How Christian unity came to Alpa

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ClassIExXn-- mw

COPYRIGHT DEPOStC

J. H. ALLEN

CHAPTER I. Gertrude Lane Reaches a Decision

Tte villagers' dream — Friction between the churclies — Gertrude Lane studies the subject of baptism and unites with the Baptist Church 9

CHAPTER n.

Denominationalism Dividing Families.

Mrs. Drew breaks the news to Mrs. Fowler — Evelyn Drew unites with the Methodist Church-^John Drew lectures his wife — ^All attend the baptism of Gertrude Lane 22

CHAPTER m.

The Vine and the Branches.

One of the difficulties of a divided Christendom — At the Methodist Church — A sermon on ' ' The Vine and Its Branches'' — Mr. Lane reasons with his pastor 34

CHAPTER IV.

The New Preacher.

Gertrude Lane has an interview with Bro. Sims — Services at the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches — Bro. Birch, the Christian preacher 42

CONTENTS

PAGB

CHAPTER V.

Back to Christ and His Word.

Bro. Birch, preaches at the Methodist Church — Explains the nature of the work which Alexander Campbell attempted to do — Mr. Watson, John Drew and the Hughes fanuly all make the "good confession" 51

CHAPTER VI.

Baptism op John Drew and Others.

Mr. Lane has an interview with Bro. Birch — Mr. Drew tells what kept him out of the church so long — Mr. Blair defends the Hughes family — The baptismal service 65

CHAPTER Vn.

Paving the Way for Union.

Bro. Birch discourses on the subject of "Christian Union" — The subject becomes the chief topic of conversation — A heated discussion in the bank — Messrs. Lane and Sims take the initiative in the matter of calling a mass-meeting 75

CHAPTER Vni.

The Editor and Christian Union.

Mr. Combs, editor of the Alpha WeeTcly, heartily indorses the movement and supports it through his paper — Bro. Clark (Methodist) ex^periences a change of heart and indorses the movement — Bro. Mason (Baptist) opposes it 85

CHAPTER IX.

The Mass-meetinq.

The Baptist Church, being too small to accommodate the crowd, the mass-meeting is held at the Fair Grounds — Address by Mr. Middleton 93

CONTENTS

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CHAPTER X.

Points of Agreement.

Mr. Combs, the editor, delivers an address on tlie subject: '* Facts Concerning Wliicli We All Agree*' 108

CHAPTER XI.

Feeling the Sentiment of the Audience. Discussing th.e proposition, both pro and con 117

CHAPTER Xn.

The Name.

Mr. Sims offers a resolution in order to test the union sentiment — The resolution is adopted by an overwhelming majority — The question of name is discussed 124

CHAPTER Xin.

Discovering the Foundation.

Doctrinal differences — Bro. Birch points out the pathway to union . 136

CHAPTER XIV.

Removing the Barriers.

Bro. Birch explains how the whole-hearted acceptance of the truth that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God," will remove the barrier growing out of the several modes of baptism ~ 146

CHAPTER XV.

Trine Immersion.

Trine immersion — The apostles the interpreters of Christ 's will for us 154

CONTENTS

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CHAPTER XVI.

Apfusion.

Anotlier phase of the bajptismal question — Sprinkling and pouring substitutes for Christian baptism 167

CHAPTER XVn.

Each Church Discusses the Matter.

A baptismal service — The several churches hold separate meetings to ascertain the sentiment of their members with respect to iinion 187

CHAPTER XVni.

Four Churches Agree to Unite.

Reports from the meetings of the previous evening — Four churches agree to unite — The brethren decide to retain their own organization — 195

CHAPTER XIX.

The Organization.

The new organization — A building committee appointed — Mission stations established — A charity fund created — The new building completed 204

CHAPTER XX.

The Dedication.

Thanksgiving Day — Dedication of the new building — ^The brethren capitulate — Charity fund increased 215

CHAPTER XXL

The Church at Work.

A great brotherhood — ^Ministering to the needy 231

CHAPTER I.

