the Pharisee, the
publican and the saint, the high priest of the temple and the lowliest of
his followers. He placed the affections above the intellect, truth and
sincerity above wealth and worldly position.

The church which he originated for many years followed in his footsteps.
But as it increased in numbers it accumulated wealth, and with wealth
came power, and from that power issued discord and separation.

Thus, the church divided and subdivided, and split into a thousand
pieces, formed new interests, created new beliefs, and sowed dissension
and envy with a free hand.

Such has been the condition of the church for the past ten or twelve
centuries. Meanwhile, in the Heaven of Heavens, has arisen a powerful
movement directed towards restoring it to its original state of purity
and simplicity. This great movement, like a mighty river seeking its
outlet, has rushed on, diverging at several points, and at length found
the reservoir it sought in what is termed _Spiritualism_.

The spiritualistic movement opened the gates for the expression of
skepticism, which the formalism, the tyranny, bigotry, and externalism of
the Church awakened in the minds of the people of every enlightened
Christian nation; and the result has been a criticism so pungent, and an
examination so thorough and direct, into the deformities of the Church,
that she has been obliged to contemplate her own condition and the
rottenness of her position, until she fairly trembles at the view of her
disjointed parts.

On every hand now, at the present moment, efforts are being made to
consolidate--to rejoin. On one side you behold the Protestant Episcopal
Church offering to unite with the Methodists, from whom, since my day,
they have stood aloof, as an illegal and fanatical people whom they could
not fellowship.

On the other side, you see them stretching to the Roman Church, forming a
brotherly compact of forms and ceremonies with Papacy.

One branch of the Presbyterian Church wears the robes of the Roman
Church, and thus that is linked to Catholicism.

All these denominations which have stood apart so long, whose theology
has been so antagonistic, are now merging into one Church.

In the face of the great danger which Spiritualism or Liberalism has
brought to their sight, they endeavor to return to their first estate,
but in returning they lose their identity.

This result is sure, though unperceived by them.

One by one, they will give up