The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-02-01
Sermon by
CHARLES Il.
RUSSELL
Pastor Bro oklyn
Tabernacle.

suhda = r Jan. A30-The third meet
Ing for the consideration of Church
Federation was held today The spit
clous 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. IT. Russell of the brook
lyn Tabernacle addressed the large
audience for IN iotir and half.
The deep interest felt was evidenced
by the profound silence, as well ns by
the eagerness of face. The text was
the same as on the two previous occa-
fsIons. Say ye not, A Federation to
nii them to whom this people shall
say. A Federation: neither fear &c their
fear, nor be afraid" tlsaiah viii. 1of.
The speaker said
We meet today to consider what sac
rihces would need 10 be made In the
interests OF Federation BY the three
Oldest denominations of Chrlstendom.
OF these Lutherans have least to sur.
render. Their Htenncity 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.
nnrles teaching. Higher ritIclsm-1hfl.
deity and tho Evolution theory. The
Federation nevertheless would still
permit I.utherans md Others to love
and reverence the Word of God and
vet be in fellowship. Almighty God
the Son of God and the. Holy Spirit.
firmly believed In by Lutherans. would
nll be acknowledged with more or less
OF mental reservation by NIL the de.
nominations associated In the Fedora
tion. Nothing along these lines would
need to be abandoned. Even Luther's
plea of Observation-Disclosures i'm the E.u.
chnrist 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.
d EplscopalIans and Catholics have
some things In common. They each
claim to represent the original apos-
tolic Church. They euch claim
Through their bishops In the laying on
Of hands} apostolic authority Their
common claim is TINT oil other deno1n-
inntionsS of Christians whatsoever are
false churches without Divine author.
lily md hence not ito be recognized or
tolerated, Accordingly no minister of
another denomination would be per;
United to preach either In n Catholic
or an EpiscopalInn pulpit And IL by
nischance such n circumstance should
occur 1t would be considered neces-
sary TO purge the sacred spot by a
kind OF Recommendation. From the
standpoint OF these denominations nli
others are heretics: but, they say not
willingly SO. but ignorlntly SO.
Here note the fact that cleavage Is
In process amongst EpIscopnllnns. A
minority, termed Hhlgh-chnrchmen, are
gradually separa ting 'Romeward. while
the ma orIty are sharing the 'rsent-
ments OF other Professionals, to the eff
feet that the matter of apostolic sue
cesslon" Is probably less important
than their forcfuthers supposed. For
the purposes of this discussion we
may without offense' ignore the high
church minority and say that the
Scriptures which plainly foretell tile
perfecting OF Church Federation indl-
cate that 1t will include EpIscopalians.
but will not include Catholics. Never
theless the .intimntlon Is that while
the Federation Will be Protestant
one. 1t will not be anti.Cathollc. On
the contrary the two great systems.
Catholic and Protestant. will fruter.
nize and cooperate along various lines
especially in the manipulation OF SO.
clal and political Influences.
The breadth Of the Episcopal creed
! will not call for particular sacrifices
in Federation. IL only their pride son
the subject of apostolic succession can
be satisfied. They are nil prepared to
admit that no particular wisdom tor
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 us wise and others rs
foolish outside rs inside their Com.
munlon. 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 thun through outside channels.
They are willing to admit tint their
clergy have no more of Divine Grace
and Truth, Wisdom and Power than
have others OF Gods people. both cler.
~ and laIty, outside their boundaries.
Hence they, are willing. may. anxious.
for Federation. and ask only that their
'face he saved" by some .ncknowledg,
nent of the long ldolized Thought thnt
nbIllty to expound the Scriptures and
the Grace OF God In expounding them
could be had only through their chan.
mel: They, have mo desire TO prove
their clailnSto superior grace and truth
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