The Religious Trust

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 13, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 36.

The Religious Trust

The trust principle does not find its expression among the great "captains of industry" and "merchant princes" alone. It is found elsewhere. To meet the money or capitalistic trust we have the labor trust, and it has not always been judicious, mild, or peaceably inclined. Then, too, we have the great church federation that is nothing more nor less than a religious trust, which assumes to mark out mission fields, direct missionary activities, and give mold to the political life. It demands as one of its badges of power a civilly enforced sabbath. It demands control in both civil and religious activities, at home and in mission fields. The religious trust, founded on principles which are essentially worldly, is the worst trust of all, and is inevitably bound to work out evil. "Religious combinations to effect a political purpose are always dangerous." In the legitimate war against trusts, do not forget the religious trust.