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THE

INDEPENDENT MONTHLY.

NO. I.—JANUARY 1, 1869.—VOL. I.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Phil. iv: S.

INTRODUCTION.

WERE the Independent Monthly the accepted organ of a religious party, no introduction would be needed. The organ, or an organ, of any party, religious or political, we do not propose to edit. Of such publications, there are already quite enough, in our judgment. By an organ, we here mean a publication committed to the advocacy of a prescribed "Platform," or declaration of principles, or to the advocacy of a particular creed, written or unwritten, and to the defense of the policy of some particular party. We are not prepared to deny that such publications may be useful; perhaps, in the present state of religious society, they are necessary; still, we must believe that these periodicals, too often imbued with a partisan, rather than with a Christian spirit, have a mischievous tendency-less on account of what they say, than of what they leave unsaid. By the necessities of the case, they must be exclusive, one-sided. It is, we suppose, quite impossible for them to be thoroughly independent.

How can they be expected to utter what is inconsistent with the creed, policy or platform, which they have been employed to defend? To illustrate: What Methodist editor, as such, could hope for patronage, who should question the propriety, and, within the prescribed limits, the authority of a General Conference? What Presbyterian editor would be retained in office, who should set himself to prove that the Deliverances of the General Assembly are without warrant of Scripture, and to be disregarded by the members, or the subordinate courts, of the church? And what Disciple could hope for an impartial hearing among his brethren, who should differ with a few "representative men" as to the absolute independence of a congregation, the precedence of faith to repentance, or the incompatibility of instrumental music with the true, spiritual worship of God? Are organs of religious denominations necessary? So are independent periodicals; and one such we propose to publish.

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