NOT FEDERATION, BUT UNION.
By Editor
On the face of it it seems a good thing for the churches to get together. In England the nonconformists, or the Evangelical Free Churches, those not connected with the State, have been working to that end for several years. A church congress was organized in 1892. At the second congress the basis of further congresses was made territorial instead of denominational. The representatives, therefore, now attend not as Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Salvationists, or Friends, but as “Evangelical Free Churchmen.” There are now 600 local councils, several county councils, and the national council. The objects of these councils, according to the Outlook, are “(1) To cultivate closer organization in united evangelistic work, (2) to consider questions relating to the moral, intellectual, and social welfare of the people.” One of the noticeable effects of this union seems to be not simply the wearing away of sectarian prejudice—a good thing, by the way—but the wiping out of denominational conviction. For instance, Baptists and Congregationalists are said to be coming together, the Congregationalists being willing to “concede” “that the New Testament contains no trace of infant baptism,” while Baptists are not so much sticklers for form as they once were or are now in this country. The Outlook remarks that “the union of these two bodies, divided now, as one might say, only by a drop of water, can not be very far away, when leading men on both sides are earnestly desirous of effecting it.” But this means the utter yielding of that kind of principle which has made Baptists what they are. The Congregationalist may be honest; that is one thing. Let not the Baptist condemn him. “To his own Master he standeth or falleth.” But when the Baptist yields his distinctive convictions of Bible truth, he is taking a perilous step. In America the “Federation of Churches” started in New York City in 1895. In 1900 a National Committee was organized with central office at 83 Bible House, with E. B. Sandford, D.D., as secretary. New York State Federation was organized last autumn. In Philadelphia on the 5th and 6th of last month a national conference was held, delegates being present from nine “evangelical” denominations. Greetings were interchanged with the National Council of Free Churches of England and Wales. The outcome of the Philadelphia Conference was the organization of the “National Federation of Churches and Christian Workers,” with Mr. Cleveland J. Cady, of New York, as President, supported by eleven Vice-Presidents representing territory from Boston to Kansas City and as far south as Washington. The main object of the federation is “to secure co-operation among churches and Christian workers throughout the United States for the more effective promoting of the interests of the kingdom of God.” Its arms are opened wide, providing that “any ecclesiastical body, or any federative organization existing for religious or moral purposes, may, on approval of the Executive Board, send delegates to this body.” Any local church or any individual may become a member by paying an annual subscription. All this is very broad and indeterminate. Neither Roman Catholics nor Unitarians are excluded, and the “interests of the kingdom of God” are very elastic, including in many minds the use of political legislative machinery for the effecting of their purposes. We wish to say that we have no condemnation for the sincere men connected with these movements. They doubtless believe that they are doing good. But we do wish to say, because we believe it our duty, that evil instead of good will grow out of this movement, especially thru the connection of the church with social and political un-Gospel means and methods, and the stultification of conscientious convictions over the simple teaching of Bible truth. True union—the union enjoined by Paul, and prayed for by Christ—is union in truth. Therefore, in His wonderful supplication for union Christ prayed the Father: “Sanctify them thru thy truth; thy Word is truth. . . . And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified thru the truth; . . . that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” John 17:17–21. Every union formed on different principles than that for which Christ prayed, will lower clear, conscientious conviction, will lessen regard for the Word of God, and will make of Jesus our Lord in the eyes of the people a mere time-server, holding to expediency rather than principle, regarding with indifference the very truth for which He died.