NATIONAL REFORM'S "ONLY HOPE."
By Alonzo Trévier Jones
AT a recent National Reform convention it was publicly asserted that the theory of the association is "the federation and co-operation of the nations to do away with the military institution. This is the great and the only hope." According to the Word of God, this is a very poor hope. See Ps. 46:3-5; Isa. 2:22. The only hope for the world that is worthy the name is the hope of the Gospel. But the doing away with the military institution is an illusive dream, unless the selfish desire to rule and the mania for tinsel glory, so prevalent in the world, can also be done away. And such a consummation can not be brought about by peace congress, or international law, or any other kind of human law or device. But federation seems to be the general slogan to-day, the cure-all for human ills, both religious and political. And the ideal federation of the National Reform Association would be a federation of the nations controlled by some religious influence—for instance, the National Reform Association itself. Now history tells us of a federation of nations—ten in number—under the absolute control of what professed to be the Christian church—the universal church. But those nations did not disarm; they didn't dare to disarm; they lacked the confidence in one another to abolish their military institutions. They well knew that, altho every one of those nations was recognized by "the church" as a Christian nation, every national government stood ready to take advantage of any manifest weakness on the part of the other. Moreover, "the church" itself did not want the military institution done away, the ruling functionaries felt the need of military protection even against many of its professed friends. Those nations were federated to the extent that they gave their united power to the support of the religious and political supremacy of the head of the church of Rome. The Word of God tells us that there will be another federation of the nations which will give their power to that same church. That church lost its temporal power and prestige in 1798, when the pope was made prisoner by the French, and died in exile. And this humiliation was repeated when the military support of France was withdrawn in 1870; but the prophecy says that its "deadly wound" will be "healed." It will again be sustained by the military power of federated nations; for "they give their power as kings," and the ultimate of such power is force, military force. That they are federated is shown by the declaration that they "have one mind," and "give their power and strength" unto the restored church. When earthly kings give their power and strength, they undoubtedly display military power. But such condition of affairs will be but for an "hour," indicating a very brief period; and the next thing is they are overcome by the advent of the Lord. See Rev. 17:12-14. This will put an end to all human federation business—which the National Reform Association announces as the only hope for the accomplishment of its ideal scheme. G.