The Union of Christendom

1900

Plan and Creed Suggested

If by unity is meant uniformity, then it is plain that Church unity is not desirable. For, men have different tastes and preferences in the worship and service of God, as in other things. God has made them so. There is no reason in the world why the Episcopalian should not worship God in a sonorous liturgy and the Friend in the silence of the spirit. No reason why the Presbyterian should not order things by the government of the Presbytery, and the Congregationalist leave the determination of all business to the vote of the Congregation. And so on. But, there is every reason why all should work together in harmonious co-operation for the glory of God and the good of man.

In our nation we have certain rights that are reserved to the states; and certain other interests that are deputed to federal control. In the national defense — we have the army and the navy. In the army, the infantry, the artillery and the cavalry, but all work together under the President as the supreme head. Why can not the denominations federate? Why can they not allow each body individual autonomy, and on certain broad lines? It can be done. It is being done — notably in the Federation of the Free Churches of England, and in certain restricted localities in this country of ours.

As for a common creed — we have one already in the platform of the Evangelical Alliance, which is satisfactory to all the Evangelical churches of Christendom. This is a platform of nine planks, as follows: (1) The divine inspiration, authority, and sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures. (2) The right and duty of private judgment in the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. (3) The unity of the Godhead, and the trinity of the persons therein. (4) The utter depravity of human nature in consequence of the fall. (5) The incarnation of the Son of God, his work of atonement for sinners and mankind, and his mediatorial intercession and reign. (6) The justification of sinners by faith alone. (7) The worth of the Holy Spirit in the Conversion and sanctification of the sinner. (8) The immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, the judgment of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, with the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and the eternal punishment of the wicked. (9) The divine institution of the Christian Ministry, and the obligation and perpetuity of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. — JOHN DIETRICH LONG

—The Ram's Horn, Nov. 17, 1900, p. 8.