The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-06-04
ORGANIC CHURCH UNION.

movement has been organized through
out the United States a great deal has
been written with regard to organic
union. It has been the fond nope Of
many that such a contamination Isl
not only possible, but greatly to be
desired. AS a close student of the
deeper, or underlying principles OF
life. I desire to express my opinion
relative TO this question.
All institutions belong to the plane
OF the mortal, since they are but
provisional, or means toward erect
ing certain desirable ends. They
therefore belong to the plane of diff
ferentiation. They are the products
of human thought, however high
may be their claim. The Divine
thought only is, or can be, unit.
The Bible refers to "the unity of the
Spirit" and st. Paul says There are
many members in one body, but one
Spirit" On the human plane, which
is the plane of limitation, there al
ways have been diversities of thought,
and always will be. It is only when
we all shall have attained to the
shirt consciousness that we shall
"see eye to eye, and know as we are
known" The plane of differences is
important in itself as it implies ex-
perience necessary for the develop
ment Of the human side of our COM
plex being, but by and by when this
development shall have transmitted
the mortal into the immortal, such
institutions will no longer be needed.
This again corresponds with the
plain teaching of the Word, which
declares that in the New Jerusalem"
or Heavenly City, there is no temple
for the Lord God dwelleth in the per-
son Of each soul. st. Paul, referring
10 this heavenly experience Of the
discipleship of the great Master says,
KNOW you not that your bodies
are the temples of God, and that the
Sririt of God dwelleth in your"
In accordance with this great I'M
DERIVING principle 1t may be we'll to
observe that all those who are such
strenuous advocates of organic church
union are those who do not wish to
lose their particular ecclesiastical
identity, but want that all the other
organizations should come into one
ness under their especial banner
This is equivalent to saying 1--WE
only represent the true church, all
others are heretics therefore come
over to u.s." Now it is just at this
point where all the difficulty lies.
Plans have been made and circulars
sent broadcast over the Christian
world, such as those issuing from
the palace of the Archbishop of Can
terhury, suggesting certain conces-
sions on the part of all the sects by
which it is hoped a union might be
effected, but throughout it is quite
noticeable that the union is to be
based upon the Episcopal idea. In
the recent utterance of the Episco-
Pal Bishop of this diocese the belief
was expressed that the time would
likely come when all the churches
of this city would he under the juris-
diction of one Bishop. This but ac-
cords with the Canterbury plan. The
Bishop should know that to the mem
hers of the other sects, their church
Tolity is regarded with, the same
sacredness that his is by himself.
The chief claim made by this HER
archical branch of the general church,
to superiority is that of apostolic
succession" Now if this is to be the
claim, and there is anything in t.,
the force of good logic would say,
"Back to Rome" Should the Bishop
Of the Romish church be disposed to
respond to this sentiment he would
doubtless say "Why not?" From ev-
cry consideration, as he would see it,,
this should be the trend of the move
rnent toward organic union. He might
oven 60 farther. and with good rea-
son, aud say 1--WE are the true pap
lists, and you (referring to the Episco-
pal branch) are but apists." If then
we are to unite into one fold under
one shepherd, why stop at the imita-
ton, why not go on to the original?
Then, does it not seem somewhat in
congruous for so small body to even
hope for all the other great protest
ant bodies to pin back their ears and
Intricate themselves so that as whales
they may be swallowed, one by one
by mere minnow?
The good book teaches that in the
good time coming when we shall have
Ill I Ill