GERTRUDE LANE REACHES A DECISION

THE building of the trans- State railroad put new life into the inhabitants of the little village of Alpha. Indeed, from the very day the surveying corps passed through the village and left behind them a row of stakes, marking the company's right-of-way, the people of the village began to dream dreams and see visions of the little village, growing first into a town, and then into a city, with, perhaps, miles of paved streets and electric cars running to and fro. In their imagination they could almost hear the noise and din of the daily traffic : the throbbing of the great engines in the power-house and in the water-plant, the clatter of horses' hoofs and rattle of vehicles, as rival firms sent them here and there to deliver their wares.

But twenty years have passed away since the steel rails were laid through the village and trains began to make their daily visits, and, while the villagers' dream of a great city has not yet been realized, and, perhaps, never will be, yet the little village of twenty years ago has grown into a town with more than a thousand inhabitants, representing from a moral standpoint the two great classes of good and evil. The good, however, have always been largely in the majority, as is evidenced by the fact that certain "lewd fellows of the baser sort" had tried upon several occasions to induce the taxpayers to permit them to open a saloon, claiming that such an institution would help the town to grow; but their answer was always an uncompromising ''No." *'No, " they said, ''nothing helps a town to grow so much as righteousness, work and money; and our people will be more righteous, do more work and make more money without a saloon than with one." With that fact firmly grounded in their minds and hearts, they had defeated every effort to legalize the sale of intoxicating liquors, and Alpha had long enjoyed the reputation of being a very desirable and pleasant place in which to live. Indeed, but for the friction between the churches, it would have been considered by many a veritable paradise, lacking only the gulf to separate them from those who found pleasure in sin. But that friction was there, and for years the people had endured it, under the delusion that it was a necessary evil. "You see," they said, "we can't all see alike, and hence we must have separate houses in which to worship." And several times in the history of the town the people had responded to the call for m^oney to build churches, until four church-houses stood within the corporate limits of the little town, and four preachers made monthly or semimonthly visits to teach the people the way of life, according to their respective creeds or church tenets.

The inevitable result of four men preaching conflicting doctrines in the same town was to stir up the party spirit. In fact, so strong had that spirit grown, that each, preacher had little opportunity of preaching to other than his own members. It is true there were a few who had risen above the party spirit to that extent they were willing to hear all, and it was due largely to the influence of that broad-minded few that a visible and organic union was at last effected between the several churches of the town.

For some time, as opportunity presented itself, they had been pointing out to their brethren the evils of a divided church, and holding up before them the benefits to be derived from an organic union.

It was not, however, until after Gertrude, the nineteen-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lane, had united with the Baptist Church that any definite steps were taken in that direction. Mr. Lane was a steward in the Methodist Church, and no man in the town was held in higher esteem than he, because of his integrity and good moral and religious character. It was, however, with no disrespect to her father that Gertrude had taken this step. She had talked the matter over with him before the step was taken, and in that conversation had called his attention to the fact that, after she had fully decided to become a Christian, the question of baptism confronted her. "You see, father," she said, ''I found myself debating the question whether I should be sprinkled or immersed. My natural inclination was to be sprinkled, for, to my mind, that seemed the easier and most convenient way. But when, under the spell of deep conviction, I reread the story of Christ's life on earth, and noted the severe trials, difficulties and hardships which He willingly endured in order to perfect the plan of redemption; especially when I considered the trials of the last week of His life — His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, His mock trial before Pilate, His wearing the crown of thorns, His fainting beneath the cross, His agony upon the cross — and realizing that it was for me He endured such suffering, I resolved that the question of ease or convenience should in no way influence my conduct toward Him, but that henceforth the prayer of my heart should be, 'Lord, what wilt thou have me do?' and, with that prayer upon my lips, I turned to His word for guidance. I examined every passage relating to the subject of baptism, and the result of my investigation was that I became fully convinced that baptism, as taught by Christ and practiced by His apostles, was the immersion in water of a penitent believer in Christ, and I shall never feel that I have obeyed that command of my Lord until, in the language of the apostle Paul, I have been 'buried with Christ by baptism into death, and raised to walk with him in newness of life.' "

