his man," Gilcrest mused, "had been our pastor
at Cane Ridge, instead of that mischief-brewer, that pestilent heretic,
Barton Stone. Then our church would not have been led off into this
schism." But as the stranger proceeded in his discourse, Gilcrest awoke
to the fact that he was listening to what was in his opinion most
dangerous doctrine.

"To-day," the preacher said, "the church is so bound by the shackles of
dogma and doctrine, so crippled by doubtful disputations over 'mint,
anise and cumin,' that she is well-nigh powerless to carry on the task
assigned to her, the evangelization of the world. Sectarianism, with
her vermin swarm of envy, hatred, error, waste and confusion,
devastates the land. In the kingdom of the 'Prince of peace' is heard
the drum-beat of party warfare, where theology prevails against
Christology, dogma against devotion, partyism against piety; and where
the dictation of ecclesiastic councils is obeyed rather than the voice
of Christ."

His musical tones fixed the attention and thrilled every heart. Without
gesture or excitement, his manner was quietly forcible, until he
reached the second head of his theme. Then his spirit seemed to
overleap all impediments; and, as if inspired, he proclaimed the
sovereign efficacy of the sacrifice upon Calvary.

"The existence and development of the church," he said, "rests not upon
the acceptance of any system of opinion or tradition or interpretation,
but upon the acknowledgment of Jesus as Redeemer and Messiah. 'Upon
this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it,' was the reply of Jesus to Peter's confession,
'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.' This is the one basic
truth upon which rests all the testimony of prophet and apostle. This
is the one sure foundation upon which the whole superstructure of the
Christian life must be built. It is the one inspired creed and summary
of the entire purpose and plan of the gospel.

"Since the foundation of our faith," he continued, "is not a set of
doctrinal tenets or a system of theological opinions, but a divine
personality, it follows that the spirit of Christian unity must be as
liberal and as broadly catholic as the spirit of Christ; and if we, the
scattered hosts of the Lord's people, are ever to be brought together
into one common bond of fellowship, we must each first learn to magnify
our points of agreement upon all matters of Scriptural interpretation