The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-05

lk&zSmf&&t ciOuS Brooklyn Academy Oh
Music was crowded with
Christian people of all denomina tons
to attend the third of a series of four
meetings called by the Peoples Pulpit
Association. Pastor G. T. Russell of
the Brooklyn Tabernacle addressed the
half. The deep interest felt was evil
denced by the profound silence, as well
as by the eagernesS of face. The
text was the same as on the two pre-
vious occasions, "Say Ye not, Fed
Grafton, to all them to whom this peo-
pie shall say. A Federation: neither
fear We their fear. nor be afraid"
(Isiah vii. 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
though others of the federated bodies
Holy Scriptures, under leadership of
the universities, colleges and semi
naries teaching Observation-Disclosures
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 acknowledge 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
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-
to1ic 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-
n1itted to preach either in Catholic
or an Episcopalian pulpit. And if by
mischance such circumstance should
occur 1t would be considered neces-
sary to purge The sacred spot by a kind
of Recommendation. From the stand
point of these denominations all others
are heretics: but they say, not willingly
SO, but ignorantly SO.
Here note the fact that a cleavage is
in process amongst Episcopalians. A
minority, tered high churehmen. are
gradually separating Romeward. while
the majority are sharing the sentf-
ments of other Protestants, to the eff
feet that the matter of apostolic sue
cessfon'' is probably less important
than their forefathers supposed. For
the purpose of this discussion we
may without offense ignore the high
church minority and say that the
scriptures which plainly foreten the
perfecting of church federation indi-
cate that it will include Episcopalians,
but will not include Catholics. Never
the1ess the intimation is that while
the federation will be 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
ciaI and political influences.
The breadth of the Episcopal creed
will not call for particular sacrihces
in federation. If only their pride on
the subject of apostolic succession can
be satisfied. They will be 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
and truth, w sdom and power than
have others of Gods people, both eler-
gv and laity. outside their boundaries
Hence they are willing, nay, anxious,
for federation, and ask only that their
.sface be saved By some acknowledg-
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.