The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-02-15


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. T. 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 ye their
fear, nor be afraid" isaiah will, 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
might more and more abandon the
Holy Scriptures, under leadership of
the Universities, Colleges and Semi
naries teaching Higher riticism-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'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 denom-
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 a 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
kind of re-consecration. From the
standpoint of these denominations all
others are heretics; but, they say, no,
willingly so, but ignorantly 50.
Here note the fact that cleavage is
In process amongst Episcopalians. A
minority, termed high-churchmen, are
gradually separating Romeward, while
the majority are sharing the senti-
ments of other Protestants, to the ef-
feet that the matter of apostolic sue
cession" is probably less important
than their forefathers supposed. For
the purposes of this discussion we
may without offense ignore the high
church minority and say that the
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 a Protestant
one, 1t will not be anti-Catholic. On
the contrary the two great systems,
Catholic and Protestant, will frater-
nize and cooperate along various lines
especially in the manipulation of So
cial and political influences.
We breadth of the Episcopal creed
will not call for particular sacrifices
in Federation, if only their pride on
the subject Of apostolic succession can
be satisfied They are all prepared to
admit that no particular wisdom or
holiness has been communicated from
generation to generation, from bishop
to bishop and from bishop to lower
clergy through the laying on of hands.
They are willing to admit that there
have been men as wise and others as
foolish outside as inside their Com
munion. They are willing to admit
that no greater light upon the Word
of God and its meaning has come
down to humanity through its chan
nels than through outside channels.
They are willing to admit that their
clergy have no more of Divine Grace
have others of Gods people, both cler-
gy and laity, outside their boundaries.
Hence they are willing, nay, anxious,
for Federation, and ask only that their
'face be saved" by some acknowledge
ment of the long idolized thought that
ability to eXpound the Scriptures and
the Grace of God in expounding them
could be had only through their chan
mel They have no desire to prove
their claim TO superior grace and truth
by measuring swords of the Spirit with
other ministers.
Up to the present time Episcopalians
decline to be parties to the Federation
unless their special claim be in some
sense or degree recognized. Pride says
It would never do to retract now all
that the denomination has stood for
in separation for centuries. They
would urge Christians of the other de-
nominations, especially the clergy, to
consider the advantage which would
accrue to the Federation by having all
Protestant ministers accept their ordi-
nation. They do not claim that II
would make them wiser or better men,
nor more efficient teachers, either OF
truth or error But they do claim that
1t would give them an authority in The
eyes of the people and give color and
reasonableness to the Federation OF
many churches with discordant creeds
posing as one church in the Fedora
ton arrangement.
The argument is, 1.-The common PEG
pie, the laity," are disposed more
than ever to think for themselves or
religious subjects and to study th'
Bible for themselves. If, therefore
as ministers, you desire to hold thu
people in check so that they shall no
think for themselves you would d.
well to concede the claim Of apostoh'
succession-that no one Is permitted
to interpret or teach the Bible exceI
those who have received apostolic
benediction. 1t was disregard of tbi
claim of apostolic benediction which
led to freedom of thought on religion
subjects and ultimately led to the for
| nation of the various sects. YoV
should now seek to restrict further In
| vestigation of the Bible and furthe
Interpretation of it by accepting on
| theory, by permitting US to grant yol