The World's Christian Citizenship Conference
By Charles M. Snow
THERE has just closed, in the city of Portland, Oregon, an important religious gathering and one of far-reaching influence; namely, the World's Christian Citizenship Conference, under the auspices of the National Reform Association. It was designed to be international in character, and was, to a limited extent. The conference began on Sunday, June 29, and closed on Sunday, July 6. The assembled delegates were given most hearty welcome by the officials of both the State and the municipality, and great effort was put forth by the city to make the delegation feel it had been truly welcomed. The general sessions of the conference were held in a large stadium, whose seating capacity was over 5,000 and whose standing capacity was easily twice as many more. The size of these general gatherings ranged from about 2,000 to between 8,000 and 9,000. In the forenoons, sectional conferences on different phases of social and religious work were held in various churches throughout the city, and during afternoons and evenings the more general subjects were discussed in the open stadium. There is no question that such gatherings as this are having great influence upon the public; and while there were some principles enunciated and some declarations made by some of the speakers that were entirely out of harmony with the principles of National Reformism, yet the fact that these men were upon the program of this conference throws their general influence upon the side of that un-American organization, and causes the multitude to rate them as strong sympathizers if not active participants with that organization in all the work it is doing. The general plan of endeavor laid before this conference was strikingly like that adopted by the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ, and has also a striking similarity to the plan of work laid out by the Christian Endeavorers at their last general convention. It is a very striking coincidence that these great religious bodies, and others that might be named, are working along similar lines which are strikingly opposed to the principles that have made America a refuge for the oppressed of every land. But there is more than a coincidence in this. There is a very definite plan being very methodically worked out in the very face of the church of Jesus Christ by the adversary of Jesus Christ, and the professed members of that church are made the tools for the accomplishment of that adversary's purpose. It is only through such plans, carried out by such classes of people, that this world could ever be brought to a place where a decree could be issued to all the world compelling certain acts of worship. The prophecy of the Revelation concerning the worship of the beast and his image is a part of the Word of God and must be fulfilled. But it cannot be fulfilled unless in some way professed Christendom can be brought into line with the purpose of the deceiver; for the power which issues that decree of compulsory worship is a religious power. Now we see the great bulk of Christendom focusing its forces upon the accomplishment of religious objects by the power of human law. Many of the objects which these associations hope to attain are worthy objects in and of themselves. There is very little that is commendable in this world that such organizations do not stand for. They condemn the divorce evil, the liquor traffic, white slavery, inadequate wage, child labor, polygamy, dishonest living, immoral and insanitary housing conditions, political dishonesty, etc., and their opposition to these things and their advocacy of the opposite are put forward as the ground of their claim to the confidence, the sympathy, and the support of the general public. The impression is given that if the public will sufficiently support them in their undertakings, all the evils they condemn will be eradicated from this world, and all the good things they stand for will soon be the normal living conditions of this world. Not only so, but this is to be accomplished through the instrumentality of human legislation. It is to be the age of law-made righteousness, and the law that is to accomplish such a transformation10in men is human law enforced by penalties, whereas in the program of heaven the transformation of men comes through the operation of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of individuals. The first sentence in the "Program of Christian Citizenship" adopted by this conference reads: "The object and inspiration of all effort is the establishment of the kingdom of God;" and this digest of purpose, from its first paragraph to its last, indicates the design of this organization to bring in the kingdom of Christ in this world through the eradication of wrong and the establishment of right by the process of human legislation; and when all these objects have been made the subject of legislation, the kingdom of God will have been established in this earth, and Christ will come to receive his kingdom and begin his everlasting reign. It is not difficult for one who has studied the prophecies of God's Word to see that when that time arrives, there will be some one at hand to impersonate the King of kings and proclaim himself the rightful ruler of the universe. When such associations have carried their program to its consummation, the time will not be far distant when one will come "with all power and signs and lying wonders," to sweep into his great net of deception all those who have not received the love of the truth that they might be saved. For that fearful time such programs are swiftly shaping the world. As we sat and listened to the program of this convention and compared it with the programs of other similar bodies, we could not help uttering fervent thanks to God for the blessed light of truth which has outlined these programs before they came into being and showed the way of escape. The details of the program will be more definitely dealt with in another article.