THE SIN OF SCHISM 71 



suiting in the independence of the parts sun- 

 dered. The word -denomination" looks 

 more to the superficies of things, to nomi- 

 nal differences. It is a less radical word, 

 giving hint of a mighty substance of belief 

 which all denominational bodies enjoy in 

 common. Accordant with this is the 

 feeling of all, that sectarianism is disgrace- 

 ful, but that there is no disgrace in being 

 a stanch and loyal member of a Christian 

 denomination. 



The distinction which I make between 

 a sect and a denomination, more fully set 

 forth, is this, that while each admits itself 

 to be but a part of Christendom, the 

 denomination, renouncing all wish that 

 one denominational organization should 

 prevail among God's people, and viewing 

 essential church unity as mainly a thing of 

 faith and of spirit, not of external organiza- 

 tion, admits not only the civil and human, 

 but also the divine right of all the various 

 Christian parties to exist, considering each 

 in its time and place as a manifestation of 

 the Divine Spirit ; while the sect, on the 

 other hand, insists that but one ecclesiasti- 

 cal organization ought to prevail on earth, 

 pretends itself alone to possess the true, 



