Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-01-25
49, |
CHURCH
FEDERATION
THE COST
CoNGREGATIoNALIsTS
PRESByTERIANS
METHoDISTS

FEDERATION METHoDTSTs
BROOKLYN, N. Y, Jan.a 16.-Today
began a series of Christian mass meet
ings, which are to continue during four
successive Sunday afternoons in the
largest auditorium of Brooklyn, the
Academy of Music, Under the auspices
of Peoples Pulpit Association. The
topic for the day was:
what Congregationalists Presbyter-
ians and Methodists must surrender in
the interest of Church Federation"
Pastor G. II. Russell, of Brooklyn
Tabernacle, delivered the address. The
spacious and elegant auditorium was
crowded so that an overflow meeting
with another speaker was deemed ad-
visable. On the platform behind the
speaker were several hundred men, in
Guiding number of ministers. The
Iigent one The ,Honorap;e J. f. Ruther-
ford, attorney-at-law, introduced Pastor
Russell who said:s
Il take for my text the Word of the
Lord through the prophet, Say we not,
A Confederacy to all them to whom this
people shall say, A Comic -oracy; neither
fear We their fear. nor be afraid lisa
iah 8:12.
1.-The disturbances of oneness in the
Church Of Christ is beyond dispute.
The Improperly of secrarianism or di-
vision is now generally conceded, al
though 20 years ago many defended the
divided condition of the church as be-
ing helpful. They pointed to our Lords
words, I am the Vine and We are the
branches; every branch in me that bear
eth not fruit my Father, the Husband
man, tak6th away. And every branch
that beareth fruit he pruneth, that it
may bring forth more fruit.
John 1919. They claimed that the
denominations were the branches. The
evident teaching of the Master here is
that His people are related to MN in
an individual sense and not as parties,
sects or denominations, and that they
are dealt with from the individual
standpoint. as one church and not
many.
est PAUL enuneiated the same great
truth Il Cor. l2:1SJ, declaring that the
Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church,
which is his Body and that as the hui
man body has many members under the
full control of the head except when
diseased, so the Churen, as members in
particular of the BODY of Christ, are
all subject to the Lord as their head.
They are all to be so connected with
their Head, and thus with each other,
that when one suffers an suffer with
II. and when one3 rejoices, all rejoice
with il, because they all have fellow
shin in the one spirit of the Head.
Hence the eye cannot say to the hand
nor the hand to the foot, ] have no
need of you, for every member is neces-
sary TO the prosperity o. rae body as a
whole. And as the joint supports and
strengthens the other limb and is Joined
thereto by sinews setc., SOC individually
Gods people are united TO each other
in the bonds of gT,ace and truth and
love. And!in, prop6rtion as these bonds
are acknowledfgedY1s5 the measure OF
spiritual health. AMI Strength, indtyid-
ually and eel1ecaIyefy# va f'
1t must be conceded ,fhat church federation or
emit thing from the chureh's oneness Illustrated
by our Lords parable of the vine, and the
apostles illustration OF the human BODY Never
theless since federation is proposed as the
nearest nossibIe approach to the spiritual en-
Joined union II is proper that we END all christ
ions EVERYWHERE should inquire carefully the
cost ami the gain implied in the federation
movement As the program shows, this series
of meetings win consider impartfaly the cost
OF federation to the creeds Of the most prOml-
neut denominations First In the list today we
consider the sacrifices of Congregationalism,
Preshy terianism and MethOdism.
l. AS to church government very slight cUuces-
sions will be required of any of the federating
denominations DenominatiOnal liberties as re-
spects forms of worship and methods of gov
eminent and discipline are to be permitted very
Ioose rein. The federation proposes chiefly the
regulation Of home and foreign mission work
and general watch the interests OF
the federated systems along the lines Of poit-
zeal Influence The expectation Is that the pO
liticai power of the federation will have cousid-
cradle to do with moulding of legislation favor
able to the federation. and later on, unfavora.
bile to the smaller denominations not associated
in the federation.
g.. II Is along dOctrinal lines that the sacrific'
ing in the interest of federation will be chief
ly demanded.
Doctrinally Congrega tionalists and Presbyterf
ans one; hence we may consider their sacri-