Mr. Lane listened attentively while his daughter related her experience, and then replied: "Gertrude, I am indeed pleased to note the candor and earnestness with which you have approached the matter of your soul's salvation. I would that all might approach it in the same way, and, instead of blindly following the lead of others, allow their own consciences to guide them, having first made a candid investigation of divine truth. That, to my mind, is the right and only safe course to pursue. It's the course I pursued, and the result of my investigation on tlie subject of baptism was the same as yours ; but I am unable to understand why you have decided to unite with the Baptist Church, rather than with the Methodist. Our preachers will immerse whenever the candidate so desires/' "Not always, father," interrupted Gertrude; ''you forget the case of Eva Jones, or, perhaps, you didn't know that it was Eva's desire to be immersed; but it was, and she so informed the preacher. But he argued against it so bitterly that she finally consented to be sprinkled. It was only last evening, however, that she and I were talking on that subject, and she informed me that she had never been satisfied. I remember also, father, hearing you relate your experience along that line, and, if I mistake not, it was not until after three lengthy arguments that your pastor finally consented to immerse you, and then did so by saying, ''Well, if nothing but immersion will satisfy you, I guess I can do it.' And, as nothing but immersion will satisfy me, I presume I could induce your pastor to immerse me. At any rate, if there was nothing else involved, I should at least make the attempt. But, to my mind, the question involves another. Paul says: 'There is one Lord, one faith and one baptism.' Now, I firmly believe that the 'one baptism' of which Paul speaks in his Ephesian letter is the same baptism to which he refers in his Roman letter, and which he declares is a burial and a resurrection, a planting and a coming forth into new life. Now, if the one baptism is a burial, then it is not a sprinkling. If the one is right, the other is wrong. If it's right to bury people by baptism, it's wrong to refuse to bury them, and I fail to see any consistency in one who believes with Paul that baptism is a burial contributing of his means to send out preachers to teach that it isn't a burial. For this reason, I prefer to belong to a church whose preachers not only believe with Paul that baptism is a burial, but who preach it and practice it as well."

After Gertrude had finished, Mr. Lane remained in a thoughtful mood a few moments, and then said: ''I had never thought of it in just that light. It does seem somewhat inconsistent for a person who believes as I do — that there is absolutely no authority in the word of God for sprinkling for baptism — to be paying $50 a year to some man to go out and uphold the practice by inducing all he can to be sprinkled rather than immersed. I'll think the matter over, Gertrude, and see if there isn't a more consistent course I may pursue. In the meantime, regarding your own case, I have only this to say: Let your own conscience, quickened and enlightened by divine truth, be your guide."

The next Sunday was the regular day for preaching at both the Baptist and Methodist Churches, and, though Mr. and Mrs. Lane were very regular in their attendance (seldom missing a service at their own church), yet, knowing their daughter's intention, they decided to accompany her to the Baptist Church. Accordingly, at the appointed hour, the three walked in, and were all seated in the same pew. Their coming attracted the attention of the Baptist members, and was the occasion of much speculation among those who never before knew them to leave their own to attend services elsewhere. One old sister (Mrs. Noel) felt that she couldn't wait until the close of the service, and, seizing time by the forelock, she went before it began to express unto them her mingled surprise and joy at seeing them present. ''Why! Bro. Lane," she exclaimed, as she seized him by the hand, "it's ointment enough to cure the granulated sore eyes to see you at one of our services; surely the judgment-day must be near at hand."

''Judging from the silver hairs in our heads, sister," replied Mr. Lane, "it can't be very far from us, and I thought it time we Christians were getting a little better acquainted with each other. I fear the angels will think it strange if* they have to introduce persons who down here lived all their lives in the same little town."

"You are right, Bro. Lane," replied Mrs. Noel. "There is entirely too much seclusion and selfishness among the Christian people of this town, and I am praying to live to see the time when we can all meet and worship together every Lord's Day."

The announcement of a song was the signal that the service was about to begin, and Mrs. Noel settled down in a seat near the Lanes. After the usual song service and prayer, the preacher read a part of the fourteenth chapter of Luke, and announced that his text would be the twenty-seventh verse: "And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple." His selection was a very appropriate one, so far as Gertrude was concerned.

