Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-03-31
LIBERAL TENDENCIES.


any other age or country. The journals
report the hitherto unheard-of fact of
two Unitarian clergymen preaching, by
cordial invitation, in Jewish synagogues,
at Rochester and Buffalo, and of jew
ish rabbi preaching in Unitarian
church at the latter city. Similar ex-
amples have, we believe, occurred in
Cincinnati. This is Liberalism, if not
liberality. And it is certainly commend
able as between two denominations which
agree in their highest or most essential
theological principles. Thus viewed, it
is highly creditable effect of our free
institutions, and the national temper
which for nearly century has been
growing out of them. We doubt wheth-
er anything approximating it can be
found among so called Liberal religion
lists in any other land. Even in Germ
any, where Liberal rabbis and Rational
istic clergymen abound, and meet togeth-
er with the best amenities in literary
and social intercourse, such an example
would be almost inconceivable, though
no very serious difference may exist be-
tween their theological ideas. Tradition
al alienation has been vigorously main
tanned in their religious life, in spite of
their approximations of opinion. State
religions give standard of theological
feeling and manners, even when they
fail to maintain one of dogmas.
In the New World, old things pass
rapidly away, and, behold, all things
become new. Both truth and error have
new liberties here, and no intelligent
friend of truth doubts that these liber-
ties for both afford ultimate and immeas-
urable guarantees for truth. We doubt
whether the most rigorous religionist
among us always exciting Romanists)
would vote for a national religious ''Es-
adjustment" if he could. Evangelical
religion extends in the nation more effec-
lively than it has in any other country.
Error is allowed to be as rampant as it
pleases, but truth triumphs through the
land.
This liberalizing effect of our free IN
situations is still more extensive Though
not so much noticed by journalists) in
the orthodox churches of the country.
There is no old evangelical christian
among us who cannot bear testimony to
the remarkable change of interdenomin-
ational feeling and action which has
taken place in the United States within
the last thirty or forty years. We were
present, lately in a gathering of clergy
men of various denominations, where an
old doctor of divinity described the
change as revolution. Forty years
ago, he said, nearly all out leading Pro-
lSoCtuG oCOOu, IL HUI Ill
uncompromising antagonism, yet in heart
less isolation from each other. But since
that time, they have been steadily APP.
proximating both in opinion and conduct
Their people would not now allow theil
pulpits to thunder against one another
as they once did. The greatest of the
contests of that day-between Calvinisn
and Arminianism-is hardly heard of any
more in the churches it fingers only il
books, and but slightly there.
1t cannot be doubted that this molli
flying influence of our political and soci
al institutions upon church life is to G
on. We believe it will 60 on with great
ly increased power, for thus far it ha
had to struggle chiefly through its incep
ton. What its results may finally be
so far as any modification of denomina
tional relations may be concerned W
venture not to predict but We prize il
per Sc as great blessing from Cod !
signifies much for the present, but niue
more, we think, for the future Tn
reunion of the two great Presbyteria
bodies was practically an acknowledge
ment of the undue Importance whic
both had attached to their dogmatj
differences practical recognition
charity as supremely above dogmatisn
The prevailing discussions in favor
the reunion of the divisions and subdivi
ions of particular denominations Gill
those of Methodism) is another indies
ton of the same general tendency. ii
discussion of the question of organ
union of different evangelical denomin
tions is still another, though, we beliv
it is an anticipation of consummatic
too remote to be hoped for in til
or the next generation.
April 18th has been fixed as the d;
of meeting of the next General SYM
of the Irish church. The bishops, it
understood, wished to postpone the Syn
until October. in order to allow furth
time for consideration of the revision
the prayer-book question. Eventual
they yielded, however, to lay and cler
al pressure. and it is understood that
report of the Revision committee viii
ready for their meeting in April.