Church Federation in Wyoming

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

Church Federation in Wyoming

A VERY significant incident happened recently at a little town in Wyoming. The Congregationalists have a field missionary who is working the county—about one hundred miles square. He is under the direction of their State superintendent. Of course it is impossible for this county worker to keep in close touch with the work in every village, especially while new towns are springing up quite rapidly in different places.

Recently a retired Presbyterian missionary began holding meetings every fourth Sunday in this town. On the intervening Sundays he held meetings at other points. Later the Congregationalist State superintendent visited this town and held a meeting on an open Sunday. He announced that he would have a worker there to preach the next Sunday, which happened to be the appointed day for the Presbyterian worker’s service. Upon learning this, the superintendent became very excited, and stated that the Presbyterian minister had no business to hold such a meeting, and that he would see that a stop was put to it.

He further stated that the people of the town were not the ones to say who should preach to them, but such questions would be decided at the Congregationalist headquarters at Boston. He stated, by way of explanation, that there was an understanding between the Presbyterians and the Congregationalists so that the workers of one body would not intrude upon the territory of the other, and that the first in the field would hold the right of way.

The above facts are gathered from a letter from a self-supporting Seventh-day Adventist worker located in the town. He states that so far the federation has not interfered with his work. Evidently church federation is now a live question in this new mining town.

What this movement means is presented in a most interesting manner in the current number of the Watchman. The March Watchman will be equally interesting and timely. It deals with the increase of lawlessness in recent years, showing what part the churches have had to do in this matter by turning their backs upon the only true standard of righteousness—God’s law. It clearly shows what all this means.

Single copies of the Watchman may be obtained for ten cents: 5 to 24 copies, 5 cents each; 25 to 499 copies, 4 cents each; 500 or more copies, 3½ cents each. Now is the time for consecrated efforts to be put forth in every locality, thus placing these message-filled papers in the hands of the people. For further information, address the Watchman, Nashville, Tenn. Orders should be sent through the State office.