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Tlie text and manner in wMch. it was treated nerved her for the task that lay before her — the task of bearing a cross, the weight of which no one knew but she alone. It was no trivial matter for Gertrude Lane to turn away from the church in which her father and mother had been honored members for so many years; nothing but a conscientious conviction that her Lord was calling her into other paths could induce her to do it. The reading of the account of her Lord's transfiguration had made a lasting impression upon her mind, especially the message that came from God upon that occasion, wherein He declared: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him." This message served to convince her that it was God's will that Christ should be the lawgiver of the Christian dispensation, and she had resolved to recognize him as such. With her, to know the Lord's will was all that was necessary to determine her course of action, and, while she was 'sensible of the fact that her entire pathway had not yet been made clear, yet she felt that the Lord had discovered to her the next step to be taken, and that step she had resolved to take, trusting she would then be in a position to see further. Accordingly, when the sermon was finished and the congregation arose to sing the invitation hymn, she proceeded to make her way to the front, pausing only long enough to entwine her arms about the necks of her father and mother and impress a kiss upon their cheeks. To say that the people were astonished or surprised is putting it in terms too mild to adequately express it. They were bewildered. Even the preacher seemed somewhot nonplused, for, though he knew Gertrude quite well, yet the first question he put to her was: ''Isn't this Grertrude Lane?" She assured him that it was, and then informed him that she had come to take the jsteps necessary to constitute her a Christian. He then announced to the audience that Gertrude Lane, having made up her mind to enter the service of Christ, had come forward in response to the invitation to take the steps necessary to constitute her a Christian; then, turning to Gertrude, he proceeded to question her as follows:

"Gertrude, you no doubt believe the record of Christ's miraculous conception and birth?"

To which she replied, "I do."

"You recognize Him, then, as the divine Son of God and Saviour of men?"

"And it is the purpose of your heart to consecrate your life to His service?"

"It is."

"And now, Gertrude, may I ask, do you believe the doctrines as taught and practiced by the Baptist Church to be true and in accord with the teaching of God's word?"

Gertrude remained silent a few moments before attempting to answer this question, at length saying: "I don't know, Bro. Mason, that I can give you a full and satisfactory answer to that question. You speak of the doctrines of the Baptist Church, and, really, I don't know that I am well enough acquainted with the doctrines to give you an intelligent answer. In fact,

I supposed the main difference between the Baptist Church and others was the position they occupied on the subject of baptism. I have made a pretty thorough study of that subject, and can truthfully say that I believe the Baptist doctrine of immersion to be in strict accord with the teaching of God's word; and it was mainly because I so believed that I desired to unite with the Baptist Church. If I had known that such a question would have been asked me, I would have spared us this embarrassment by being prepared to answer; but, under the circumstances, if it be necessary for me to answer this question in order to be received into your fellowship, I see no other alternative than to just defer taking any further action until I have had an opportunity to investigate the matter." It isn't known just what course the preacher would have taken had he been left to decide the case alone; but that task was not to be imposed upon him, for the moment Gertrude had finished, old Bro. Sims arose and said: ''Brethren, I object to making the young lady's inability to answer that question a bar to her admission into the church. If we were to make that question a test of fellowship, I am persuaded we would have to exclude a great many who have, for years, been considered members in good standing and full fellowship, and yet they couldn't, for the life of them, tell you just why they are Baptists from a doctrinal standpoint. Quite certain am I that those five children, ranging in age from nine to twelve years, couldn't, whom we recently admitted. The young lady has confessed her faith in the divinity of

Christ, acknowledged iter willingness to receive Him as her own personal Saviour, and to consecrate her life to His service, and that ought to be enough to admit her to fellowship in this or any other church, and I move you, Bro. Mason, that she be received without further ado as a candidate for baptism, and after that as a member in full fellowship of the Baptist Church of Alpha."

As Bro. Sims was taking his seat, three persons arose simultaneously, in different parts of the house, for the purpose of offering a second to the motion, but before either of them could speak old Bro. Lawson, still sitting in his pew, said: *'I second the motion of Bro. Sims."

