Too Much of It

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 22, 1910

THERE is a rising feeling among some of the friends of the plan that the cause of church federation is being overdone. Speaking of the recent Episcopal convention, and the proposal it made for universal church unity, the United Presbyterian of December 8 says:—

What is contemplated by the proposed universal congress? Christian unity is a very indefinite term. Is it proposed to work for the organization of all Christian bodies in one organization? Such a union, beautiful in words, is altogether impracticable, and if accomplished, would be a blight on the church of Christ. The idea is without a single stone of foundation in the New Testament. There is wonderfully little said about the visible organization of the church, but very much about the church as the kingdom of God. The inspired history shows strong bonds of love, but nothing of episcopal powers centered on one person. Such concentration of power as a world-wide organization would soon lead to a despotism which finds its illustration in the Roman Catholic Church. Anything less than that is simply federation. That we have on as broad a basis as can be safely adopted at the present time. What more could a million-dollar fund bring about? The proposition comes from a quarter that does not give any encouragement to hope for good results. Until the Protestant Episcopal Church recognizes non-Episcopal ordination, it is useless to talk about church unity in anything more than brotherly love and simple co-operation. What we need now is spiritual endowment and burning zeal for the kingdom of God. All else will take care of itself.