(The following article is part of F.W.G.’s remarks on present things in the address to the church
of the Laodiceans in Rev. 3:14-22. This is a vital word to consider in relation to trade unions and
federation of churches. Laodicea in Greek means the people’s rights.)

Confederacy is, politically and socially, a character of the times. In mercantile affairs of every
kind, companies are getting to be more and more every where the rule. The strength realized by
union is here well recognized. In the rise of the popular element, combination is not merely an
advantage; it is an imperative necessity. By its means alone can the poor man make his voice be
heard upon nearer equality of terms with the capitalist, the laborer with his employer. Yet here
the true individuality which God would have,_the individuality of conscience with which alone
real uprightness of conduct can be maintained,_has to be lost and give way to the will of the
majority.

No power can be attained by the body, at large thus except by ruinous self-sacrifice on the part
of its members. It must have unity, the unity of a machine, or nothing can be effected; but for this,
heart and conscience must be leveled down to wood and iron. It is essential that freedom of
individual action there should be none; and thus there is no tyranny so great as the tyranny often
here exercised,_no more ruthless treading down of the most sacred and personal rights than with
those in whose mouths the cry of "People’s rights!" is oftenest and loudest.

Religious associations may seem often in their laxity as opposite to this as can be, and yet the
laxity itself be as contrary to God, and bind me as much to His dishonor. What seems the largest
liberality may thus be the very spirit of disobedience, and to this it is that every thing in the
present day is tending. Satan can press upon us the evil of division just there where division is not
an evil, but a right and godly separation from evil; and he can point out good 😮 be accomplished,
to make us little careful as to the means by which it is proposed to accomplish it. A united
Christian church which should become so by making it a matter of indifference whether Christ
were God or only the highest kind of man would certainly be his greatest achievement.