Whether it was the preacher's intention to further question G-ertrude, or to offer any remarks in response to Bro. Sims' speech, is not known, for the three persons who had arisen to offer a second to the motion, finding themselves defeated by Bro. Lawson, exclaimed in rapid succession as they resumed their seats: ''Question! Question! Question!" And the motion was immediately put, and carried by a unanimous vote.

At Gertrude's request, the preacher announced that the baptismal service would be held at the church at three o'clock that afternoon, after which, during the singing of that old song,

*' Jesus, I my cross have taken, All to leave and follow Thee,*'

the whole congregation pressed to the front to extend to Gertrude the hand of congratulation and good will.

After the benediction had been pronounced, and while the people were shaking hands and talking with each other, Gertrude being still detained at the front, Mrs. Noel, who sat during the service in the pew just in front of Mr. and Mrs. Lane, turned to them, and said: ''I don't know just how you people feel, but, as for me, my very soul is an arena in which the two opposing emotions of joy and sorrow are struggling for supremacy. It is always a source of joy to me to see young persons like Gertrude voluntarily offer up their lives on the altar of Christian service, but in this case the joy is embittered somewhat by the thought that a denominational wall is to separate parents and child, and thus rob them, to some extent, of the pleasure of each other's fellowship in Christian work and service. I have long felt that these denominational walls were an unnecessary evil, and that feeling has only been intensified by the events of to-day. I'll tell you, Bro. Lane, I have been praying, and shall continue to pray, that God may send to our town, as He did to Jericho of old, some Joshua, who, with the trumpet of divine truth, shall level these denominational walls to the ground, and leave his curse to be visited upon the head cf him who shall ever attempt to rebuild them."

''Six months ago. Sister Noel, I would have taken issue with you as to the evils of denominationalism, " replied Bro. Lane. ''Indeed, until a short time ago, I was inclined to look upon divisions as being necessary. I remember hearing our Bro. Clark preach on that subject some months ago, and he seemed to think divisions were necessary in order to accommodate the diverse opinions of the people on the subject of religion, and, without giving the subject any personal thought, I had accepted his conclusions as being correct. But recent developments have caused me to do some thinking along that line myself, and I feel just now more like taking issue with Bro. Clark on the proposition that divisions are right, than with you on the proposition that they are wrong."

''I am indeed pleased, Bro. Lane, to know that your mind is drifting in the right direction. I would that all our people would get to exercising their God-given right of thinking for themselves upon the evils of a divided Christendom. In that case 1 feel there would be a general drifting together of sentiment, that would result in the overthrow of denominationalism and the establishment of organic union."

By this time Gertrude had joined her father and mother, and, bidding Mrs. Noel good-by, they returned to their home.

Chapter II. Denominationalism Dividing Families

A COINCIDENT worthy of notice, and of which Gertrude Lane's union with the Baptist Church was only a part, happened in the town that day. While the Baptists were rejoicing over the addition of one to their flock, the Methodists were rejoicing over two. Emogene Hale, whose father and mother were both staunch members of the Methodist Church, had for some time been the boon companion of Evelyn Drew, whose mother was a member of the Baptist Church, but whose father was not identified with any. Evelyn had accompanied Emogene to the Methodist Church that morning, and during the singing of the invitation hymn Emogene whispered to her, and said: ''Let's go up and join." Evelyn hesitated to answer, but instinctively followed when Emogene led the way. They were both taken through the whole formula, including baptism, during the same service.

On her way home from the Baptist Church that morning, Mrs. Drew stopped in to see Mrs. Fowler, another Baptist sister, who had been unable to attend services that morning because of a sick child. Coming into the room where Mrs. Fowler was sitting, and apparently without any thought of the sick child, she exclaimed: "Oh, Mrs. Fowler! I just came by to tell you the news. I know you'll think it good news. G-ertrude Lane has joined the Baptist Church. Now, isn't that good news? Gertrude is such a sweet girl, and she will be such a help to us."

''In one sense it's good news, but in another it isn't," replied Mrs. Fowler, as she replaced the cover which the sleeping child, startled at the sound of Mrs. Drew's voice, had thrown from it.

