The New York herald., 1871-03-26
Our Religious Press Table.

Our Religious Press Table.
The religious press this week, we must
frankly say, is dreadfully dull 1t contains
but little news, and even that little is told in
the most tedious and dsagreeable manner
possible. Lent, we know, is the serious sea-
son Of the year, but religious editors should
not show its sombre influence too palpably.
Then the leading articles, with one or two ex-
ceptions, are dreary webs of played out COM
monplaces. 1t is not too much to say that the
entire religious press this week does not con-
tain a bakers dozen of original ideas. We
regret to be forced to speak 50 strongly, but
we are spurred on to perform our painful duty
by the memory of half dozen hours of the most
dreary drudgery we have lately had to en-
counter. We have just waded through our
ecclesiastical exchanges, and we feel as glad
to emerge from the depths of this literary pur-
gatory as Orpheus was to escape from the
realms of Pluto.
The Independent defines its position on the
duty of self-denial. 1t says the Son Of Man
came eating meat and drinking wine, and
boldly avows its opinion that it is well to imi-
tate Him in these as well ais in other respects.
Tilton croons forth dismal two column leader
in the Gold en- Age about the "Golden Hour
of the Dem ocratc Party" EVERYTHING is golden
with Tilton. In the same paper there is, how
ever, tim ely article on the now notorious
Voysey decision in the English Episcopal
Church. True to its milennial title and in
stincts, the Age calls loudly for a restoration
Of peace in the Christian sheepfolds. This is
pleasing dream but from the very beginning
the Church has had to struggle against intes-
tine strife, and louder voice than Tiltons is
needed to still the waves of dogmatic contro-
versy. This same Voysey decision is also dis
cussed by the O6ser0er, and is made the peg
on which to hang some very bitter structures
upon the Ritualists, whose fantastic cere-
monials, it says, are ''entitled to the same
measure of respect" as the ''freaks and fancies
Of body of Bedlamites." The O6sercer also
calls for special spell Of praying for the ben
eft Of the Joint High Commission. Fancy the
Commission dragged, molerss oolens, before the
Throne Of Grace, enwrapped in the perfumed
incense of collective supplication and smoth-
cred with the pious entreaties Of the entire
American Church! The Eoangelist alludes
in conscious accents of indignant abhorrence'
to Mike Nortons bill about the Chldren's Aid
Societies. Mike is described as floating in the
slower deep" of political corruption. The
St. Louis Christian Ado0cate also has a
fling at this same piece of prospective
legislation. It gives the Baptists particular
fits but ''the grasping Romanists" natur-
ally come in for the lions share Of invec-
tive. The Christian Standard, of Cincin-
natl, has really religious editorial-of the
| highly religious length of two columns and a
half-on baptism for the remission of SINS The
| Standard believes that the blood of Christ,
and not water baptism, is the one thing need
| full to salvation. The article is a
model of controversial polemics-tolerant
and yet of decided tone. calm and
conciliating, without slurring over the points
of dispute. The Episcopal Methodist of Balti-
more has kindly article about Old England
and analyses the causes of American dislike OF
our cousins with the Cockney lisp and mutton
chop whiskers. 1t thinks that England has
done well to avoid being drawn into the
Franco-Prussian duel and that she has gained
strength by this pacific course. The Methodist,
however, would do we'll to give great deal
more religious news and discussion and q
great deal less weak political twaddle and bun
| combe
The Jewish press is, as usual, genial, tole.
rant and kindly in its tone. The Messenger
has an article on the duty of nineteenth cen.
tury Israeltes which enshrines noble concep.
ton of the mission of the chosen people. The
Times also has scasonable paper on ssWoman
Suffrage" in which the high position assigned
by Judaism to 'ovely woman" is defended
and applauded.