A Statement of Principles by C. E. HOLMES.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 23, 1914

“A Statement of Principles”

By C. E. HOLMES.

THE Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America is already exerting a powerful influence in religious and political matters in this country.

Bulletin No. 7, issued under the date of Jan. 15, 1914, is “A Statement of Principles.” Some of the declarations published in this statement are of peculiar interest to us as a people. The preamble says that “in the providence of God, the time has come when it seems fitting more fully to manifest the essential oneness of the Christian churches of America, in Jesus Christ as their divine Lord and Saviour, and to promote the spirit of fellowship, service, and cooperation among them.”

At first thought, such an undertaking would seem commendable. Great good may be accomplished by organization and concentration of forces. The evil comes when such power is directed into wrong channels.

There are about one hundred and fifty different religions in the United States. Over thirty of these, which form the bulk of the Protestant bodies, compose the Federal Council. It is evident that unity of action could not be secured on any basis of all accepting one creed.

This was realized by the council. So it stated that “it brings together the various denominations for union in service rather than in polity or doctrinal statement.” In other words, any program agreed to by all the bodies, shall be carried out as far as possible. To accomplish it, all the power possessed by over 18,000,000 Protestants will be focused upon the object to be attained.

We know from the prophecies of John that “the time has come” when the government of this nation will soon become religionized. The church and the state will be wedded. They will become one; and a refusal to heed the dictates of either will be counted an insult to both.

The statement of principles further says that “it is, however, clearly the duty and the function of the council to determine upon objects for such common action and to find appropriate expression of the consciousness and the conscience of the churches upon them.”

Although this organization has not been in existence many years, it has, in a very definite way, imposed itself upon our lawmakers, both national and State. Rev. H. K. Carroll, associate secretary, reports, from his Washington (D. C.) office:— “The associate secretary has given constant attention to the matter of the increase of naval chaplains. Chiefly through the influence of the Federal Council, the House Committee on Naval Affairs has reported favorably on two of the three points covered by the action of the executive committee.”— Bulletin No. 12.

This provision for navy chaplains has passed both the House and the Senate with scarcely any opposition. Emboldened with this success, the executive committee now reports that “a similar movement is under way relative to chaplains in the army, and will be earnestly prosecuted by the associate secretary at Washington.”

Not least among the various activities of the Federal Council is the movement for Sunday laws. It is here that we see the greatest danger. When its program is completely carried out, America’s light of religious liberty will have gone out.

The secretary in his report also mentions that he has been elected a “member of the New York Sabbath Committee.” The American Federation of Labor has indorsed the work of the Federal Council in its Sunday rest campaign. Thus we see the forces combining that will engage the people of God in the last great battle.

C. E. HOLMES.