CHURCH FEDERATION by G. B. Thompson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 6, 1901

CHURCH FEDERATION.

By G. B. Thompson

The federation of the various Protestant denominations is being urged by many prominent workers in evangelical lines. They deem it necessary, in order to stem the ever-increasing tide of vice and immorality which threatens to engulf the nation.

While a union of all Christians on proper lines in reaching out a helping hand to perishing humanity, might be desirable, we fear that in the present movement there are tendencies which lead in the wrong direction. From a small folder written by Rev. J. Winthrop Hegeman, one of the prime movers in the proposed federation, I extract the following:—

“Such an organization could become the servant of the churches in all things pertaining to the kingdom. It could be a clearing-house for all church interests, a medium of exchange of facts, problems, and remedies, an organ of expression of the will of members of the kingdom, a tower of observation to give a bird's-eye view of tendencies, set notions, and changes affecting American Christianity, and a board of strategy to find out the strength of the common enemy, and map out a plan of campaign. This would give to Protestantism that which it so much needs for efficient service, and which would realize the representative headship of the apostolic republic, and thus secure the advantages which the Church of Rome possesses in her magnificent organization.”

The writer sees danger in the professedly Protestant denominations fixing their eyes on the Church of Rome, and longing for her “magnificent organization.” This “magnificent organization” is demonstrated by the prophetic seer as the “beast,” “mystery of iniquity,” “mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.” Her organization is the outgrowth of wrong principles, and when the so-called Protestant churches desire federation, that they may possess her “magnificent organization,” they seem to be drifting back into Rome. The “magnificent organization” of the Holy Spirit is what the Protestantism of to-day needs, but we insist that this is not possessed by the church whose head resides in Italy.

Further on this brochure says:—

“Surely we must all admit that the churches are at last touched by that coercive power in the world which has federated States into nations, integrated societies into larger entities, and is combining small interests into syndicates, monopolies, and trusts.”

If we understand this language correctly it states that one reason why we are ready for federation is because the churches have been touched with the power which is to-day forming “combines,” “monopolies,” “trusts,” etc. Sad truth indeed! Let professed Protestantism become possessed of the “magnificent organization” of the Church of Rome, and operated by that “coercive power” which is making itself felt in the tyranny of trusts, and it will become an engine of persecution, a veritable image of the beast. We deplore this tendency which seems everywhere manifest. There is need in this our day of heeding the Saviour's admonition to “watch.”

Rome, N. Y. G. B. Thompson.