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40() OTIlEli INTERDENOMINATIONAL ASSOCIATIONSand representative, monarchies absolute and Jimited, oligarchies in all of their varieties, express the same principlein human governments. It would be strange indeed, sincethe Author of the universe, physical, intellectual, spiritual,is also the Author of our religion, if the same great law werenot manifest in the churches of Jesus Christ in whosebosom is carried the germ of the Kingdom of God whichshall fillultimately the whole earth.The Methodist churches, bearing ever intheirFederationdeepest heart those principles of perfectlove toward God and man, find it natural totheir life and polity to put into tangible form the desire tohave an alliance offensive and defensive between themselvesand every other Church that exalts the name of JesusChrist. We have found in China a most fruitful field forsuch expression. We are to-day in. federation in the publication and sale of Christian literature and in higher educational work in various parts of China with ten of theProtestant Christian churches of the world. We havesought for federation upon such a basis that every Churchentering into this relation may by that be strengthened inthe extension of her ecclesiastical life, and may be so relatedto her sister churches in these various institutions as to contribute her life in the most effective form to the upbuildingof the Kingdom of God in those organisms. It is fondlybelieved,and the belief is strengthened by experience in theserelations, that such federation of the churches will tend tofoster in the various denominations those qualities of spiritual life and ecclesiastical polity best expressing the mind ofour Lord, and also to eradicate those prejudices and superstitions, thorns in the body of His flesh, which in the ageswhichpast have hindered the progress of the Kingdom forHe died. Tallest trees grow in mightiest forests; greatestpersonalities thrive in the midst of highest civilizations.That Church most nearly represents her Lord which lindsher greatest happiness and fittest expression in the qualityof service that elevates all the other members of theKingdom of God on earth.