ed and nineteen clerical delegates from thirty professedly
Protestant denominations intentionally and expressly repudiated
the word "Protestant."
That is an occurrence of such importance as to demand the
serious attention of all: especially all the people of the United
States. It is my purpose tonight to make as plain as possible both
the fact and the meaning of it.
The meeting by which this thing was done was the "Second
Quadrennial Meeting of the Federal Council of the Churches of
Christ in America" which was held in the Hotel LaSalle, Chicago,
Ill., December 4-9, 1912.
This "Federal Council" is composed of thirty or more
denominations, having a total membership of "more than
seventeen millions." It was originally organized by five hundred
delegates from twenty denominations, who met for the purpose in
Carnegie Hall, New York City, November 15-21, 1905.
In its original organization this "Federal Council of Churches"
was expressly and distinctly Protestant. In the call under which the
convention met in New York City the object of the proposed
meeting was distinctly stated to be "to secure an effective
organization of the various Protestant communions of this
country"; and "to form a bond of union that will enable
Protestant to present a solid front," etc. And now without any
pressure from without, and without any issue or crisis to demand it,
but spontaneously and voluntarily that professedly Protesta