Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-09-30
THE BROAD CHURCH AGAIN.

Dr. Bellows in his discourse yesterday on the
reopening of his church, delivered two sermons
in explanation Of his cell brated discourse given
last summer before the Divinity School of Cam
bridge, on The Suspense OF Paithn II will
be remembered that in that discourse, after an
eloquent description Of the skepticism which he
thought eharacterizes the present age, he closed
by some general suggestions for the remedy of
the evil A ritual, mystic symbolism, an au-
thOritative sacrament, a more temperate exer-
else OF private judgment in matters of religion
n greater reverence for the traditional rites
and forms Of the Church-in short, a New
Catholic Church-were recommended as need
ed to rectlfy the suspense Of faith-the Protest
antism run mad of the century -
This announcement, although coupled with
disclaimer of all wish for a return of the Pa
pal authority and the ceremonial of the Roman
Catholic Church, excited some surprise ms com
ing from u leading clergyman in a denomina-
ton which regards itself Us the most Protestant
of Protestant churches. Ii was heralded by
the press and pul pit Of other sects as a confess
sion of the insufficiency Of Untarianism to
answer the wants of a devout and inquiring
spirit.
A mistake was made, however. in the pop-
ular Interpretation Of the Cambridge discourse,
which the Doctor now takes occasion to correct.
He did not propose himself to inaugurate the
new system, but to suggest some points which
ought to characterize the church of the future.
lie was not. 1t seems, prepared to become the
organizer OF new religious school, and he
now declares that, if he had despotic power, or
II his congregation should now request him To
prepare liturgy and creed. he would not do
it, for the reason that, after FIVE years consid-
GRAFTON OF the subject they had but partially
recognised the want Of such change. He had
nevertheless full faith that important changes
M statement of creed and form. of worship were
In store tor the next generation, though he
Ia L., ~.
The whole misapprehensiOn of DIR. Bellows
arose probably from the want Of explicitness in
his original statement of the remedy for the
evil Of the age. He was more felicitOus in h
criticism on the old system than in furnishing
the programme for a substitute.
Il is astonishing, however to consider the
evidence of public interest in the discussion
broached by the pastor of All Souls The sec
ular and religious press, at home and across
the Atlantic, took the subject in hand and pre-
sented it In every variety of phase, and though
some months have elapsed, the controversy is
stiil raging Sermons innumerable have bcen
preached. The Doctor has been welcomed as
hOPe1ui convert by the leaders of almost
every sectarian system, from the Roman Cath
Ollie 10 the Swedenborgian and Free Will Bap.
tist, and he has been read out of the Unitarian
fold by an indefinite number of the youpg
lights of his order, who see the return of the
Dark Ages and the thumb-screws of the Inqui.
sIon IN the prophetic Vision which he held up
of a possible church in the future. Mr.. Conway
a brilliant and rather eccentric Unitarian di-
EOs.o.S Eins, Of Cincinnati =, in sermon has
Church, in opposition to the Broad, or New
Catholic Church, and we dare say will sweep
the West with the mitre and ''myslic symbol
ism" of his new experiment DIR. Bellows,
however, sands just where he did before, un-
moved by the ecclesiastical storm he has raised.
and still declaring his unchanging faith in the
doctrines of the congregation to which he has
been the faithful minister for upwards Of twenty
years.-N. Y, Post, 26th