The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-25
PLEA FOR
CHRISTIAN UNITY
Doctrinal Differences Hamper Work
of Soul Saving, w, P. Lovett
Tells Baptist Ministers.

William T.. Lovett. formerly
Baptist pastor in Bay City and Gran'
Rapids, Mich, now a Detroit newspa
per correspondent in the course D
an address on Christian unity a con
dtion of world conquest before Ia
Baptist Ministers conference, ia th'
Woodwardave. Baptist church, Mon
day morning, made plea Tor les
doctrinal difference among the clersy
He spoke from the viewpoint ot
layman and argued that there was
nothing to be gained for ChrlstahlS
by quarreling over the interpretation
of the Scriptures. After discusslhl
unity as prescribed in the Bible ano
as necessary on rational grounds MI
Lovett said in part
"One OF the problems today Is the
church in a small town. While many
other reasons may exist for mahlne
the work of the rural church nara,
believe many men today refuse 10
support such work because they 40
not appreciate the fine points oil doc
trine that divide some or the Demon
nations, and are disguised with the
sectarian squabbles that cause dl'
vision. They suspect We are more
jealous 10 save our denomination
than 10 save the community and the
world Whether We like this condi-
ton or not, it is fact We mus
face"
Mr.. Lovett said the test OF de-
nomination should be its acceptance
of Jesus Christ as Lord and Master
and its loyalty 10 the truth in the
Bible. He urged churches TO be true
TO the real Christ, rather than merely
10 teach a doctrine on the subject
He continued:
We forget that TO win men TO our
doctrine about Christ, we must testi
fy of Him by our lives. We cannoi
force spiritual truth on carna
minds. John Wesley said he was sick
OF mere opinions, and wanted only
men full of faith, mercy and good
works. regardless OF their particular
doctrines. He that saith that Christ
is Lord is orthodox, for he acknow
lodges His divinity. But neither orth
odoxy nor piety alone is sun1cient-
there WuSl Dt pIdSbiNoA oDS~N~ -
the will OF God"
The speaker quoted from famou:
Baptist secretary, who declared ina,
on account of present conditions ano
needs in the far east, among the SO
called heather nations, the injection
OF sectarian distinctions into the mis-
sionary work cannot be less thar
criminal. The motto should be, nc
creed but Christ. no law but love.
Mr.. Lovett commended the Roman
Catholic church for it's unity in al
versity and its fiexibility OF admins
tration. He said he would not advo
cate any change OF doctrine, but an
attitude of friendliness 10 all VINO
held different doctrines
Thousands OF souls were lost 70
the Protestants, he said, because OF
people becoming offended at the ex
aggerated emphasis placed on the
different points of doctrine. Ihese
persons, he explained. simply re
NAMED out OF church altogether.
He also declared that some people
are too much worried over the mod
ern liberal movement, with its mes
sage OF evolution and higher criti.
cism. While the speaker did NOT
agree with all the new ideas along
those lines, he said ministers and
churches should not shut their eyes
and ears to new or better interpreta
tons OF religion, but accept the goo@
and leave out the bad. Unless new
ideas and policies are constantly
adopted the church will stand still
and men will let 1t alone as hav'ne
outliyed its real nsnf"i""Ts. In re
gard 10 this movement, Mr.. Loveti
quoted DR.. Parkhurst, OF New York
as follows:
Martin Luther would have stood
no more chance OF being ordained as
a PRESBYTERIAN minister than OF be
ing elected pope of Rome. But the
old hereto. with his ragged Bible
did more to bring on the kingdom oil
heaven than all of the Presbyterians
of New York could do, II they al
worked together"
Speaking OF the beliefs of the Bap
fist church, Mr.. Lovett said:
I'VE believe that there is germ
OF truth contained in the teaching ol
Christian Science, faith cure. but We
have so harshly denounced the alb
surdities which some have mingled
with the truth, as TO compel fanati
cal readers to go of and establish
schools OF healing and new denomina
tons OF teachers"
In dealing with the multiplicity o.
churches, Mr.. Loyett declared that II
was waste OF the Lords money &c
establish a new church where the
field was already fully taken care OF
in regard to the spiritual welfare Of
the community.
In the discussion which followed
the address, several OF the clergymer
present expressed the hope that unity
would come about among the Pro
testant churches; also that there
should. be less strife among the diff
ferent denominations pending the an