The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-11
Our Religious Press Table.


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Our Religious Press Table.
We fail to observe in the columns Of our
religious contemporaries this week any record
of the wholesome work of revival which, we
are happy to learn from private sources, is
now going "a all over the country. In former
years this record was an especial feature in
religious prints. Why is it that they are at
this time, when the atmosphere is filed with
the miasma of official and moral corrup-
ton, derelict in the duty Of reporting the
progress of grace among the young as well as
among the ripe and aged sinners of the pres
ent generation? This should not be. The
clergy must keep their journals posted in mat
ter so essential to our peoples salvation; or,
if they find that their organs fail to chronicle
events of the kind, let them send the facts to
the NEW YORK HERALD, with the assurance
that they shall not fail of proper publicity.
The Observer (Presbyterian) strikes key
note when it refers to the movements for
and against religious liberty" and argues its
case from the following preliminary point =
More than four thousand human beings are this
because they profess the Christian religion Nearly
all OF them are Roman Catholics. Only about
twenty persons In Japan have pfofessed conversion
under the Protestant missionaries who have but re-
Gently begun their labOrs The Romanlsts have
been there and In China for many long years The
Japanese government makes no distinction between
ROmanists and Professionals, but condemns all alike
to Imprisonment or death.
This will probably sound harshy in the ears
of the Japanese notables who are now visiting
the country but after their experience in Nor
mondom they will, no doubt, be prepared to
hear even harder things from he pious people
of America. Yet, again, may not the visit Of
these strangers be instrumental in enlarging
the area of religious freedom in the countries
of the far East
The Observer also gives severe whack to
the National Convention which recently as
sembled in Cincinnati for the purpose OF
Christianizing the constitution. Says the o.
seroer, referring to the object of the Conven-
ton -
It is impracticable but that is the least objection
to II. 1t brings the Christian religion into conflict
with the State when the State is not In conflict with
religion. 1t prov0kes hostility to Christian egisa-
ton, ana thus endangers the existence Of what Is
already granted by the state In the interest OF reli
gion and morals. 1t discriTnates against those
Christians who 40 not hold TO the principles which
this movement seeks 10 incorporate into the constt
tuition and thus arrays CHRISTIAN against Christian
in an unseemly strife 1t denies the sublime and
holy sentiment OF Supreme Ruler, who said,
'My kingdom Is not OF TINS world, and It asks the
government OF the United states to affrm what He
himself repudiated and denied
The Christian Uniom-Henry Ward
Beecher-treats of the so-caled religious"
amendment as follows
The indirect effect OF the amendment would be
great enough, no doubt. 1t would be cited IN every
case where religious zeaots wished to make their
convictions the standard of other peoples actions.
1t would be used TO force the Bible on unwilling
readers IN the schools. 1t would give the best pos.
slbleiusifcallon to Catholics Tor making the State
the organ OF their religion wherever they were
strong enough 1t would strengthen the enemies OF
Chrlstanlty, and reopen that wretched chapter OF
history, the mixing or Cnurcn and STATE which now
seems closing. But we shall not make ourselves
miserable over these possible ca,ami,,es. since
ment Will ever be adopted.
The New York Evangelist (Presbyterlan)
remarks that the secession of Mr. Hepworth
from the Unitarian ranks has provoked GEN.
sures from his former associates that are more
damaging to themselves than to him. They
show, continues the Ecangelist,
degree Of irritation which is not very dignlned,
while they cast upon him reproaches which pro-
perry belong only TO one VINO deserts his principles
IRON some base and sordid motive. HIS critics
seem to forget that man who follows his honest
convictions, even ut the sacrifice OF old and cher
shed associations deserves respect for his courage
and his fidelity to his conscience.
The EoangeIiS regards Rome as Papal
paradise no longer" and goes on to say, using
an American figure of speech -
The crevasse which has swept away Papal levees
is not to be wthstood by appeals for modern cru.
SADIE. The infallblity dogma, which has aenateI
catholic nations has sealed The fate or Papal pre-
tensions even IN Rome Itself.
The same print calls Bishop Colenso 1.-THE
illogical Don Quixote," remarkng that ne
glories in brazen helmet, and is ready, with
or without provocation, to dash himself mead
foremost against windmills or rocks OF Glib
raltar as the case may be.
The New York 7dblet-Catholic--ina an ar
ticle upon Bishop Dupanlcup and his with
drawal from the French Academy, remarks:-
when the French Academy has fallen so low as
to admit an avowed atheist, sucn s as M co bt.re,
sc,entiously or with credit to himself, allow his
name TO appear on the roll oil membership. What
IA there in common between the illustrous Bishop
NJ orleans and the men without religion and with
ont honor Of whom the once eminent ana nonOr-
able body known as tne rrench Acauemy Is LOT the
hoped for in France so long as progressed nhdels
ana atheists, men VINO soon at the very oea OF God.
and utterly deny the existence Of Him VINO made
tneu, are allowed to represent French science ana
French literature before the world.
The Freemdns J0urndt-Catholic-d
courses upon the threatened war between
the United States and England" summing up
as follows -
war IS so full OF horror OF distresses and OF the
impoycrisnmcnt and CONGRATULATIONS That continue
long alter II Is over, that right minded can
seriously promote its inception without some con.
strainng necessity. But they are mistaken who do
not see in the form that laundering Administrations
at Washington aud az Westminster have put the DIS