FEDERATION OF CHURCHES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 17, 1906

FEDERATION OF CHURCHES

FEDERATION ACCOMPLISHED.

A Pre-arranged Program.

THE Inter-Church Conference on Federation is in the past. As to theory, plan, and framework, it accomplished what it was called together to do. It was brought together for a definite purpose; and it was managed to that end alone. And there is no question but that it was most ably managed to that end.

Before the conference was half through, there were mutterings and complaints that the delegation were given no real part in the conference, that a pre-arranged program was being put through by the managers, while all the delegates were allowed simply to sit in their seats with nothing to say, and nothing to do but listen to those who were the active ones in the pre-arranged program. They were publicly comforted with the promise that when the conference should reach the reports of the committees as to plan of federation, resolutions, etc., then the delegates would have their opportunity.

And when the plan of federation was proposed, and the delegates began to propose amendments that looked toward the form of government in the federation, and thus began to say and do something, they were informed that all this was beyond their jurisdiction as yet; that this was a conference only on federation; that any amendment as to federation was proper, but anything beyond that was beyond their power now; that even in the matter of federation, when they should have adopted a plan of federation, this plan itself must be referred back for ratification, to the denominations that had sent this delegation; that when these denominations had duly ratified the Plan of Federation, then federation would be a fact accomplished; and that when the federating denominations should under the plan appoint delegates to the proposed meeting in December, 1908, and those delegates should have duly assembled, only then would the federation in its delegates be a self-governing body and qualified to take action; only then would the delegates be qualified to initiate action and discuss polity, etc. This enabled the management to put through the whole Plan of Federation in only a little over half an hour altogether.

The Wiser Way.

And when the report of the Committee on Resolutions was presented, and again the delegates began to express views and indicate action, as on prohibition, their attention was called to what had been previously stated, that since whatever should be done in this conference must be submitted to the federating denominations for ratification, it was not within the province of the delegation to decide what it would do, but only to adopt such recommendations as would most likely meet the approval of the federating denominations; and that since the Business Committee was composed of representatives of these denominations, and that committee had reached unanimous agreement on the resolutions presented, it would be best not to attempt material changes; also since the time of the conference was now so short, it was advisable not to consume it in discussion, at the expense of taking the time of the eminent gentlemen who at the expense of means, time, and effort, were present and prepared to present their papers as in the regular program. This enabled the management to put through the resolutions also in only a few minutes.

And in view of the purpose for which the conference was assembled, and in view of developments in the conference, the course thus taken was evidently the wise one. For on material questions touched, both in the presentation of subjects in the program, and in the resolutions, there were manifestly discordant and indeed antagonistic views held, not only among the delegates but those who were on the regular program. It was therefore perfectly plain that if the conference should be let loose to the airing, and therefore the extending, magnifying, and multiplying, of these discordances and antagonisms, there would at once be an absolute end to all hope of federation by this conference and at this time.

Discordant Views.

For instance several of the speakers of the regular program declared with vigorous emphasis that "the Bible must be restored to its place in the public schools;" that "the Bible must be enthroned in the public school;" and these declarations were approved with loud applause from the delegation. On the other hand there were just as positive declarations, with just as vigorous emphasis, that there must be no attempt to put the Bible in the public schools; that religion must be kept out of the public schools; that "church and state must be kept separate." And these declarations were approved with distinct and decided, tho possibly not so strong, applause from the delegation.

For further instance: On the question and the resolution concerning temperance and the liquor traffic—whether absolute prohibition or the recognition of license should be the attitude—aside from the fact as stated by the chairman that "seventeen resolutions, from Carrie Nation up," had come to the committee, the differences were so manifest that, even with the curb with which the delegation was held to the one thought and purpose of federation, it required effort to shut off discussion; indeed it had to be done by simply and abruptly shutting it off.

And when, in all the circumstances and under the controlling hand as to this conference, the indications were what they were, it is interesting to contemplate what will occur in their council in 1908, when the whole delegation will be perfectly free as to initiative and discussion, within limitations set only by itself upon itself.

In yet further instance: It is certain that from the floor in open session, there were sent to the Business Committee more resolutions, and in the regular program there was more said, concerning Sunday observance, and "Sabbath desecration" than concerning the liquor traffic. And yet the Business Committee reported absolutely nothing on that subject.

The One Purpose Federation.

These facts serve to demonstrate how decidedly the management that had secured the assembling

of the conference, were set on accomplishing federation. This was the one transcendent note in every subject of the regular program. Toward this as the one single goal the whole conference was from the beginning engineered, and was in its action guided. This, to the exclusion of everything else, and at whatever expense of leveling or ignoring, was the one single thing aimed at. And that thing was accomplished. That is to say, as to theory, as to plan, as to framework, it was accomplished. And in a certain sense, and to a certain extent, beyond this, it was accomplished.

And just what in this federation of churches, as a practical working thing, has been accomplished, is not only an interesting study, but a most important matter to this nation and to all the people. But to the telling of this another article will have to be devoted.