3» ¿t V - OUR STATE MEETING. -1 I 1 .1 • i < ♦ h On next Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, ___ the Oregon Christian Cooperation will convene in the city of Salem. With this fact before us it is now time for us to begin to reflect seriously on the object for which we are to be assembled, and the success of the work we propose to accomplish. From the name above given, one would naturally suppose that the object of thia organized effort is preeminently cooperative. easy matter, we think, to arrive at the conclusion that the fundament • al idea is a Scriptural one. There is no lesson more plainly taught in- the New Testament than the lesson. of cooperation among God’s people. Indeed^ it would be difficult to see how the work of preaching the ___ gospel and converting the woi Id could be successfully carried on without cooperation. All the people of God are represented in ' the Scriptures as forming but one body. Hence the whole body u ust move together, in the salvation of the world. This necessitates c • operation. While it is true that the local congregations are inde- penaunt or cacti otnvr m tnc sense l v of organization and self-govern ment through their divinely ap pointed board of officers, it is none the less true that each congrega- _ tion is bound to every other one by the chain of godly and brotherly love, sympathy and fellowship so that the severing of the weakest link would be detrimental to the cause of Christ. As each member of the congregation must cooperate with every other member, so must each congregation cooperate with every other congregation to the ex tent of her ability when necessity demands it. If one member of the fleshly body suffers, all the mem bers suffer with it. So with the body of Christ. If one member of the congregation suffers, all the congregation partakes of that suffering. If one member rejoices or is prosperous, all the members rejoice together. And so, if one congregation in our midst suffers, all the congregations shpuld suffer yfcith her. 1 If one is prosperous, her prosperity should lead her to assist the less prosperous. In this way the strong could always assist the weak. This is the Bible idea of all cooperation. This is the principle on which all Christians should- act. Hence when we look into the New Testament, we find the primitive churches assisting one another in ■■ - — —— . ................... i ■ '»— found in the State, and blessed by sounding out the gospel to all the THE WORX AT ALBANY. world. Their plan of cooperation On last Lord’s day it was our water power equaled by none on was a very simple one, yet it was pleasure to aipiin visit Albany in the coast, a city of wealth, of re __ very pi'actical. It was a plan that The interest .of the “ehiirch lil that finement .^.of , educational faciliti honored and exalted the authority city. It will be remembered by and high social standing, and having of the churches. The officers of our readers ¡that about the first of no less than eight church edifices, these churches were appointed by Julv Bro. H. T. Morrison arrived we believe, within her corporate divine authority and the churches from the East to begin preaching limits. Besides, she is located on which they fed and governed con in Albany and vicinity. It was the great railway thoroughfare stituted the only ecclesiasticism on then hoped that the work there from East to West—from San earth. To these organizations as would move on uninterruptedly. Francisco to New York city. Al such all were subject, and to these But we soon learned of Bro. Mor bany is free from much of the rush ajone every missionary rendered up rison’s illness, and that thepros- and bustle incident to most new hU AfiCQHXlt, Aay pjpn therefore, to remain - cities where the people take but that practically ignores the execu and continue the work were not tive authority of the individual flattering. And so the matter less to think about religion and at congregations is not the Lord’s plan. rested till the other week, feeling tend church. The people of Albany Cooperation can only be Scriptur- an interest in that field and know are mostly there for life, have situ ally carried on by and through the ing that the brotherhood was de- ated themselves comfortably, and chur c h e s of Glt-rittt ae. h o many or ^IrOLW uf being informed ofrthe real are now ready to listen to the gos- ganizations working to the same situation, we called for an official pel and to think about the. next end. Hence any number or hotly report of the work in Albany. In world. In other words, they are of Christians can only assemble and response Bro. Morrison writes us ripe for the harvest, and it is a transact the. business mauthorTze<i -Irr - WToTlowing ¿Aid wlrfetrTully. u.v ¿hame Qll..tlie..„brotherhoo<l that a the churches. Here the work and plains itself. He writes from Eu large portion of it has not been authority of a Convention becomes gene city, Lane Co., under date of reaped ere this. We can not afford apparent. As an organized body, Sept. 18, and says: “In the H erald to let the wrork in All»any suffer, distinct from the churches, it can of last week you inquire about Al and we are glad to announce that do nothing. A Convention there bany and myself. With respect to arrangements are being made to forefrom the very natare of-tìringa-- AIbany ! wi)| say tliat lny ]ong fit supply them with regular preaching can do nothing in the way of legis of sickness there caused me to inu in the near future. lation, for Christ has done that. It tually abandon the idea of continu- NONE OTHER NAME. regulate, .the •ing-tho wofk-r—I kd‘t .tltereXhe^UL. churches, for they contain the high -of August, while yet quite ill, and When the apostle Peter was set est board of executive officers on came to this city and immediately before the council at Jerusalem and earth for. the government of God’-s began to improve in health'. I am asked by what authority he had people. In short, the Convention now well again and as able to healed the lame man at the gate of must be subject to the churches, or preach as ever; and for the time the temple, he, filled with Holy it is simply no Convention author being I am acting as county evan Spirit, answered: “Be-it known < * ized by the word of God. unto you all, and to all the people gelist in Lane county. T do not yet With these facts before us let us fully know what my course will be of Israel, that by the name of Jesus go up to the coming State Meeting in the future. I have been urged Christ of Nazareth, whom ye cruci bearing with us the interest and to go to Washington Territory to fied, whom God raised from the work of the congregations. Instead take charge of a work there.” dead, even by him doth this man of going up to legislate for the So when Bro. M. left Albany, the stand here before you whole. This shurches, let us go up to talk over church there was left without re is the Stone which is set at naught and advise as to the best methods gular preaching. They have how of you builders, which is become of maintaining and executing that ever had preaching occasionally by the head of the corner. Neither is authority already invested in the visiting brethren. Notwithstand there salvation in any other, for churches by Christ,their Head. This ing all these embarrassing circum there is none other name under we can do, and this we should do. stances, this little band of disciples heaven given, whereby ye must be That the churches of Oregon need has not given up the work. They saved.'’ Does the world fully real largely to learn the lesson of co are still laboring on as best they can ize this fact? We think not. If operation in preaching the gospel and are zealous and hopeful. We they did, they would come flocking will hardly be denied. We have had good audiences last Lord’s day home to this Jesus of Nazareth. weak churches that need assistance, both morning and evening, and the There is “ none other name,” is a and we have stronger ones who can people were attentive and interest thought that must take deep hold and should render them aid to the ed. Indeed we have never failed on the mind and heart of the people extent of their ability. The pros to have a good hearing in Albany. before they can be move to accept pects so far as we have heard, arc We are only sorry that the work Christ. So l°ng as there is one good for a fine meeting at Salem, there should be called on to meet a surmise on the part of any one that and we hope that all will go there single disappointment, for in our there may be some other way, that in the spirit of the Master feeling opinion there is not a city on this soul does not know its. own fearful that there is a great work before us coast in which money and labor can condition. If that Stone is set at and that we will be held responsible be spent in the cause of Christ to naught the building for heaven can for its completion. better ad vantage than in Albany- never be erected. The Jews tried It is one among the important this and found that they could not “ One day is worth three to him cities of Oregon, surrounded by climb up some other way. We J who does everything in order.** fine agricultural country as can be must enter in through the door, and 1 4 V r 1 I à