The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-09-30
AN EXPLANATION
Concerning the North OcaIa Union
Church

AHufGn
Owing TO the fact that my action
in opposing the resolution Of the
trustees Of the North Ocala Union
church and the pastors of the town
relative to who shall conduct the SER
vices in said church has received
much comment, which gives a false
impression of my position in the
matter, / should like to make this
public explanation in justification Of
my position.
The resolution says that only min
listers of the FIVE churches who are
represented by trustees, and all min
listers who shall be deemed evangel-
ical by the trustees of the church
shall preach in the church. / object
to the resolution, first, because it
violates the first essential of a
union church-that all denomina-
tions who have representatives living
in the vicinity of the church have
part in the proceedings of the church.
There can be no community church
without a community life, but the
community life can only come from
all the community. This resolution
bars several of the citizens of that
community from participation in the
services of the church, as they do not
belong to the evangelical whatev-
er that may mean. There are many
such union churches throughout the
country, and the number is growing
rapidly, but those that have meant
much to the community are commun-
ity churches.
object to the resolution in the
second place because it violates the
principle of religious liberation
religious liberty, without which no
union church can succeed. did not
use my influence to allow Mormons,
Catholic Universalists, Adventists.
Jews, ct al, the use of the church be-
cause I believe in Aormonism, Cath
oIicism, Judaism, ETC., but because
Mormons and Catholics have the
same privilege to be heard that
have. To refuse them this privilege
is religious snobbery, Pharisaical
se1f-righteousness, objectionable big
otry, the essence of religious perse-
cution, all of which is foreign to the
religion of Jesus, and cut Of keeping
with a disciple of his. / believe that
truth will triumph, but only by be-
ing heard. If / am afraid to assoc
ciate my faith with any mans faith
it is because i think his faith is
nearer the truth than mine, and that
mine will suffer in the comparison.
Let every man be heard, and then
let the truth of his message stand
for itself and its falsity perish of its
own accord Error had best be
known. Tt will perish the sooner.
| This is the spirit of religious tolera-
ton, without which community
church cannot triumph.
| We cooperate with these people
outside the church. why not inside?
If they are Christian in the W. C. T..
| U. they are Christian in the church.
| If they are desirable in our homes,
why not in the Fellowship of worship,
unless, indeed, there are two Gods
or multitude of Gods, who are at
enmity one with another.
My fourth reason for my position
is that the community, together with
individuals from all the faiths. Cath
olics, Jews, Mormons,. as well as
Protestants, have built the church,
and not these five evangelical
churches. They should have back
their money if they are to be exclud-
ed from the house which they have
helped to build.
Hoping to see this action rescinded
am. yours in religious liberty,
Roy B. Bowers.