Christian herald., December 21, 1883, Page 2, Image 2

CHRISTIAN
wish to gain, but are not quite cer­
tain of, are pledged to profound
secresy before thev are informed of
their plans; that thei pu rpose i s to
epot bot ,h churches and preachers
who are not in favor of their move­
ment, and by importing men of
their own stripe, to hold every
church they can ; that every man
who favors the Standard or mis­
sionary societies, or will tolerate an
organ,is unsound and marked as one
who causes division; and they are
pledged to each other to do all they
can to lay every preacher of this
. kind on the sb.tdf. and assist tlmir
own men in finding fields of labor
where they can be sustained; that
the question of division is a fixture,
unless the Missionary Society as an
organization is abandoned. At
present it is reported to be to all
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bination—a conspiracy against the
unity and peace of our churches.
On reading this we were not only
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that there is any such a move in
contemplation among the brethren
referred to. Hence we were not
surprised to see the Review come
out with a strong denial of the re­
port, and demanding the proof. So
far, the Standard has produced no
positive evidence.
Now that there have been for a
number of years two distinct and
conflicting elements at work among
the disciples of Christ, we think will
not be denied ; and that these two
papers have been the chief mediums
through which these opposing ele­
ments have carried on their destruc­
tive warfare, re eqtiaUy plain. We
would not intimate for a moment
that it was the purpose of these
good editors to allow their papers
to be used in agitating and carry ­
ing on an unholy work ; yet it is a
fact that a good deal more has ap­
peared on both sides than has been
at all edifying to the brotherhood.
We are free to confess that we are
not fully satisfied with the course
of either in some respects. Whether
intentional or not, it is nevertheless
true, that these two papers have
been made the means of as radical
and bitter spirit of strife and divis­
ion among the brethren in many
places as can be found among the
different denominations. It is not
an uncommon thing for a brothers’s
soundness in the faith to be meas
ured by the paper he takes. This is
particularly true of preachers. We
know whereof we affirm by some
actual experience. On one occas­
ion we were called to a certain
church to consummate arrangements
to become their regular preacher.
On our arrival we were actually
subjected to a catechising in re­
HKRALD.
d
we understand it, indorsing what­
ever is right and ciiticising
and opposing whatever is of
evil tendency whe r ev e r 4otmd-.
It shall know no party, and be no
respector of persons. It shall be
influenced by no paper and tye con^
trolled by no schism—It shall be
governed by no law except the
Bible and bow to no master save
Christ. We say to the brethren,
this state of affairs, it is by no cultivate a spirit of brotherly love
means an isolated case. Instead and forbearance, toward those of
ference to our paper orthodoxy.
We became so thoroughly disgusted
with the spirit manifested that we
left, without much ceremony, re
fusing to accept any of their prop­
ositions. This church we found
w rought up to such a state of bitter
contention over maters advocated
and condemned by these respective
papers that it has done scarcely
any good to this day. /As sad as is
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of Llitiw 'tHu'mi'iAu!
V (Illi l.J » Ll'i I 1 m wlit
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tivating a more conciliatory spirit
towards each other, their object
too often seems to be to cover up
their points of agreement and to
unduly magnify their differences.':,
fey ohe class, the
de-
nounced both privately and public­
ly as a “ dirty sheet ” fit for no-
thing but to.be committed toglile
flames, w^uletiieIs
spoken of by the other class in
the same complimentaryterms •
Of course, the one editor is regard­
ed as being afflicted with a cronic
case of the “ sore head,” _ while, the
other is looked on as a full grown
Sectarian Bishop!
The main
ground of trouble seems to/bejwer
(lifter with you on some matters-
Let the love of Christ dwell in you
richly, and a due respect for the
teachings of the word of God reign
in your hearts, and we need have
no reason to' 'fedi tbiy foiiualdfr
vision among us.
