Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jun 6, 1912

The Men and Religion Forward Movement

THIS movement has created much interest in church circles during the few months of its existence. By many it has been heartily commended, but from other sources has come severe criticism of its methods and work. The movement as such has now come to an end. William T. Ellis, secretary of the Publicity Commission connected with the movement, in the Independent of May 9, 1912, gives a review of the work. Approximately ten thousand addresses have been given, and one million five hundred thousand men have attended the services. About seventy leading American cities have been visited. He argues that much good has been accomplished in awakening Christian people to the actual conditions which exist, in leading pastors to sense more fully their local responsibility and to take a broader view of the field they should occupy, and that inasmuch as the laymen of various churches have been brought together in work, it has minimized ecclesiastical and doctrinal differences, and promoted the cause of Christian unity.

The accomplishment of this last result is emphasized by Mr. F. B. Smith, the leader of the movement, as quoted by the Western Recorder of May 9, 1912. He believes that "the Men and Religion Movement, whatever else it may have done, has sounded the death knell of denominational distinction." He is confident that the movement has set church unity forward at least twenty-five years. These results, with others that have been obtained, are, according to Mr. Ellis, "now bequeathed to the churches. The committee of ninety-seven has gone out of existence, as it promised to do from the first. Thus it has testified to the widely expressed conviction that the country has had enough of general religious movement for some time to come. It is time to give the local congregations and denominational organizations opportunity to practise what they have learned. It is hoped that the Federal Council of Churches will carry forward in some form the same work which has been inaugurated by the Men and Religion Forward Movement."

As to the benefits of the movement there is much diversity of opinion among the various churches. The Lutheran analyzes the movement, and presents the estimate in which it is held by different parties in the church. Some, it says, feel that "the movement has been ethical and humanitarian rather than spiritual and redemptive, and that the church has been tempted to look upon the world not as sinful and in need of salvation, but as unfortunate and in need of social and moral betterment."

Others, however, regard the movement in a more charitable light, and the Lutheran itself feels that "this agitation has grown out of a religious unrest that was born of the consciousness that something is wrong with the men of the church taken as a whole; that perfunctory, easy-going Christianity, which recognizes no personal responsibility toward its neighbors, must be done away with if the church is to fulfil her mission." The Lutheran believes that "if the various church bodies would take advantage of this agitation and foster a laymen's movement" for the carrying forward of educational and missionary work, tangible results would follow in the wake of the agitation.

The Western Recorder (Baptist) of May 9, 1912, however, feels to criticize quite severely the avowed purpose of the movement in bringing about greater Christian unity, and its claim to have advanced church unity at least twenty-five years. It can not see how Baptists can conscientiously unite with an effort of this sort, and feels that the Young Men's Christian Association, through which the movement has done much of its work, should not be committed to a propaganda that has for its purpose the extinction of denominationalism.

These quotations fairly represent the comments of the religious press with reference to the influence of the Men and Religion Forward Movement, and the results achieved. Seventh-day Adventists may see much to admire in the earnestness and enthusiasm connected with a movement of this character. They may recognize the fact that many connected with such efforts are men and women of God, and the value of some of the results gained. However, they should ever bear in mind that our work is distinctive in its character. As Israel of old was not to be numbered among the nations (Num. 23:9), so this people and this movement can not form an alliance with religious movements of this character. Heaven has commissioned this people with a definite, specific message to the world. That message can not be lost by uniting itself with other movements, however worthy and humanitarian they may appear to be, but must ever maintain its distinctive character.

We must ever keep in the forefront as the burden of our efforts for mankind the distinctive features of the message which have called us into existence as a people.