The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-03-01
{. + i. r i. X i. r r. + i. = X 4.
+ COUNTRY CHURCH +
+ COLUMN 4
+ + + !. + + + i + + + !. 4. 1.

"They shall become one flock" John
1915.
have used for my text the more ac-
curate rendering Of the revised YER
sion. Jesus did not say that his fol.
lowers should eventually be all enfold.
ed in one enclosure, but that they
should possess the unity of single
flock.
The condition of unity of belief Is
not afforded by the Bible, and 1t is not
meant that 1t should oe He would
makes knaves or fools Of us who
says, "Read your Bible honestly and
prayerfully and you will think just as
| dol" If God had wanted all men
to think alike when he gave the world
the Bible, he could not have failed
more miserably. The inevitable differ
ences in mems thinking lead to denom-
national groupings that are natural
and conducive to efficient cooperation.
We work best in compact and sympa-
thetic groups.
Effective cooperation is the justlfl-
cation of denominationalism.
But the principle of effective coop
Grafton looks both ways. 1t may make
for consolidation. The key that locks
may unlock, Conditions may be such,
due to the small size of the commun-
ity, or to the relatively large numbers
of churches, that effective cooperation
may best be secured by ignoring diff
ferences, no. by recognizing them
There may not be room for the exer-
else of denominational tastes, If one
is interested in securing results for
the Kingdom.
All our great denominations afford
evidence that wide diversity of belief
is compatible with cooperation within
the denomination. There are good
working Methodists who believe in the
second blessing; and just as good
Methodists who do not There are
liberal and conservative Presbyterians
alike efficient in the cause of the
church; in fact, we all find it weari-
some working with men who say Eyes,
yes," to all your propositions.
In the name of economy and effici-
ency, let the people Of the small vii
| lagos unite in one church, or two, at
the most. In small family of six,
if there is one left handed person, let
him eat with the rest; If it is COM
pany of one hundred, and there are ten
left handed people, let the left handed
ones have table to themselves, and
be in less danger of knocking elbows!
In little village in Knox Co., there
are 252 people. The community, of
course, is larger, but there are church
es a few miles distant in every direc-
ton. In this small village there are
four churches. Economy has to give
place to waste; cooperation to compe-
tition; sometimes, good feeling to un-
friendly rivalry. 1t is not possible, on
the principle of effective cooperation
in the cause of the Kingdom OF Christ,
to justify the continued support of
four churches.
What must we dove who are with
this problem on the field.
We must hold up before the people
the inherent wrong of the present sit.
uation; we must accustom the church.
es to working together, wherever pos.
sible; and be patient with those who
will not work at all unless they can
work through their own church. We
must teach a devotion to Christ and
His Kingdom, rather than to any par.
ticular denomination. Again, we must
be patient.
In six years the Nebraska College
of Agriculture was able to produce
corn that would drop it's ears Ill de
grees from the perpinduclar and shed
the rains of fall and winter-six gen
erations of corn. Shall it require six
generations of men-1S0 years-for us
in our stiff-necked sectarianism, tC
bow our heads in recognition of our fel
low Christians and the Kingdoms real
needs?
do not know. Meanwhile, let us
not be of those found fighting against
God, champions of churchianity in
stead Of Christianity; but let us in
stead be working, planning and pray
ing in harmony with Him whose last
prayer included petition that all his
followers might be one.