"Why, Mrs. Fowler! what do you mean? I thought you would be rejoiced to hear such news as that."

"I am rejoiced, Mrs. Drew, at the thought of Gertrude becoming a Christian; but it is a source of sadness to me to see devout Christian parents like Mr. and Mrs. Lane raising up a daughter, and then being robbed of their fellowship with her in Christian work by belonging to different churches."

"Oh, pshaw! Mrs. Fowler, you're too sentimental. I'm a Baptist to the core, and I rejoice in everything that comes our way. If Mr. and Mrs. Lane want fellowship with their daughter, let them come into the church with her. I don't see what they want to be Methodists for, anyway."

Just as Mrs. Drew began this last statement, Mrs. Fowler's son Walter came into the room, and when she had finished, he said: "Mrs. Drew, you are not aware of the fact, I presume, that you now have a Methodist in your family."

Thinking the boy had reference to Mr, Drew, who was not a member of any church, but frequently called himself a Methodist just to tease his wife, Mrs. Drew said : ' * No, I haven 't a Methodist in my family, and if John Drew was to join the Methodist Church, I'd — I'd— well, I'll not say what I'd do, but I'd feel like leaving him."

''It was not Mr. Drew, but Evelyn, I had reference to," explained Walter. ''I understand Evelyn united with the Methodist Church this morning."

''What! do you mean to tell me, Walter, that Evelyn Drew has joined the Methodist Church?"

"Yes'm. George Hale .told me so."

"Oh, Walter! do you mean it? Is it really true?"

"Yes'm, it's true," exclaimed John, a younger brother, as he came in from the dining-room with a slice of buttered bread in his hand. "I went straight over there from the Baptist Church, and saw the preacher baptize her."

"Are you sure it was Evelyn?"

"Yes'm, I know her."

This added testimony of John convinced her that it was no joke that Walter was practicing upon her, but simply the announcement of an event that had actually occurred; and, as the truth of the situation burst upon her, she burst into a flood of tears, and exclaimed: "Oh, Mrs. Fowler! what shall I do?"

"Why, my dear sister," said Mrs. Fowler, in a tone indicating half pity and half rebuke, "do as thousands of others have done: go through life with a denominational wall between you and your child, or, if you prefer, take the course you awhile ago suggested for Bro. and Sister Lane — quit your church and join hers."

''Oh, Mrs. Fowler! quit talking your nonsense, and say something to console me. You know I could never join the Methodist Church, and I can't believe Evelyn was led to do so from any conscientious convictions of right. It was simply a case of one girl leading another. ' '

''That may be true,' Mrs. Drew, and yet it doesn't justify you in the assertion that Evelyn had no conscientious conviction that she was doing right. Our consciences are creatures of education, and in these days of religious controversy they are being variously educated. Some are being educated to believe that the church is not a very important factor in the matter of our salvation, and that they can be saved without it as well as with it. Others are being educated to believe that one church is as good as another, and it doesn't matter what church a person belongs to, nor what they believe, if only they are in a way sincere. And, with such ideas as these instilled in their minds, our young people, and many older ones, are merely subjects of social influences, and the church that exerts that influence gets them. Hence the demand for preachers who are good mixers, taffy-slingers, inventors cf social devices for captivating and drawing people into the church. Take, for instance, the social given by the church last week in honor of the Hughes family, who recently moved into the town, which was simply a fifteen-dollar bid for them to come into the Baptist Church; while, upon the other hand, there is Sister McCormick, who, with her four small children to care for, has been in very straitened circumstances since her husband died last winter. In fact, but for the aid the town gave, she would actually have suffered for the necessaries of life. Sister Drew, as I see it, the church is indebted both to the world and to her own individual members. To the world she owes the gospel, while to her individual members she owes the Christ spirit of helpfulness in time of need. Let the church discharge her indebtedness to her individual members by faithfully standing by them and ministering, not alone to their spiritual, but to their temporal needs as well, whenever circumstances render such ministering necessary, and the gospel, faithfully proclaimed, will prove itself to be the only drawing-card necessary to induce the world to enter into its fellowship."