ZION’S JUNE 1, 1906 Israel, wonderful love and a New Covenant for all the families of the earth. Those who see this vision of the kingdom, and who discern its rapid arrangement and the preparation for its glorious revelation to the whole world, have the assurance that they are not following cunningly devised fables; that the Higher Critics are greatly mistaken in their judging of the Word of God along the lines of external testimonies and evolution theories. We have much advantage everyway over the remainder of mankind, and we may well say to ourselves, WATCH TOWER (176-180) What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation, living and godliness!—2 Pet. 3:11. PILGRIM VISITS OF BRO. B. H. BARTON Vou. XXVII Bradford, Eng. July 9,10 Belfast, Ire. July 18 Ossett, 9") Dublin, 179" 19,90 Jldham, ” ” 12 Liverpool, Eng. 7? 22,23 Macclesfield, ’’ ”? 13 Warrington, ’’ ”? 24 Manchester, ’’ 7? 14,15 East Kirkby, ’’ 7? 25,26 ALLEGHENY, PA., JUNE 15, 1906 No. 12 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER CHURCH UNION—NEXT, FEDERATION The Presbyterian and Cumberland Presbyterian bodies have reunited, as per the following telegram in the public press columns: Des Moines, Ia., May 24.—Dr. Hunter Corbett, the Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, declared the union of the Presbyterian church of the United States and the Cumberland and Presbyterian church completed at 10.21 o’clock this morning as follows: ‘‘T do solemnly declare and hereby publicly announce that the basis of union and reunion is now in full force and effect, and that the Cumberland Presbyterian church is now reunited with the Presbyterian church in the United States of America as one church.’’ The big ecclesiastical assemblage burst into a storm of rejoicing. Handclapping, cheering and waving of handkerchiefs gave expression of unalloyed pleasure. * * * The spirit of union and federation prevails everywhere. Our readers well know that from prophecy we have for twenty-five years been expecting not only that the Federation would come soon, but that the vitality of it would come from the Episcopal church. The insurmountable barrier thus far seems to be in the claim of this denomination to ‘‘ Apostolic Succession,’’ which asserts that none are qualified ministers except as ‘‘ordained’’ in the line of such succession. Now we find a movement amongst Episcopalians to concede something: to c’'aim merely the Historic Episcopate and to drop the elaim of Apostolic Succession, so as to promote the union of all Protestants. This view is set forth in a recently published book by Rev. E. McCrady (Episcopalian), entitled, “APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION AND THE PROBLEM OF UNITY’’ We quote one paragraph:— ‘‘When we ourselves are broad enough, catholic enough, to admit that the theory of the divine right of Episcopacy is a theory only—when we are willing to own, as we must, that while fitting in very well with historical facts, it can never be absolutely demonstrated—when we further are willing to recognize the fact that the Reformers did not believe in such a theory themselves, and that the church, in spite of ali the influences brought to bear upon her, has carefully refrained from officially promulgating such a doctrine —when, in other words, we cease to unchurch our Protestant brethren by insisting upon a principle logically indefensible and never officially set forth—we will then be in a position to expect some concessions on their part, and—we venture the further prediction—we shall then begin to hear some solid discussion, and see some valid signs of the approaching union of Christendom.’’ * * * The Bible clearly sets forth that such a federation of Protestants will be effected before the great final catastrophe which will usher in the kingdom of God’s dear Son and the glorification of the church of the firstborn; hence our interest in every item pointing to its realization. ‘THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA”’ ‘‘The negotiations for the union of three churches in Canada have attracted world-wide attention. Nearly all of the religious journals and many of the secular ones devote much space to special comment upon this theme. These comments are almost entirely congratulatory. The Toronto Globe has rendered important service by printing the expressions of opinion by men of light and leading in the three churches in various parts of the country. It is a surprise to find how generally these are favorable expressions. Of course there are a few doubting Thomases, a few who magnify differences and overlook the great harmonies, who advise us to be careful and go slow; but the overwhelming consensus ig in favor, not of federation, but of organic union. We have received correspondence from various parts of the United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with reference to an account we wrote in The Christian Herald of this great movement, and all of these are of devout thanksgiving for the leading of divine providence. We quote from the Literary Digest some of the press comments on this subject: ‘¢¢An extraordinary movement, in some respects, not paralleled in several centuries,’ is the phrase by which the New York Christian Advocate (Methodist) characterizes the movement toward union between the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalist churches in Canada. The report of the joint committee of these three denominations, just published, is described by the Toronto Globe as ‘the most remarkable ecclesiastical document issued in Protestant Christendom since the Reformation.’ All the indications seem to point to the ultimate consummation of this union, and the name tentatively chosen for the new church is, ‘The United Church of Canada.’ The Interior (Presbyterian, Chicago) writes of the union planned as ‘the most radical and remarkable coalition of churches that has been proposed since the Reformation brought in the era of denominational divisions.’ Zion’s Herald (Methodist, Boston), reminds us that Canada in the past has led the way in effecting denominational unions. ‘*The Christian Advocate remarks editorially: ‘This experiment in each of its stages should receive the concentrated attention of the Protestantism of the world. If it succeeds it will make feasible the only reasonable plan for the diminution of the number of distinct communions.’ ‘‘The Presbyterian (Toronto, Canada) thinks that the prospects are bright for a consummation of the proposed union. It says: ‘There will be no unseemly haste; in the nature of things there cannot be. It will take some little time to prepare the basis and have it pronounced upon ulti. mately by the body of the people. Agreement as to the things that may be given up and the things that shall remain, will not come in a moment, but it will come. There is an organizing power of its own in a great, structural, coordinating movement like this.’ ‘‘The Presbyterian Banner (Pittsburgh, Pa.) comments as follows: ‘We wou'd hardly think a union of these three churches possible in this country, but it appears to be possible only a few miles north of us, and it is the Lord’s doing and marvelous in our eyes. The Spirit of the Lord, however, is not restricted by geographical boundaries and red and blue lines on the map, and what the Spirit can do there he may do here.’ ‘‘The Methodists in Canada number 916,659, the Presbyterians 842,016, and the Congregationalists 28,000. Thus, as the Church Standard (Protestant Episcopal, Philadelphia) points out, the new church will enter upon its work with a membership of 1,786,676, ‘nearly one-third of the population of the whole of Canada.’ ’’—Onward (Methodist, Toronto). FEDERATION IN GREAT BRITAIN The London Daily Chronicle recently published a lengthy appeal for special prayers for the reunion of Christendom. It was signed by the President of the United Methodist Free churches; the President of the Methodist New Connection church; the President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference; the Moderator-elect of the English Presbyterian church; the President of the Baptist Union; the Moderator of the General Assembly of the church of Scotland; the Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Free church of Scotland; the Primus of the Scottish Church, and the Chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. Evidently a few more years of stress will accomplish what they pray for,—a union of sects, a federation on the basis of ignoring one another’s errors. But this will not be the heart union for which our Lord prayed—one in [3791]
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