The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-02-11

PEOPLE s. PULPIT.
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

Il
O
Sunday. Jan. 30.-The third meet
ing for the consideration of Church
Federation was held today. The spa
fciouS Brooklyn Academy of Music was
fcrowded with Christian people of all
denominations to attend the third
of the series of four meetings called
by the Peoples Pulpit Association.
Pastor G. II. Russell of the Brook
lyn Tabernacle addressed the large
audience for an hour and a half.
by the profound silence, as well as by
the cagerness 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, ~.
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 Criticism-I Inf
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 Cod
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
tolerated. Accordingly no minister of
another denomination would be per-
rhitted to preach either in q Catholic
or all Episcopalian pulpit. And if by
mischanee such a circumstance should
occur it would be considered neces-
kind of re-cOnsecration. From the
standpoint of these denominations all
others arc herctics; but, they say, not
willingly so, but ignorantly so.
Here note tho fact that q cleavage is
in process amongst Episcopalians. A
gradually separating Romeward, while
The majority are sharing the senti-
inents of other PIotestants, to the eff
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 intima ton is that while
the Federation will be q Protestant
one. it 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.
The 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 it's meaning has come
down to humanity through its chan
nels than through outside channels.
They arc willing to admit that their
clergy have no more of Divine Grace
and Truth, Wisdom and Power than
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
coslJd no had only thrOu0h their chan