CHURCH FEDERATION by A. O. Burrill

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 9, 1901

CHURCH FEDERATION.

By A. O. Burrill

The New York State Executive Board of Federation of Churches was in session in the First Presbyterian Church in this city (Syracuse, N. Y.) all day Tuesday, December 11. The Monday papers had a notice that in the evening the public was invited. I therefore went, but to my surprise I found the meeting in the chapel, and the public congregation composed of ministers, with two exceptions. Dr. J. W. Hegeman, of New York City, was the principal speaker, the other ministers catechising him. Thus, many important points in regard to the nature and character of the work were brought out. Among the questions and answers the following points were developed:—

In a federation of churches there must be—

1. As a permanent basis of unity a common life, in which every unit would inhere.

2. A common purpose, which would be of interest to each member.

3. A common consent of each member to constitute an organized headship, or union, to serve the common interests of all the members.

The unit in the federation is the individual church. It may be desirable to have State and national federation organized, with the local federation as the unit.

On this basis a composite unity is possible. We raise no question of doctrine, dogma, creed, polity, or anything peculiar to any church.

The one aim common to all churches is to save men.

The government of the local federation is vested in a council composed of representatives from each denomination.

Its Nature.

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 churches interested; 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, situations, and changes affecting American Christianity; a board of strategy to find out the strength and resources 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.

So Much for the Plan and Purpose.

The great object seems to be to perfect an organization which will be to the Protestants what the papal organization is to Catholics. This sounds like making “an image to the beast.”

Wherein will be the difference in principle in the above federation of churches from the papal principle of federation of churches? When the Protestants have fully accomplished this federation of churches, they say that they will “possess” a “magnificent organization,” for it will be like the papal. The speaker further said:—

“Existing conditions favor it. A growing perception of its need, desirability, and practicability prepares the mind to accept of it. The rallying centers of common attraction are nuclei for integration into federation.”

“The knell of denominational individualism, churchism and competition is sounding.”

“The wide-awake Christians feel the desirability of securing legislation in behalf of righteousness of life and of enforcing it, of systematical and simultaneous agitation all along the line, in awakening interest in the vital concerns of the people, and of embodying the ideals of the Master, in our national life.”

Since “righteousness” comes only “by faith of Jesus Christ,” the kind which this organization promises by “enforcing it,” is the spurious, and, therefore, not righteousness at all, but religious persecution.

The whole drift was to reform society legally.

Arrangements were made to formulate a city federation of churches, and delegates were appointed to the national federation of churches, to convene in Philadelphia February 5 and 6.

I could but think that “Church and State are now making preparations for the future conflict. Protestants are working in disguise to bring Sunday to the front, as did the Romanists.” “A great crisis awaits the people of God. A crisis awaits the world. The most momentous struggle of all the ages is just before us.” We need to be men that have understanding of the times in which we live, to know what ought to be done, and to do it.

A. O. BURRILL.