Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1888 — Christian Union Demonstrated [ARTICLE]

Christian Union Demonstrated

Communicated': To all those who hold that Christian Union is not only impraeticoble but also impossible, we offer the following : More than a year ago in the city of Philadelphia the ministerial association of the four different denominations, all immersionists, effected a union; and the immediate result of this union, was a strong desire to bring all the congregations of these several bodies into fraternization. Consequently a committee consisting of oae member from each of the bodies represented was appointed to eport a basis of union by which the various churches might be brought into close sympathy and cooperation. The formal report, as adopted by the conference of ministers and a number of churches reads as follows: I. V/e accept the Holy Scriptures as our only and aii-sufiicientlTrto of faith, and practice; and. as expressed in the proposed charter, our worship shall bo after the. pattern of the Apostolic church as revealed in thb New Testament. 11. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Son ol God and only SavitTr.vf men is the one faith needs ul to salvation and the unity of believers. 111. Wo accept the name Christian as sufficiently distinguishing the char actor and position of the people of God. IV. Wo accept the immersion of believers as the one apostofie baptism- ; While the various congregations are one in faith and practice they are under-Christ, ihdependent in the management of their own affairs. • On this basis ton congregations and two mission points have consolidated; and are known as First, Second, Third and so on Christian churches. Tho experiment succeeded grandly, and the ministers feel amply repaid for their effort. •' This is'ttre beginning; —What the e&d----•will-bii-we-- .nnt±nowLwhUß.we..Ub-. ernaele in the flesh; but we confidently expect the outcome will bo great and lasting good. Already the'littleconferonce in Philadelphia is reaching out and drawing in representatives from* New York, Baltimore ami Washington, and many other cities and towns, whore doubtless, similar movements will spring up in the near future. Now the question we wish to put before ail thoughtful readers is this: Il Christians "of different names can unite for the common good in the city of brotherly love may they not do the same thing anywhere and everywhere else—for instance in Rensselaer? If immersionists can agree on a basis of uniou might not all who adhere to sprinkling and pouring and no-baptism devise a platform broad and strong enougli to hold then/all? If Protestants must be divided 16t us be content with two grand divisions; and let iis wipe away the countless and nameless subdivisions that mar the beauty and weak en the power of our Lord’s dominions. If all immersionists were united in one great body and all other protestants, compacted into another, how easy it would* be for these two great armies, thus drilled and .strengthened, to consolidate their mighty forces; What a jubilee day that would be! How tho abusive and I lisphemous beaming of infidels and scoffers would be forever silenced when it is known that the’Lord’s hosts are marching in solid phalanx under the lerdership of the all conquering Christ; and- will be satisfied with nothing less than tho conquest of the world in Immanuel's name. Then.the grea'est; of all obstacles to winning heathen souls would have been surmounted, the greatest cf all prayers anwsered. and the world as good as won for Jesus. S

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