The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-04-12

T, the last decade we have heard
areat deal about federation and
.hurcb union. Unfortunately there
has not been as much real union as
.e would expect from the amount
If talk, When it has come to the
,ool noint of union or cooperation
the theory has broken down.
Anything that promised so much
and is so greatly needed should not
he passed by or abandoned at the
first seeming or partial failure. l
tor one. will not give up; [ propose
to give my life for the furtherance
oftbis splendid cause, founded up
m the work and teaching Of the
Christ.
Let me venture to suggest the
weak point and cause of partial
failure. People have chung to their
net ideas, magnified their differ
ences and failed to see the ground of
common corporations. The only
possible chance for church fedora
ton and gospel cooperation, is for
Us to forget our differences and en-
phasize our common faith. When
we get things under the true gospel
light, it is surprising how little and
insignificant our pet ideas and diff
ferences really are and how broad,
firm and sufficient is the ground of
our common faith. I believe if your
ewes get real vision of this ground
Of our common faith, you will never
be content to 90 back to denomina-
tional narrowness.
l am told, that if I live in the
west for a year, the vastness, the
grandeur of climate and breadth of
her opportunities will fascinate me,
and that / will be spoiled for the
east. Well, it is even more so with
this spiritual land of our common
faith. Now please do not misunder-
stand me; I have not said, that you
should not belong to a denomina-
ton, neither do l advocate the dis
solution of the different churches.
Every person should have church
home, but let the denomination be
secondary and the kingdom primary
every time. do hope to live to
see the blessed amalgamation of
many Of the present denominations
under the influence of the Holy
Spirit into two or three strong de-
nominations. 1t will take the fire
OF refining to burn out the dross
and melt US into one body in Christ.
May God hasten the day of union.
The causes of our differences are
not Biblical, but subjective and may
be divided into three classes:
Ignorance produces many of the
differences. There is no just discrim-
nation OF essentials and non-essen-
tlals. Things intended for the local
conditions are strained to fit all con-
ditions.
Narrowness is another prominent
cause OF difference. Many are able
70 see but one side at a time, and
tney think their ideas are absolute
~ correct and all others wrong. We
are reminded of the three blind men
VINO went to see the elephant, thru
their hands. The one felt of his
trunk another of his leg and last
one OF his ear. One said the ele-
pnant was like a snake, the next
one declared it was like the body of
Tree and the last one insisted it
was broad, fiat piece of rubber.
AS a whole they were all wrong;
i0r they were defining the whole OBJ
'ect by a small part. To magnify.
posture OF prayer, baptism or ex-
preston OF any truth ahead of real
ehrlstlan life, is detrimental.
rre]udlce also does much to pro-
duce differences. When we think
our parents or ancestors had the
','iy true way, we put on green
glasses Of prejudice and will not see
Uuf fellow men in the true light.
we ol'en see those who are preju-
uioeo' add to the teaching of the
bible, the customs of their fore
fathers, just like the Jews did