8
1
8
download/literature/watchtower/1906-19.pdf
../literature/watchtower/1906/19/1906-19-1.html
VOL.
XXVII
ALLEGHENY,
P
A.,
OCTOBER
1,
1906
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.
19
PRACTICAL
RESULTS
OF
THE
CHURCH
FEDERATION
MOVEMENT
The
following,
clipped
from
a
pamphlet
entitled
"Lib
erty,"
we
esteem
worthy
of
presentation
in
these
columns.
<l
No
movement
inaugurated
during
recent
years
is
prob
ably
of
greater
significance
than
the
Inter-Church
Federation
movement.
It
is
one
which
cannot
fail
to
be
attended
with
tremendous
consequences,
and,
if
followed
to
its
logical
out
come,
will
terminate
in
results
which
ought
to
cause
every
thoughtful
person
to
shudder
in
advance.
"The
outcome
of
this
federation
movement
has
been
plain
ly
outlinerl
in
the
'sure
work
of
prophecy.'
History
also
illus
trates,
by
similar
movements,
its
meaning.
"Concerning
its
importance,
the
chairman
of
the
Inter
Church
Federation
Conference,
recently
held
in
New
York
City,
said:
'This
is
one
of
the
most
notable
assemblies
of
believers
in
Jesus
Christ
that
has
ever
been
seen.
John
Calvin
wrote
to
Cranmer,
archbishop
of
Canterbury,
and
declared
he
would
cross
any
sea
to
make
such
a
union
effective.
The
dream
of
the
great
reformer
and
the
great
archbishop
has
met
with
realiza
tion
in
these
latter
days.'
A
BIBLE
PROHIBITION
OF
CONFEDERACY
"
'Say
ye
not,
A
confederacy,
to
all
them
to
whom
this
people
shall
say,
A
confederacy;
neither
fear
ye
their
fear,
nor
be
afraid.'
(Isa.
8:
12.)
It
is
evident,
from
the
context
of
this
passage,
that
God's
professed
people
inaugurated
this
federation
movement
against
which
he
warned
them,
because
they
had
departed
from
him,
and'
refused
the
waters
of
Shiloh
that
go
softly,'
and
'vexed
his
holy
Spirit.'
"The
rejection
of
the
holy
Spirit
lies
at
the
foundation
of
every
church
federation
which
has
blighted
the
prosperity
of
the
churCh
during
her
history.
The
only
union
the
true
church
has
ever
sought
is
a
union
with
Jesus
Christ,
the
great
Head
of
the
church;
and
when
such
a
union
has
been
maintained,
mighty
power
has
attended
it.
As
evidence
of
this,
one
has
but
to
revert
to
apostolic
times,
when
the
church
went
forth
'fair
as
the
moon,
clear
as
the
sun,
and
terrible
as
an
army
with
banners.'
"
Years
ago
much
power
attended
revival
efforts,
conducted
by
such
men
as
Professor
Finney,
President
of
Oberlin
College,
and
later,
Mr.
Moody
and
others.
These
old-time
revivals
were
attended
with
a
harvest
of
souls;
but
they
are
largely
now
things
of
the
past.
Many
ministers
deplore
the
absence
of
spiritual
power
which
prevails
to
such
an
alarming
extent
at
the
present
time.
Realizing
keenly
the
weakness
and
lack
of
spiritual
life
which
characterized
the
once
Spirit-filled
church
with
a
power
which
brought
conviction
to
sin-sick
souls,
church
men
are
seeking
for
some
remedy
by
which
the
church
may
re
gain
her
former
power.
,
'The
means
by
which
this
restoration
of
former
power
is
sought
is
a
gigantic
church
federation
movement,
through
which
the
church
may
secure
the
power
of
the
State
to
in
stitute
moral
reforms
and
enforce
her
decrees.
To
many,
at
first
thought,
this
may
seem
an
innocent,
harmless,
and
de
sirable
thing.
For
this
reason
we
desire
to
submit
a
few
of
the
inevitable
practical
results
of
such
a
union.
"One
of
the
results
of
this
movement
was
outlined
by
a
prominent
delegate
at
the
conference,
as
follows:
"
'I
trust
that
one
of
the
practical
results
of
this
confer
ence
will
be
the
organization
of
a
force
that
lawbreakers
and
lawmakers
will
respect
and
heed
when
great
questions
of
morals
are
involved.
Our
Gospel
is
the
fulfilment
of
the
law.
It
is
our
province,
in
the
name
of
our
Supreme
King,
and
seeking
the
good
of
mankind,
to
ask
rulers
to
respect
the
code
of
our
kingdom.