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like nature. The one class can
find no good in societies and con­
ventions, and hence makes whole­
sale work in condemning them,
while the other is ready to proceed
in matters regarded as expedients
.with.utter difiœegaiiLüf
and conscientious convictions of a
large number of other good breth­
ren. In these matters we believe
both parties to be acting very un­
wisely. If we must say it, our
candid opinion is that the devil is
largely inanaging the whole thing
to the detriment of our plea for the
restoration of primitive Christiani­
ty. It is perfectly natural for that
paper, on the one hand, which has
no w’ord of criticism to offer on
anything connected with the mis­
sionary work, and that one, on the
other, which sees no good in
societies, to become tire organ
of
o
these respective extreme parties;
and about the only way to cure a
brother or a sister afflicted with
this party spirit is to either read
both papers, or else to utterly re­
pudiate both.
Now so far as the H erald is
concerned we wish it distinctly
understood that our mind is made
up. So long as under our control,
it shall not become the organ of
any party or faction. It proposes
to stand upon apostolic ground, as
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cause of the Roman apostacy. From
the lordly pontiff, the Pope, “ Who
opposeth and exalteth himself above
worshipped, so that he as God sit-
teth in the temple of God showing
himself that he is God; down to the
humblest parish priest we see this
same false idea of greatness pre­
vailing. The aim of Papal Rome
has ever been to bring the world
into subjection to her, just as pagan
Rome made the nations subject to
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not confined to Romanism. It has
l>een in the church in all ages and
in all places. I believe that nine
tenths of all the internal evils that
have afflicted the church, from the
time are traceable to this one cause.
Who is the greatest in the kingdom
TRUE AND FALSE GREAT- of heaven? (the church) is the ques-
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The world has always had a false
idea of greatness. Men have thought
if they could only get above their
fellowmen and become lords over
them they .would then be truly
great. This was the idea of Alex­
ander^ Caesar, Napoleon and all
others who have labored so hard to
b’nng (lie w’orI<T”intb.."subjection to
them. Their desire was to have
people serve them, and thus minis •
to their selfish desires. And but
few of a large class of men who
have been considered great w*ere
great in anything but in iniquity.
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true greatness they have been
found wanting. And this false idea
of greatnesss is so deeply rooted in
the hearts of poor fallen humanity,
that men every where are seeking
to enslave their fellow-men. The
great battle of life seems to be an
effort upon the part of men to
triumph over their fellow m,en, and
in some way bring* them into sub
jection. This false idea was in the
minds of the apostles of Christ
when they were so anxious to_find
ou( from him who was to be the
greatest in his coming kingdom.
They were looking for (Tie chief
places of honor in the worldly king­
dom they had pictured out in their
minds he was about to * establish;
and were even disputing about the
matter, when their Master was on
his way to Jerusalem to be put to
death for the sins of the world
And their minds were never fully
disabused of this false idea, until
after his resurrection, when the true
nature of his kingdom was made
plain to them.
J his false idea was the main
minds of a large class of persons.
And it has been a more fruitful
sower of evil than all other things
together. Preachers and elders and
deacons and all elasses«l*ave been
troubled over it; and thus have
been whisperings and- backbitings
and strife and divisions and work.
Ivonturcto say that this false spirit
of ambition is the cause of nearly
all the trouble in our own churches
to-day. Men want place and power,
so that they can rule and have their
fellow-beings look up to them; and
if they cannot obtain them in one
waythey are very apt to try some.:
other. And the state of things
now seen in many of our churches
all over the land will continue un­
till this false spirit is cast out and
the true spirit takes possession of
the people of God.
To aspire to greatness is not
wrong. There is a laudable ambi­
tion to excel his fellow-man that
every one can have, and that I be­
lieve is right and praiseworthy. True
greatness is something that every
one should seek after. When the
disciples of Christ disputed about
who should be the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven he did pot tell
' them it was wrong to desire to be
great; but corrected their false view
of greatness, by teaching what true
greatness was and how to obtain it.
He called the twelve unto him and
said unto them, "If any man desire
to be first the same shall be last of
all and servant of all,” (MarkO: 35)
And then taking a little child he
he placed it in the midst of them
and said, “ Whosoever therefore
shall humble himself as this little
child, the same’is greatest in th-