Schurman, Agnosticism, 166—“Few things are of more practical consequence for the future of religion in America than the duty of all good men to become identified with the visible church. Liberal thinkers have, as a rule, underestimated the value of the church. Their point of view is individualistic, ‘as though a man were author of himself, and knew no other kin.’ ‘The old is for slaves’ they declare. But it is also true that the old is for freedmen who know its true uses. It is the bane of the religion of dogma that it has driven many of the choicest religious souls out of the churches. In its purification of the temple, it has lost sight of the object of the temple. The church, as an institution, is an organism and embodiment such as the religion of spirit necessarily creates. Spiritual religion is not the enemy, it is the essence, of institutional religion.” II. Organization of the Church. 1. The fact of organization. Organization may exist without knowledge of writing, without written records, lists of members, or formal choice of officers. These last are the proofs, reminders, and helps of organization, but they are not essential to it. It is however not merely informal, but formal, organization in the church, to which the New Testament bears witness. That there was such organization is abundantly shown from (_a_) its stated meetings, (_b_) elections, and (_c_) officers; (_d_) from the designations of its ministers, together with (_e_) the recognized authority of the minister and of the church; (_f_) from its discipline, (_g_) contributions, (_h_) letters of commendation, (_i_) registers of widows, (_j_) uniform customs, and (_k_) ordinances; (_l_) from the order enjoined and observed, (_m_) the qualifications for membership, and (_n_) the common work of the whole body. (_a_) _Acts 20:7_—“_upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them_”; _Heb. 10:25_—“_not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another._” (_b_) _Acts 1:23‐26_—the election of Matthias; 6:5, 6—the election of deacons. (_c_) _Phil. 1:1_—“_the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons._” (_d_) _Acts 20:17, 28_—“_the elders of the church ... the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops_ [marg.: ‘_overseers_’].” (_e_) _Mat. 18:17_—“_And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican_”; _1 Pet. 5:2_—“_Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God._”