, and IL you
can spare the space, Mr.. Editor, I
would like to quote the first para
graph:
That there is strong tendency
among Christians of different denom-
inations to 90 operate is so evident that
it is not necessary to advance any ar
guments to prove the fact. When one
compares interdenominational condi-
tions of today with those that OF
tanned twenty-five or fifty years ago.
the movement stands out clearly and
Enthusiastically. If in some sections
isolation and antagonism still persist.
such conditions are plainly exception
al. The world over, Christians are
growing toward each other. not only
in charity of judgment, but in read
iness to unite in all possible ways for
the better prosecution of the work of
the Kingdom.
Mr.. Editor. am personally glad Of
these testimonies 1t shows me that
the fellowship meetings we bad in our
own city raoently were in line with
the great tendency of the world. I
should de voutly say: ''God forbid
that Athen should Le the exception.
May she "a ther take the lead in ways
that shan h asten the coming OF the
Kingdom of God, Ii. Z. Ryder.