The New York herald., 1872-12-22
Tho Kernel OF tho Religious Press.

Tne Aernci OF the Religious Press.
The approach of the holidays seems to have
had upon the minds Of religious editors an
effect very different from what might have
| been expected Rarely, if ever, has the re-
ligious press been duller and more sayorleas
than in its issues Of the past week. Here and
there. of course, may be found CLEANS of in
tellectual animation; but when it is remem-
bered that if all these weeklies were bound
together they would make a mass Of printed
paper almost as big as the biggest Of CYCLIC.
pedias this is sadly unsatisfactory
The Liberal Christian has an article draw
ing distinction between genuine and spu-
rious 'lberality, which has, at any rate. the
merit OF being plain spoken. It certainly
does not mince matters. Here is its keynote:
All those caricatures or interpretations Of
Christianity which make God the enemy OF sinners
instead OF the enemy OF sin, the enemy OF errOrsts
instead OF the enemy OF error, the contriver OF His
egotlst; or which represents Christ the Saviour
OF lew or many chosen followers, and not IS the
universal 5nms Saviour, which hangs Gods love and
Iavor upon technical conditions other than eternal
ana universal ones; impartial free from arbitrary
ii cnoice OF the tyranny Of mere personal sovcr-
Chranity What sort Of thristiansy or iiberasy
Is that which, having devised IN any human way
sion and belief In them, conditions OF acceptance
with God or OF communion with Christ or fellow
which make opinions or theological statements or
creeds the basis OF fellowship or the assumed con-
ditons 0f salvation are tllibeSal because unchris
careful reservation is, however, subse-
quently made in acknowledgment of the inn
portance of having definite principles only,
whatever be mans avowed principles they
ought to be rigidly binding upon him; and
especially if he holds the dogma of the ex-
istence of hell he ought to carry it out to it's
final consequences He should frankly tell
people that in his opinion, they will be
damned unless they do and believe certain
things. This is the liberal Christians ides
OF what pulpit honesty and true liberality
really is.
The Evangelist has kind word for the
efforts of the Roman Catholic Church in be-
half Of temperance, concluding with what
most people would look upon as the some-
what obvious and commonplace remark that
it would consider the man q narrow bigot
who would refuse to rejoice lest temperance
reform should lend new responsibility to the
Roman Catholic Church" So would every.
body else, Mr.. Evangelist worth counting.
The Independent, in spite of its strong repub.
hcan proclivities, Indignantly condemns the
unconstitutional action of Judge Durell in
Louisiana. 1t believes that Kellogg, being
Senator of the United States, was, by the laws
OF the State ineligible for the Office of Cover
nor. And it thus concludes:-
When judges on the bench abuse their powers.
and go unpunshed therefor, then the safety OF our
political system is assailed at It's most vital point
rights OF State officials, and arrest them In the ex.
ercse OF their authority, then state rights are In
an exceedingly bad one, and 1t should be thor
oughly rebuked that 1t Will not be repeated. Ia
10 aSs snS M q state BY the
should defend IT for q moment The principle at
stake Ii one OF the highest consequence to the
whole country. The question now Is not one OF
parties; not who is the best or the worst man,
Warmoth or Kellogg; not whether Kellogg OF
whether gross frauds were perpetrated by both Of
the contending factions; but whether the c0nstitu
tional government OF q State shall in time Of
peace be subverted by federal power.
The issue could scarcely be stated in clearer
language.
column reference to the Star of Bethlehem and
the Feast of Hope--a bad new name for a
Christmas dinner-points out to the liberal
republicans, or the ''men without party" an
it styles them, that if they are true to them.
selves they may do good service yet in the
cause Of political purity. Thus they may be
perhaps "more earnest defenders of civil SER
vice reform than many of the 'orthodox re-
pubicans.' And the reason for this is laid
bare in words which breathe delicately cyni-
cal and man-of-the- world tone that is singu-
larly pleasant in the mouth Of gentleman Of
the cloth"
In general IL Is much easier for minority to be
steadfast in principle. That is Its stock In trade.
But the virtue OF such steadaStneSs In the present
instance lies in the circumstance that the declared
principles OF both parties are so nearly alike as to
require OF the minority on many questions the sur.
render or the pleasures OF opposition. To follow
ones own col4rs when another pears them Is some
times severe test OF loyalty. But this we trust,
the liberal republicans viii do.
The Observer has something to say about
clergymen and funerals 1t contends that
clergymen are often very discourteously
treated in such matters, and this is probably
true But it says, further:-
Many people turn their back upon the Church.
and avowedIy goddess and proiane; yet when
death comes into their families they call for the
rites OF religion, and claim them as matter Of
science the value OF religion Is acknowledged. No
clergyman would refuse to render the service they
demand; but 1t should be understood, II IL Is not,
that such demand Is wholly unreasonable, and II
complied with only In that spirit OF enlarged Chris
tian charity which is exemplifed BY no class OF
men more constantly and magnanim0usly than by
the pastors OF churches In great city. In no de-
partment OF labor are ministers subjected to moro
thoughtless wrong than in the matter Of funerals.
They are expected to be ready at any hour OF any
day to give their time, without regard to previous
duties or present health.
The Methodist halls the last position taken
by Strass as a proof Of the unsatisfactory
character of modern philosophic scepticism.
1t processes to believe ''more and more in ouI
prediction that by, or even before, the close
of the present century there will be such
reaction to Spiritualism as the world has never
before seen. Men must and will recoil from