The Federal Council of Churches

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 24, 1908

The Federal Council of Churches

The general program of the council consisted mainly of reports of committees appointed to consider various subjects, and the discussion and adoption of recommendations made by these several committees. The leading subjects upon which such reports were made were: The Relation of the Federal Council to Interdenominational Organizations, Co-operation in Foreign Missions, the the Work of State Federations, the Church and the Immigrant Problem, the Church and Modern Industry, the Work of Local Federations, Co-operation in Home Mission Work, Family Life, Sunday Observance, Temperance, Week-Day Religious Instruction for Schoolchildren, Religious Instruction in Higher Institutions, Sunday-School Instruction, and International Relations.

Each evening during the meeting of the council, addresses were made by well-known clergymen and prominent laymen. Among the speakers were Mr. Robert E. Speer, Dr. Charles L. Goodell, Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman, and Rev. Charles Stelzle. Dr. S. Parkes Cadman and Judge Peter S. Grosscup, who were expected to deliver addresses, were unable to attend.

It will be impossible to present in full the reports of the various committees, and we can only make a record of such actions of the council as indicate most clearly the scope of its work and its plans for the future.

Among the resolutions presented by the Committee on Relation of the Federal Council to Interdenominational Organizations, and adopted by the council, are the following:—

That it is our conviction that the plan of work which this council will take up will be so comprehensive as to make unnecessary the further increase in the number of undenominational or interdenominational organizations for special work, and will thus protect the churches from many appeals for aid which tend to dissipate the energy of the churches and to divert the stream of their benevolence from the regular and recognized channels.

That all organizations asking regular financial assistance from the churches, be requested to file an annual statement of receipts and expenditures with the executive committee of the federal council, together with a brief outline of methods employed.

These recommendations, if effective, practically prohibit any further addition to the list of such organizations as the Young Men’s Christian Association, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, etc., and to a certain extent bring the organizations already formed under the supervision of the federal council.

As to the union of the various denominations in foreign mission work, the council adopted this plan: “We favor the closest possible federation of all Christian churches in foreign mission fields, and the formation of a native church without emphasizing the differences in our historical development.” The practical working of this plan, as developed in the discussion, would mean a division of territory among the various denominations, with the understanding that each one would refrain from conducting work in another’s territory. It is, of course, clear that those who have a world-wide message to give could not enter into such an agreement as this, and will more and more be looked upon as intruders by those who have already divided the field among themselves.

The Committee on the Work of State Federations brought in a report of considerable length, which suggested quite a complete plan for the further development of the State federation idea. The general policy was thus expressed:—

We recommend to the several denominations affiliated in this federal council that they either formally recommend, or at least authorize, their constituent bodies in the several States to enter into co-operation and federation with the constituents of other denominations in their States, for the more efficient extension of the kingdom of Christ, and the fuller expression of his spirit among his disciples.

In this connection, it will be appropriate to refer to the resolution adopted by the council relating to the further development of its work. This resolution, presented by the committee on organization and development, recommended:—

That in addition to the equipment of the central office in the city of New York, the executive committee be authorized, as rapidly as funds will permit, to provide for a district superintendence that will establish at least four offices in strategic centers of population, representing different sections of the country.

When this organization is completed, it will include the union of the churches in the federal council as a general supervising body, and in addition to this State federation, county federation, and city federation. With such an organized power behind them, it is plain that the leaders of the federal council can exert a mighty influence in the settlement of such questions as they may deem to be included within their field of work. In order to provide for the expenses of administration, it was voted that thirty thousand dollars be raised annually among the constituent bodies to be paid into the general treasury.

In its report on “The Church and Modern Industry,” the committee committed the council to an aggressive policy

in the interest of workingmen. It was agreed that the churches must stand—

For equal rights and complete justice for all men in all stations of life.

For the right of all men to the opportunity for self-maintenance, a right ever to be wisely and strongly safeguarded against encroachments of every kind.

For the right of workers to some protection against the hardships often resulting from the swift crises of industrial change.

For the principle of conciliation and arbitration in industrial dissensions.

For the protection of the worker from dangerous machinery, occupational disease, injuries, and mortality.

For the abolition of child labor.

