The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-01-20

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bership it is often weak in its young
peoples society. The young people
are the life of the church. 1t were
better by far to have less members
and have a strong young peoples
society.
am also familiar with commune
ty where the largest church in the
community had three times the mem
bership of the smallest church. Yet
it was a known fact and often COM
mented upon by the members OF the
largest church that ninety per cent
of all the musical and literary talent
was in the smallest church. In fact
the largest church gave a benefit con-
cert and entertainment for one OF
their members who was injured in 4
fire. The superintendent of schools
who was an officer and active men,
Der of the largest church said to
many persons, that the only numbers
on the program worth listening to
were those given by that smallest
church.
The largest churches can well at.
ford often to make sacrifice towards
the smaller churches that they may
absorb the refinement, intellect, tai
ents and often spirituality OF the
smaller churches. Spiritual pride is
more abominable in the sight of God
than any other sin. This is the prayer
of the Pharisee, II thank thee Lord
that we are more spiritual than the
other. churches" An exception never
proves a rule. This application is In
no way local with the exception that
local conditions might add to prove
the rule.
It is said that in the United States
there are thirty-two hundred Pres
byterian Churches and sixteen thou
sand Methodist and Baptist Churches
needing ministers. Of course, these
are the smaller churches, but don't
they need the truth and light of the
gospel as much and more so than the
churches in larger places where there
are SO many churches and ministers.
We could use ten thousand mini
sters in this country to-day just to
work with the foreigner, to make
him a good and enlightened citizen
instead of an anarchist and atheist.
An insistance upon certain forms
of church government will never unite
the churches.
1t is safe to say that ninety five
per cent of church members do not
know that there are but three forms
of church government, and that all
churches in the world will fall into
one of these classes, some churches
of course often overlapping into two
forms. 1t is also safe to say that
seventy-fve per cent of church OH
GERS do not know this. 1t is also safe
to assert that twenty-five per cent
of ministers do not know that there
are but three forms Of church gov
eminent in the world. | personally
made the test of this fact.
All forms of church government
will fall into the following classes,
First, Congregational. That is, the
congregation has supreme authority
to do as it pleases without having
to answer to central head body"
The Baptist, Independents and
Christian denomination with thirty
or forty others fall into this class.
Second, Presbyterian. That is they
have their graduation of courts just
as the United States has with a final
court of appeal, that is, the General
Assembly. The Dutch Reform, Luth-
eran. Methodist protestant" Presby-
terrain and many other denominations
are in this class. A case tried in the
Presbyterian Church of Redwood Falls
if appealed will go to higher court,
that is, the Presbytery, including sew
eral counties. If again appealed it
will go to the state court or Synod,
or court of Appeals. If again ap-
pealed it will go to the Supreme Court
of the United States or Court OF Finas
Appeal which is the General Assembly
of the United States. This, of course,
refers to matters of doctrine or dis
cipline within the church and church
courts, not to civil suits.
Third. The last and final is the
Episcopal" The Methodist "Episco-
pal" the Protetant Episcopal (often
called the Church of England or An
glican,) the Catholic Greek, and the
Catholic Church usually called Roman
Catholic) are in this division.
All denominations fall into one or
two of these classes, some of course
overlapng. But to say "ours is the
only form" is where the division be-
gins. Let US use that form which
will bring our desired end and full