The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-03-14

stroy himself by indirect well by direct sui
eide; not only by cutting his jugular vein for in
stance, but also by submitting to be bound hand
and foot and neck, with tolls which will not only
render him helpless, but will effectually throttle
him.
Does some answer "the Federation aimed
at in Charlotte is merely among few Presbyterian
bodies of like faith 1t has nothing to do with the
great Federation Congress- of a score of de-
nominations in New York, last November. You do
understand. All the churches North whose com
mittees on Federation" to meet committee
in Charlotte were in that New York conference
Nay, more the church. which, at Charlotte, will
have the preponderatng voice and vote there, by
reason of its SIZE (and not only there, but also in
the Federation formed afterwards this church. the
Northern Presbyterian" was through its represen-
tatives a Prime Mover, not only i'm originating that
New York Conference, but in organizing it and
shaping its conclusions. Nay, of its most
lips of three Northern Presbyterians," viz Jus
tice Brewer, of the United State Supreme Court;
DR.. w. II. Roberts, Stated Clerk the General AS
sembly, North; and Dr. Charles Cuthbert Hall
president of Union Theological Seminary, New
York. Nay, the Federation" to be considered at
Charlotte has great deal to do with the Fedora
ton" formulated in New York 1t Will be of the
relation of a wheel within wheel" And when
in the processes of the demands of the age" those
moving in the machinery of the Big Wheel start it
to revolving the Little Wheel will have to go
around, too! No matter what the instigatfon; no
matter what the protest, spoke in the
Little Wheel, may murmur forth, the Little Wheel
will have to revolve with the Big Wheel and every
spoke with it!
Is this the fundamental law. in all Mergers ?"
Wherein the Individual is merged in the mass We
have mergers industrial, mergers commercial. n1er-
gers socalistic, mergers political, mergers national
The individual laborer is merged i'm the Labor
Union the manufacturer i'm the trust, the family in
the "neghborhood life" the fiat or Club the
individual railroad in the mighty combine" the
government" into Capitalization" Is it any
wonder that a contagton so potent and all prevail
ing should attack things ecclesiastical also? What
we are invited to is an Ecclesiastical Merger and
the fundamental law of all Mergers, viz; the trans
ferring and concentrating of power must of neces-
sfty operate in the Ecclesiastical Merger also Pow
er uncomfortable; Power irresistible; Power ir-
responsible! But above all, Power not subordinat-
ed to Gods priceless and yet abandoned Truth!
1t may be claimed Charlotte that there are no
such intentions. The answer is it is not a question
OF good intentions" 1t is a question of "SeIf-
PreserYation;" and of Preservation of the Truth
entrusted to and it is foolish to expect that the
fundamental law of all Mergers will not exist in the
Church Merger also
Now just there; just at the moment when fins
mighty Merging Movement attacks things eccIas-
iastical; just there it meets or ought to moot an
obstacle. An obstacle, the jar of which has been
heretofore uhteIt That obstacle ought to be effec-
I'VE Tor 1t is Conscience! The conscience of a
cnurcn mat knows in its heart that its only reason
for existence, it's only pledge of success it's only
guarantee of Gods blessing is t7ide1it,, 20 a..
Truth! But Fidelity to the Truth demands that we
ShaH not only witness for the Truth but also avoid
being drawn into positions where our vvitneee for
Ohe truth VIII be smothered. We must be wise q s
serpents as well as innocent as doves and tho vic
dom of the serpent is what this moment si,,I..
calls for now Wisdom and knowledge must he
the stability of our times and the strength Of on,
salvation The Little Wheel" at Charlotte met
not De allowed to draw us into the mighty. ALIEN
- irresistible Big Wheel Federation forged
revoIvlng toWards US? That the n1.t--- -. .