There must be some fundamental principle underlying the marvelous progress and development of our movement during the first century of its existence. The outward surroundings and conditions can not adequately account for these.

      It is not Christian union in general, but a Christian union having a common foundation upon which all can stand. This basis can not be articles of faith or creeds emanating from the brains of educated theologians. Neither can a liberal policy of disregard for the direct commandments and ordinances of the Lord ever satisfy the people in general as the true principle of union. Whenever an individual, a congregation, or a communion becomes more liberal than the commandments of the Lord, or forsakes the authority of "the law and the testimony," just that soon their usefulness begins to wane, and their power to fulfill the great purpose for which they have been called into being is destroyed.

      The great underlying internal principle that has brought about this wonderful growth and development of our movement was enunciated by Thomas Campbell: "To the law and to the testimony;" or, again, "Where the Scriptures speak, we speak, and where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent." Upon these two hang all the reason and explanation of our success and development.

      In so far as we have followed the fundamental proposition of the "Declaration and Address" we have succeeded abundantly. Whenever and wherever this

G. A. MILLER.

principle has been lost sight of there have been failure and disappointment. Shall we be wise as children of the light, and at the beginning of this second century magnify that which has made of us a great people, or shall we remove the foundation and destroy the grand structure of a century, which still stands secure upon this century-old call?

      To-day there are signs of progress in preparation for the second century of our existence. I consider the greatest work of our church at the beginning of this new century of history that of teacher-training. It is greatest because it has before it the greatest possibilities. This is but fulfilling more perfectly the [551] century-old call, "To the law and to the testimony." We as a people can never remain true to this call, unless we become familiar with that law and testimony as it is revealed in the divine Word.

      The work of teacher-training is constructive. It brings blessing and joy to those who receive it. It gives off through these to thousands of our Bible-school pupils fragrance and life by teaching to them the glorious Word of divine revelation and power.

      The greatest need of our people to-day is a return to the constructive study of "the law and the testimony." A careful and prayerful study of the Living Oracles will do more to bring about Christian union than all the conventions and conferences that may be held.

      This will also answer that other very important demand for trained teachers in our Bible schools. The lack of these is the greatest hindrance to our work at the present time. The attendance of our schools could be easily doubled if we had trained teachers to instruct them. The answer to this need is found in these classes in almost every church in our brotherhood. They are preparing a great army, thoroughly trained, to instruct the thousands who are attending our Bible schools on each Lord's Day. This must become the great work of the church in this new century. No preacher dare neglect this call of opportunity, no church dare pass this lightly by, no great religious body dare ignore this growing demand; above all, we, who have built upon the true foundation of God's word alone, dare not turn aside from this greatest and most potent of all duties of the hour. We must continue as we are at present, leaders in this divinely ordained labor. Then shall we build, upon the true foundation laid by the fathers, a structure great enough and broad enough that all those who love and follow our Lord may find enlodgment within its spacious walls, and all the people of God may become one in fulfillment of the great sacerdotal prayer of our departed Lord and Saviour, "that they may all be one."

[CCR 551-552]