Church Federation in Colorado by W. A. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 25, 1909

Church Federation in Colorado

By W. A. C.

THE formation of a church federation of the three cities, Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou, in the State of Colorado, is under way. The object of this federation is “to unite the Christian forces of the three cities so that they may act together as far as possible in connection with all movements of a moral and religious nature that are of common interest,” and “to discover and supply any religious, social, and civic needs that may arise, without any unnecessary multiplication of agencies in meeting those needs.”

The federation is to become operative as soon as seven denominations indicate their readiness to co-operate in its formation and maintenance.

The proposed constitution for the federation provides for the election of a federal council to consist of “all the ministers of the constituent denominations,” and lay members according to church-membership.

The subjects outlined for consideration and attention are “international enterprises, civic righteousness, location of churches or missions, Sabbath observance and law enforcement, laymen’s missionary movement, and finance.”

It will be noticed that this church federation is not only to consider the subject of “Sabbath observance,” but that “law enforcement” is brought in immediate connection with this, which, we take it, when expressed in full, means that one of the aims and objects of this federation is to enforce Sabbath observance by law. Well did the United States Senate Sunday Mail Report of 1829 say: “All religious despotism commences by combination and influence; and when that influence begins to operate upon the political institutions of a country, the civil power soon bends under it; and the catastrophe of other nations furnishes an awful warning of the consequence.”

If the churches throughout the land would “federate” and pledge themselves, by the grace of God, to be Christians, and to act Christlike; to obey the golden rule, and grant to their neighbors the freedom they ask for themselves; to seek and to teach righteousness by faith and not by works, and salvation by grace and not by law, they would be in better business than they are when they federate to control politics or to establish religion or to enforce religious observance by law. W. A. C.