For such regulation of the conditions of toil for women as shall safeguard the physical and moral health of the community.

For the suppression of the “sweating system.”

For the gradual and reasonable reduction of the hours of labor to the lowest practical point, and for that degree of leisure for all which is a condition of the highest human life.

For a release from employment one day in seven.

For a living wage as a minimum in every industry, and for the highest wage that each industry can afford.

For the most equitable division of the products of industry that can ultimately be devised.

For suitable provision for the old age of the workers and for those incapacitated by injury.

For the abatement of poverty.

The discussion of this report called out some very plain statements from the delegates concerning the attitude of working men toward the churches, and the reasons therefor.

Among the recommendations of the committee, adopted by the council, were the following:—

That the study of existing conditions in the industrial world, their origin and outcome, be more definitely enforced as an immediate Christian duty. That to this end, in all theological seminaries, and, so far as practicable, in other schools and colleges, there be established, wherever they do not now exist, courses in economics, sociology and the social teachings of Jesus, supplemented, wherever possible, by investigation of concrete social facts.

That the churches, with quickened zeal and keener appreciation, through their pastors, lay leaders and members, wherever possible, enter into sympathetic and fraternal relations with working men, by candid public discussion of the problems which especially concern them, by advocating their cause when just, by finding the neighborly community of interest, and by welcoming them and their families to the uses and privileges of the local churches.

That more generally in her buildings provision be made for the service of the community, as well as for the public worship of God.

That the attention of working men be called to the fact that the institution of a day of rest secured for the toilers of Christendom by the very charter of the church, has been defended on their behalf by it throughout the centuries.

There was an evident desire to win the approval of the working men in the attitude taken by the council upon the labor question, and a mass-meeting was held on Sunday afternoon at the Lyric Theater, to which all the labor organizations of the city were invited, and which was presided over by the official head of one of these organizations. The leading address on that occasion was made by Rev. Charles Stelzle, secretary of the Department of Church and Labor, of the Presbyterian Church.

The general trend of the report of the Committee on the Church and Modern Industry, as well as other utterances in the council, plainly indicated the acceptance of that modern view concerning the mission of the church, which makes it its chief work to improve present conditions, and to establish the kingdom of God here in the earth, through the solution of social problems and the application of human remedies. The need of a spiritual revival and the duty of the ministry to quicken the spiritual life in the home and in the church were not the topics which were emphasized in this council. As will be seen by the list of subjects already mentioned, the burden which seemed to rest upon the minds of the leaders of this movement was concerning those problems which at best should be only secondary in the work of the church, and which, if solved at all, can be solved only by giving first attention to converting hearts rather than instructing minds. No one seemed to appreciate the fact that the evils which now press so heavily upon men will never be cured, and that present conditions are one of the signs of the times, indicating that the end of all things is at hand, and that the only remedy for existing troubles will be found in the coming of the Lord.

The recommendations made by the Committee on Co-operation in Home Mission Work were of the same general tenor as those which preceded them, all looking toward a combination of effort under a complete plan of federation. This plan includes the organization of a Home Missions Council, representing the principal home mission organizations of the United States, and provides for such co-operation between the different denominations, both in city mission work and in mission work in sparsely settled districts, as will prevent the different bodies overlapping in their work, and will doubtless reduce the number of churches and missionary societies which will operate in the same territory.

The addresses delivered before the delegates on Friday evening by Dr. Charles L. Goodell and Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman were somewhat out of harmony with the general trend and spirit of the council. Both speakers deprecated the decline of spiritual life in the churches as evidenced by the practical discontinuance of the family altar, and the lack of devotion among the members of the churches. An earnest appeal was made for a revival of personal religion and for an effort to reach men as individuals instead of in organizations. One statement made by Dr. Goodell is worthy of special note: “You can not make men Christians by edict. If you wish to see what it means to attempt such a thing, go back to the days of Constantine, and there you will find it.”

If the principles urged by these speakers should be followed out, it would practically bring to naught the whole scheme of combination in church federation, and would turn the attention of the churches to their legitimate work in preaching the gospel of Christ to individuals.

One of the most interesting and significant discussions of the whole session was that pertaining to the attitude of the council on Sunday observance. With this we will deal in our next report.