Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-22
"Ths Reunion Of chri.tsndom."

Il Frederick w. Millar, d. d.
For as the body is one and hath
many members. and all members are
one body; 80 also is Christ
The word Christ is here applied to
the company of believers who recog-
nized Him as their Divine Teacher" he
said. The truth which the Holy
Apostle designed to express was that
while the members enjoyed a diversity
Of gifts, the church was q untt-one
body animated by one spirit and in
stituted for the accomplishment of one
great object. What is this object?
Nothing less than the salvation Of the
race from the hells Of sin, ignorance,
superstition. intemperance, self1shness,
poverty and disease.
With this truth In mind, we should
forget the differences which divide us
and work for the salvation OF man
formed in the image OF God and made
capable Of enjoying Him forever.
Is the church doing its utmost to
promote this object? We are obliged
to confess 1t is not Why Is the church
not performing its work more effici-
emily? Because its mem bers have for
gotten the essential truth that all the
members are one body united to save
AidHS anu AldS0 dSoGASCu StIt1I CdSL BOIL
Is the only body Of Christ. Thru this
absurd conception we have developed
a marvellous genius for churchanity
which has to great extent destroyed
the efficiency Of christianity.
In 1890 we had 145 sects, in 1906 1856.
During these sixteen years twenty Of
these denominations died, but sixty
sprang into existence. The birth rate
Of sects is much greater than the death
rate. The result Of this multiplicity
Of churches is only too apparent in the
rural districts by the presence Of
empty pews. underpaid ministers, slug
gish spiritual life. denominationai RI
valry, and closed churches In many of
the small cities.
Another important factor is the
economic-the community is obliged to
bear the expense of these many
churches which 1t does not need. In a
little city Of 1000 voters not many
miles from Chicago the people have
invested more than q quarter Of q
million dollars in dozen places of
worship; one large audtence-room
would hold all who attend church SER
vices on g. Sunday morning. What a
woeful waste Of strength, talent and
money that might be used to beneflt
the whole cityi
The past Is the history of christian
sects, the future will be that OF a
united christendom. moving forward
to overcome the last defiant wrong, and
to sweep from Its foundations the
strongest fortress Of error.
God speed the time when the d.
yided battalions of the Great Captains
army, moved by one desire. animated
by one hope OF victory, shall come to-
gether. wheel into line, march against
the powers of sin and accomplish the
Reunion of Christendom and the sal
walton OF the world"
To "cut Out" Hand Chipping.
American viyacity has reached a
pitch that needs checking, thinks q
Baptist writer, speaking OF the increas-
ingiy prevalent custom Of hand-elap-
ping In religious meetings. He doss
not assert that Raptists have the mo-
nopoay ~ this habit: II AZ often referred
- ~ q manifestation Of relisious ~
vivat services. But the preGent writer,
III Rev. George Whitman, sounds .
po3s Of warming In view Of the forth
coming meetings In Philadelphia Of the
DAptiGt World Alliance. He Fears that
sni1r HsftiAh cousins, and, I'M fact. ous
motherhood from every part Of europe