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

Independent organization would sim
ply be creating another denomina-
ton. The Moody Church in Chicago
is as much a denomination as the
Presbyterian Church. Alexander
Campbell founder of the Christian
denomination was a believer in a
Christian federated church. His mis-
sion in this particular failed as the
Christian Church is as much a demo-
mination as any other denomination.
In fact in some particulars it is very
exclusively denomination, put of
which five others have sprung. The
"Anties" of that denomination who do
not believe in having musical instru-
ments and organs in the church have
made a great deal of trouble, es-
pecially in Canada where the "char-
ter members" have claimed the right
to the church property, and much Of
the property is being lost to the
Christian denomination through civil
suits. Can a united church be brought
about in this way? It can only be
done by the internal self surrender
of church members. We must begin
at the household of faith, within
the church, not without.
Some argue that Church union will
rob our denominations of their dig
nifty.
Well, suppose it does. 1t wouldn't
be bad thing for some churches.
There is nothing as dignified as a
corpse. The word dignity only
occurs twice in the Bible in the goth
century sense of that word, and
there it speaks of "the dignity of
folly and FOOLS" Sometimes it isn't
well to live too scripturally What
is more sublime than a person call
ing at your home who has a deep
warm sympathy and love! What eff
feet does it have upon your spirit
when a real dignifed person makes
social call and the trend of the
conversation makes you feel, "you
must go so far and no further?" Is
your spirit lighter and your heart
cheered? Or do you feel like fun
eral? Truely intellectual persons
never allow this dignity to be i'm
pressed upon you. Take our noble
President Wilson for example. Did
you ever meet a more loving, humble
warm-hearted person? Dignity is
like making love on an iceberg. This
excuse given by so many is just trif-
ling with the truth. Small minds
are easily provoked with small
things.
Church Union will give higher
standard Of intellectually and spir-
ituality in the ministry.
It is the business of every denom-
ination to try and fill it's vacant pull
pits. For lack of men some denom-
nations have lowered their standard
of education. Unworthy and litter
ate men have crept into the church
es. It was said by prominent minister
of New York just recently that six
| ty per cent of ministers in his de-
nomination (Which is one of the lar
gest) haven't even a high school
training, while in a brother denom-
/ ination (which is also one Of the
largest) only ten per cent have
college training. Don't the smaller
churches need even better trained
ministers than the larger communi-
ties. Read the Village of Thou
sand Souls" now running in the
American magazine today. The coun-
try churches need as able and ADLER
men than the city. In Illinois 1000
country churches were closed in two
years time. We demand educated
doctors, and intellectual lawyers. We
give our boys and girls college train
ing All this that they may get
possession of knowledge for greater
temporal blessings. But, when we
deal with eternal things, "any SPELL
binder can preach the eternal gospel
of God"
Our present UNCONVENTIONAL rival
ry is sapping the life out of the best
of ministers. No man can be true
ly spiritual who has jealousy in his
heart. There has never been nor
will there ever be great character
where this germ is allowed to live.
Napoleon was a great man but not
great character.
We must undo our UNCONVENTIONAL
names to encourage union.
Every UNCONVENTIONAL name in his
tory has gathered something un-
pleasant in its struggle for sup
remacy. We still hear people throw
the remark at the Presbyterian
Church that it believes in the theory
of infant damnation and Calvanistic
Professionalism. What Christian man
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