Ecumenical Conference on Faith and Morals
By T.
In 1910 the Protestant Episcopal Church appointed a commission to arrange for a conference for the consideration of questions as to “the faith and order of the Christian church, in the hope that such a conference will promote the cause of Christian unity.” This commission invites all Christian churches throughout the world to unite in arranging for and conducting such a conference. The commission is publishing leaflets explaining the scope and methods of the conference, which are sent free to any one who will apply to the secretary, Robert H. Gardiner, Gardiner, Maine. Persons applying for these leaflets are placed on their permanent mailing lists and are to receive all future publications. This Episcopal commission has already obtained a large list of individuals from various church organizations, such as the Disciples of Christ, Congregationalists, Methodists, and even Roman Catholics, who are banding themselves together to meet for united prayer for the reunion of Christians, and to aid in promoting a conference to study how it can best be brought about. It is said that this world conference may not be held for several years yet, but the world-wide plan is under way to arrange for it as soon as the necessary preliminaries can be got out of the way. We will be interested to learn what relation this proposed world conference of “faith and order” is to sustain to the Federal Council of Churches. And we might say, in passing, that it is very interesting to observe the strong sentiment that is manifested all through the world to establish a union among the Christian churches. This union is not to be effected by coming together as one in Christ according to the Bible plan and according to the prayer of the Master, but it is to be federation; and such world-wide combinations worked along such lines have always produced religious tyranny and disaster. They will do it again. We are in favor of Christian unity, but this unity must come through the study of God’s word and union with Christ. There is no human makeshift by which it can be brought about through the surrendering of certain so-called non-essentials. When an individual surrenders a principle, no matter of how little consequence, he has laid the foundation for surrender all along the line; and when he has finally subscribed to his accepted platform of essentials upon which all are agreed, he can not be sure that he is right. He has destroyed the finer textures of mind and of conscience by surrendering principles, and in doing this he has been shifted from the great foundation of morality and righteousness. It is well for men to think earnestly and carefully before they take part in any of these modern schemes for federation and so-called unity. The prayer of Christ recorded in the 17th chapter of John seeks for a unity that is not proposed in any of these federal councils or ecumenical organizations for faith and morals.