The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-02-03

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 C. T. Russell of the Brook
Ign Tabernacle addressed the large
audience for an hour and a 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 he afraid" isaiah viii, ~. |.
The speaker said
We meet today to consider what sac .
riices would need to lie made in the
interests of Federation by the three
Oldest denominations of Christendom.
OF these Lutherans have least TO sur
render. Their tpnacity 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 riticism-Inii-
deity and the Evolution theory The
| Federation nevertheless would still
permit Luthcrans 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's
| 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 each
claim to represent the original apos-
tolic Church They each claim
Through their bishops in the laying on
of hands, apostolic authority. Their
common claim is that all other demon
nations of Christians whatsoever are
false churches without Divine author
ity and hence not to be recognized or
tolerated. Accordingly no minister Of
another denomination would be per
mitted to preach either in Catholic
or an Episcopalian pulpit. And If by
mischance such circumstance should
occur it would be considered neces-
sary to purge the sacred spot by a
kind of remuneration. From the
standpoint of these denominations all
others are heretics; but. they say, not
willingly so. but ignoranuy so.
Here note the fact that a cleavage is
{ in process amongst Episcopalians. A
minority, termed high-churchmen, are
gradually separating Romeward. while
the ma ority are sharing the senti-
ments of other ProtestantS, to the eff
feet that the matter of apostolic sue
cession" is probably less important
than their forefathers supposed. Fol-
{ the purposes of this discussion we
{ may without offense ignore the high
church minority and say that the
a Scriptures which plainly foretell the
perfecting of Church Federation indi
, cate that it will include Episcopalians
= but will not include Catholics Never
theless the intimation is that while
the Federation will be protestan
II one, it will not be anti-Catholic. OF
i. the contrary the two great systems
Y Catholic and Protestant, will frater
nize and cooperate along various lire
6 especially in the manipulation OF SO
cial and political influences.
| The breadth of the Episcopal creet
% will not call for particular sacrifice
) in Federation if only their pride 81
the subject of apostolic succession CA
e be satisfied They are all prepared t
l. admit that no particular wisdom o
d holiness has been communicated froI
d generation to generation, from bIsho
e to bishop and from bishop to lowe
clergy through the laying ON of hand!
r They are willing to admit that Their
II have been men as wise and others Il
a. foolish outside as inside their Con
munion. They are willing to adm
that no greater light upon the Wor
of God and its meaning has CON
!, down to humanity through its chal
l. nels than through outside channel
= They are willing to admit that the
> clergy have no more of Divine Graz
9 and Truth, Wisdom and Power tina
have others of Gods people, both Gle
~ gy and Iaity, outside their boundarie
30 Hence they are willing, nay, anXiou
- for Federation, and ask only thar the
:, "face be saved by some acknowled
-, ment of the long idoliZed thought tn
~ ability to eXpound the Scriptures al
nd the Grace of God in eXpounding the
-, could be had only through their cha
ht nell They have no desire to pro
~ their claim to superior grace and tru
-, by measuring swords of the Spirit wi
on other ministers.
bo Up to the present time Episcopalia
,is decline to be parties to the Federati
unless their special claim be in sol
n sense or degree recognized. Pride sa