Rulers
may
ignore
sects,
but
they
will
respect
the
church.
This
federation
will
compel
an
audience,
and
it
will
speak
with
power
if
it
will
put
aside
its
differences
and
make
its
agreement
its
argument.'
"When
the
end
has
been
attained
for
which
they
have
he
en
seeking,
we
will
have
a
parallel
to
that
which
existed
in
the
fourth
century,
when
the
bishops
of
Rome
were
united
in
compelling
the
Emperor
Constantine
and
others
to
yield
to
their
demands
concerning
the
settlement
of
'grave
moral
ques
tions,'
among
which
was
chiefly
the
enforcement
of
Sunday
observance
by
law.
A
CHURCH
TRUST
"Another
result
of
the
evil
principles
underlying
this
pro
posed
Federation
will
be
a
veritable
church
union,
or
trust;
and
the
same
tactics
will
doubtless
be
employed
by
it
as
are
common
to
other
unions.
Freedom
to
preach
the
gospel
will
be
denied.
Any
denomination
not
conforming
to
the
creed,
rules,
and
regulations
of
this
religiOlls
trust,
will
be
regarded
as
an
unlawful
rival.
This
was
indicated
by
one
speaker
at
the
recent
conference,
who
said:
"
'No
community
in
which
any
denomination
has
any
legiti
mate
claim,
should
be
entered
by
any
other
denomination
through
its
official
agencies
without
conference
with
the
de
nomination
or
denominations
having
said
claims.
A
feeble
church
should
be
revived,
if
possible,
rather
than
a
new
one
established
to
become
its
rival.'
"This
is
an
age
of
unions
and
confederacies.
Every
de
pa.rtment
of
the
commercial
world
is
being
bound
together.
The
power
which
is
being
wielded
by
these
unions
in
securing
their
desired
ends
has
exerted
an
influence
which
the
church,
in
its
worldly
condition,
has
been
unable
to
resist.
On
this
point
a
prominent
speaker
at
the
recent
Inter-Church
Federation
Conference
said:
'The
two
words
which
express
the
prin
ciples
that
rule
today
in
the
business
world
are
cooperation
and
economy.
Apply
these
two
thoughts
to
the
work
of
the
church.
Our
sects
and
denominations
have
often
been
sources
of
rivalry
and
competition,
and
they
have
left
the
church
as
a
whole
weakened
and
shorn
of
its
power.
We
have
not
pre
sented
a
united
front
against
a
common
enemy,
but
have
too
often
fired
into
one
another's
camps
.
•
.
Cooperation
through
a
closer
federation
is
the
need
of
the
hour.'
,
'It
will
readily
be
seen
from
this
proposal
that
any
de
nomination
which
does
not
belong
to
the
union,
would
at
once
be
considered
a
'rival,'
or,
in
a
more
characteristic
term
famil
iar
to
all
unions,
a
'scab.'
This
would
at
once
arouse
endless
animosities
and
controversies
between
the
unions
and
the
pects
which
are
not
connected
with
the
federation,
or
union.
Such
a
course
would
result
only
in
the
federation
churches
bringing
pressure
to
bear
upon
those
who
refuse
to
yield
to
their
de
mands,
which
would
be
nothing
short
of
religious
persecution.
Again
it
will
be
seen
that
the
only
safe
union
for
the
church
the
only
truE:
union,
is
a
union
with
Christ."
,
TO
PURIFY
THE
SONS
OF
LEVI
It
Who
shall
abide
the
day
of
his
coming'
Who
shall
stand
when
he
inspects'
For
he
is
like
a
refiner's
fire
and
like
fuller's
soap:
and
he
shall
sit
as
a
refiner
and
purifier
of
silver:
and
he
shall
purify
the
sons
of
Levi
and
purge
them
as
gold
and
silver,
and
they
shall
offer
unto
the
Lord
an
offering
in
righteousness.
"-Mal.
3
:2,
3.
Blessings
have
come
to
us
through
an
appreciation
of
the
fore
the
world's
day
of
trouble
is
ushered
in.
It
is
this
day
teaching
of
the
Scripture
respecting
the
great
day
of
trouble
of
trial
upon
the
church,
this
special
testing
of
the
elect
coming
upon
the
whole
world
of
mankind--especially
upon
that
is
referred
to
in
our
text.
'
Christendom.
