Church Union and Religious Legislation
The Occident in speaking of the union of churches recently, remarks that "the thing which seems to us so hopeful, and the realization of the near future, is the blending in one of the bodies of like faith and the co-operation of the remainder. The former seems only a question of time for accomplishment in the foreign field, and the latter is being hastened by the broader minds on all sides." It refers to the coldness and selfishness manifested by some as chilling, but the "leaders" and their "characters and surroundings" show that these "possibilities" of union are not out of range. And then the Occident gives us one of the compelling forces of unity in the following:— "In fact, add the pressure of providences that necessitate the combination of the forces of Christendom, and the most unbelieving can hardly look to the need of more than ten years to bring into willingness the most unwilling." Among these so-called providences is the demand for religious legislation. True union would be, not mere co-operation, but blending. "Pressure of providences" united Pilate and Herod, and Jesus was crucified. Politics is bearing too large a share in the unifying of these denominations for the union to be safe or to be looked upon as a thing of good. The Sunday law is one of the essentials, and its consequences are oppression and persecution.