The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-02-03
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

Sunday, Jan. 30.-The third meet
ing for the consideration of Church
Federation was held today. The spa
cious Brooklyn Academy of Music was
crowded with Christian people Of all
denominations to attend the third
Of the series of four meetings called
by the Peoples Pulpit Association.
Pastor G. Il. Russell of the Brook
Ign Tabernacle addressed the large
audience for an hour and half
The deep interest felt was evidenced
by the profound silence, as well as by
the eagerness of face. The text was
the same as on the two previous occa-
sions, Say We not, A Federation, to
all them to whom this people shall
say. A Federation; neither fear We their
fear, nor be afraid isaiah viii, 12).
The speaker said
We meet today to consider what sac
rifices would need to be made in the
interests of Federation by the three
oldest denominations of Christendom.
OF these Lutherans have least to sur
render. Their tenacity for the Word
of God they may still maintain, even
though others of the federated bodies
might more and more abandon the
Holy Scriptures, under leadership of
the Universities, Colleges and Semi
naries teaching Higher riticisIn-Infi-
deity and the Evolution theory. The
Federation nevertheless would still
permit Lutherans and others to love
and reverence the Word of God and
yet be in fellowship. Almighty God,
the Son Of God and the Holy Spirit,
firmly believed in by Lutherans, would
all be acknowledged with more or less
of mental reservation by all the de-
nominations associated in the Fedora
ton. Nothing along these lines would
! need to be abandoned Even Luther
plea of consubstantiation in the Eu-
charist may be held without objec-
ton. Even the honor of being the first
denomination of the Reformation
might still be held. We conclude then
that Lutherans would not be required
to sacrifice anything,
Some Things In Common.
Episcopalians and Catholics have
some things in common. They eacf
claim to represent the original apos
/ tolic Church. They each claim
| Through their bishops in the laying OF
of hands, apostolic authority. Theil
common claim is that all other demon
nations of Christians whatsoever are
false churches without Divine author
| hnnno TO 40 n
! tolerated. Accordingly no minister o
another denomination would be per
mitted to preach either in a Catholi
or an Episcopalian pulpit. And if b.
mischance such circumstance SHOULD
occur it would be considered neces
sary to purge the sacred spot by ;
kind of re-consecration. From thu
others are heretics; but, they say, no
willingly so. but ignorantly so.
Here note the fact that a cleavage
in process amongst Episcopalians.
minority, termed high-churchmen, ar
gradually separating Romeward, Will
the majority are sharing the sent
ments of other Protestants, to the et
feet that the matter of apostolic sue
cession" is probably less importan
than their forefathers supposed. Flo
the purposes of this discussion W
may without offense ignore the higt
church minority and say that tn
Scriptures which plainly foretell tn
perfecting of Church Federation ind
cate that it will include Episcopalian!
but will not include Catholics. Never
theless the intimation is that Will
the Federation will be Protesta1
one. it will not be anti-Catholic. o
the contrary the two great systems
Catholic and Protestant. will frateI
nize and cooperate along various line
especially in the manipulation of 81
cial and political influences.
The breadth of the Episcopal cree
will not call for particular sacrifice
in Federation, if only their pride o
the subject of apostolic succession ca
} be satisfied. They are all prepared
/ admit that no particular wisdom c
holiness has been communicated frol
generation to generation, from bisho
to bishop and from bishop to lowe
clergy through the laying on of hand
They are willing to admit that thel
! have been men as wise and others q
foolish outside as inside their Con
| munion. They are willing to adm
l that no greater light upon the Wor
of God and its meaning has CON
down to humanity through its chal
nels than through outside channel
They are willing to admit that the
clergy have no more of Divine Graz
! and Truth, Wisdom and Power tina
have others of Gods people, both Gle
gy and laity, outside their boundarie
a Hence they are willing, nay, anXiou
t for Federation and ask only that the
face be saved" by some acknowled
q ment of the long idolized thought tn
ability to eXpound the Scriptures al
the Grace of God in expounding the
could be had only through their cha
mel. They have no desire to pro-
their claim to superior grace and tru
e by measuring swords of the Spirit wi
n other ministers.
Up to the present time Episcopalial
h decline to be parties to the Federati'
d unless their special claim be In son
v sense or degree recognized. Pride sa
g It would never do to retract now |
that the denomination has stood I
In separation for centuries. TIL
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