Truly
the
Scriptures
teach
a
time
of
trouble
PRIESTS
AND
LEVITES
such
as
was
not
since
there
was
a
nation,
because
of
which
even
The
house
of
Levi,
the
priestly
tribe,
typified
the
house-
now,
as
our
Lord
prophesied,
"Men's
hearts
are
failing
them
hold
of
faith
of
this
Gospel
age.
As
the
priests
constituted
for
fear,
and
for
looking
after
those
things
coming
upon
the
the
highest
order
or
class
amongst
the
Levites,
so
the
royal
earth."
We
do
well
that
we
rejoice
that
this
day
of
trouble
priesthood,
the
Lord's
consecrated,
the
saints
of
this
Gospel
coming
upon
the
world
as
a
thief
and
a
snare
has
not
so
come
age,
constitute
the
highest
class
amongst
the
spiritual
Levites
upon
us,
but
that
we
already
by
faith
see
many
of
its
details
the
household
of
faith.
When,
therefore,
the
Lord
through
th~
and
the
glorious
outcome,
the
establishment
of
the
kingdom
of
Prophet
declares
the
testing
and
purging
of
the
house
of
Levi
God
under
the
whole
heavens.
We
fear,
however,
that
this
it
includes
all
of
the
"household
of
faith,"
the
"little
flock"
great
trouble
upon
the
world,
which
in
some
sense
we
hope
to
and
the
"great
company."
The
end
of
this
age
is
the
time
be
"accounted
worthy
to
escape,"
has
so
filled
the
mental
hori-
for
the
Lord's
inspection
of
the
entire
household
of
faith
and
zon
of
some
of
the
Lord's
people
that
it
has
hidden
from
their
properly
enough
the
inspection
begins
at
the
top
of
the
house
attention
another
kind
of
trial
which
is
especially
for
the
begms
with
the
saints,
but
wiII
extend
to
every
consecrated
church,
and
which
must
reach
us
and
test
us
and
prove
us
be-
one.
The
two
classes
subjected
to
the
fiery
trials
of
the
Re-
(3
0
7"3
08
)
[3864]
Vou. XXVII ALLEGHENY, PA., OCTOBER 1, 1906 No. 19 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER PRACTICAL RESULTS OF THE CHURCH FEDERATION MOVEMENT The following, clipped from a pamphlet entitled ‘‘Liberty,’’ we esteem worthy of presentation in these columns. “‘No movement inaugurated during recent years is probably of greater significance than the Inter-Chureh Federation movement. It is one which cannot fail to be attended with tremendous consequences, and, if followed to its logical outcome, will terminate in results which ought to cause every thoughtful person to shudder in advance. ‘‘The outcome of this federation movement has been plainly outlined in the ‘sure work of prophecy.’ History also illustrates, by similar movements, its meaning. ‘Concerning its importance, the chairman of the InterChurch Fedcration Conference, recently held in New York City, said: ‘This is one of the most notable assemblies of believers in Jesus Christ that has ever been seen. John Calvin wrote to Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, and declared he would cross any sea to make such a union effective. The dream of the great reformer and the great archbishop has met with realization in these latter days.’ A BIBLE PROHIBITION OF CONFEDERACY ‘« (Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.’ (Isa. 8:12.) It is evident, from the context of this passage, that God’s professed people inaugurated this federation movement against which he warned them, because they had departed from him, and ‘refused the waters of Shiloh that go softly,’ and ‘vexed his holy Spirit.’ ‘The rejection of the holy Spirit hes at the foundation of every church federation which has blighted the prosperity of the church during her history. The only union the true church has ever sought is a union with Jesus Christ, the great Head of the church; and when such a union has been maintained, mighty power has attended it. As evidence of this, one has but to revert to apostolic times, when the church went forth ‘fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.’ ‘*Years ago much power attended revival efforts, conducted by such men as Professor Finney, President of Oberlin College, and later, Mr. Moody and others. These old-time revivals were attended with a harvest of souls; but they are largely now things of the past. Many ministers deplore the absence of spiritual power which prevails to such an alarming extent at the present time. Realizing keenly the weakness and lack of spiritual life which characterized the once Spirit-filled church with a power which brought conviction to sin-sick souls, churchmen are seeking for some remedy by which the church may regain her former power. ‘‘The means by which this restoration of former power is sought is a gigantic church federation movement, through which the church may secure the power of the State to institute moral reforms and enforce her decrees. To many, at first thought, this may seem an innocent, harmless, and desirable thing. For this reason we desire to submit a few of the inevitable practical results of such a union. ‘*One of the results of this movement was outlined by a prominent delegate at the conference, as follows: ‘« «T trust that one of the practical results of this conference will be the organization of a force that lawbreakers and lawmakers will respect and heed when great questions of morals are involved. Our Gospel is the fulfilment of the law. It is our province, in the name of our Supreme King, and seeking the good of mankind, to ask rulers to respect the code of our kingdom. Rulers may ignore sects, but they will respect the church. This federation will compel an audience, and it will speak with power if it will put aside its differences and make its agreement its argument.’ ‘*When the end has been attained for which they have been seeking, we will have a parallel to that which existed in the fourth century, when the bishops of Rome were united in compelling the Emperor Constantine and others to yield to their demands concerning the settlement of ‘grave moral questions,’ among which was chiefly the enforcement of Sunday observance by law. A CHURCH TRUST ‘* Another result of the evil principles underlying this proposed Federation will be a veritable church union, or trust; and the same tactics will doubtless be employed by it as are common to other unions. Freedom to preach the gospel will be denied. Any denomination not conforming to the creed, rules, and regulations of this religious trust, will be regarded as an unlawful rival. This was indicated by one speaker at the recent conference, who said: ‘¢ “No community in which any denomination has any legitimate claim, should be entered by any other denomination through its official agencies without conference with the denomination or denominations having said claims. A feeble church should be revived, if possible, rather than a new one established to become its rival.’ ‘This is an age of unions and confederacies, Every department of the commercial world is being bound together. The power which is being wielded by these unions in securing their desired ends has exerted an influence which the church, in its worldly condition, has been unable to resist. On this point a prominent speaker at the recent Inter-Church Federation Conference said: ‘The two words which express the principles that rule today in the business world are codperation and economy. Apply these two thoughts to the work of the church. Our sects and denominations have often been sources of rivalry and competition, and they have left the church as a whole weakened and shérn of its power. We have not presented a united front against a common enemy, but have too often fired into one another’s camps . . . Codperation through a closer federation is the need of the hour.’ “‘It will readily be seen from this proposal that any denomination which does not belong to the union, would at once be considered a ‘rival,’ or, in a more characteristic term familjar to all unions, a ‘seab.’ This would at once arouse endless animosities and controversies between the unions and the rects which are not connected with the federation, or union. Such a course would result only in the federation churches bringing pressure to bear upon those who refuse to yield to their demands, which would be nothing short of religious persecution. Again it will be seen that the only safe union for the church, the only true union, is a union with Christ.’’ TO PURIFY THE SONS OF LEVI *¢Who shall abide the day of his coming? Who shall stand when he inspects? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, and they shall offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.’’—Mal. 3:2, 3. Blessings have come to us through an appreciation of the teaching of the Scripture respecting the great day of trouble coming upon the whole world of mankind—especially upon Christendom. Truly the Scriptures teach a time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation, because of which even now, as our Lord prophesied, ‘‘Men’s hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things coming upon the earth.’’ We do well that we rejoice that this day of trouble coming upon the world as a thief and a snare has not so come upon us, but that we already by faith see many of its details and the glorious outcome, the establishment of the kingdom of God under the whole heavens. We fear, however, that this great trouble upon the world, which in some sense we hope to be ‘‘aceounted worthy to escape,’’ has so filled the mental horizon of some of the Lord’s people that it has hidden from their attention another kind of trial which is especially for the church, and which must reach us and test us and prove us be (307-308) fore the world’s day of trouble is ushered in. It is this day of trial upon the church, this special testing of the elect, that is referred to in our text. PRIESTS AND LEVITES The house of Levi, the priestly tribe, typified the household of faith of this Gospel age. As the priests constituted the highest order or class amongst the Levites, so the royal priesthood, the Lord’s consecrated, the saints of this Gospel age, constitute the highest class amongst the spiritual Levites, the household of faith. When, therefore, the Lord through the Prophet declares the testing and purging of the house of Levi it includes all of the ‘‘household of faith,’’ the ‘‘little flock’’ and the ‘‘great company.’’ The end of this age is the time for the Lord’s inspection of the entire household of faith, and properly enough the inspection begins at the top of the house, begins with the saints, but will extend to every consecrated one, The two classes subjected to the fiery trials of the Re [3864]
To enhance your experience on our website, we use cookies and similar technologies. Some cookies are essential for the core functionality of our site and cannot be declined. You can choose to accept or decline additional cookies. We want to assure you that none of this data will be sold or used for marketing purposes. You can adjust your preferences at any time by accessing the Privacy Settings from the footer of the page. For more information, please refer to our
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
.
