Defense of Presbyterian Doctrine and Order Against the False Unionism and Liberalism of the Times (Classic Reprint)

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Excerpt from Defense of Presbyterian Doctrine and Order Against the False Unionism and Liberalism of the Times Let us look at this position. In November, 1874, "an address to all Christian ministers and churches in North America, " devised in Cincinnati, was issued in the interest of a new, undenominational organization of the whole church of Christ. Next, a "Christian Union Convention" was held in this same interest, in Suffolk, Va., May, 1875, a "basis of union" and "declaration" being published to the world, the topmost signature appended to which is that of Rev. W. C. McCune, which had been "unanimously adopted and signed, October 2, 1874, at the Rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association, Cincinnati, Ohio." A similar convention was next held in Cincinnati. The style and title of the new denomination was the "Union Christian Churches of North America." That this so-called anonymous undenominational denomination is nevertheless a veritable denomination, is clear from these facts: 1. It adopts a distinctive name. 2. It appeals to all to join it. 3. It posits a creed and basis of union. 4. It receives ministers. 5. Its aim is, like Aaron's rod, to swallow up all the "sects." 6. It claims to be the primitive New Testament pattern of the Church of God. Its anti-denominational animus and broad liberalism is the central reason for its existence. It arraigns existing evangelical denominations as "essentially sinful, " "condemned in express terms by Scripture, " "wrong, " "displeasing to the head of the Church, " "injurious to the Church, " "putting stumbling blocks in the path, and ready excuses in the mouths of sinners." The "remedy" it proffers for this gigantic evil is the abolition of all denominations, by their absorption into the new organization. "All vexed questions" as to doctrine and order, it commits to the "broad and free domain of Christian Liberty." Distinctive principles it calls "divisive, " seeks to sink them and to exalt every possible point of unity. The L. and M. L. Church is the legitimate outgrowth of this movement, as Dr. Morris was well aware. It was not a mere casual association of persons grouped together from necessity, and with no other design than simply to worship God, as Dr. Morris would have us believe. It was the practical result of this new anti-denominational effort, its special aim was perfectly understood. It was a new thing, to the genesis and birth of which Mr. McCune had devoted himself. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.