New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-10

upos tho model which they found in the New Tesla
the of Ss aSs Sss 90
scriptIral congregation. why have they gfhdua,y
essn sciSSe ~ that exercised by the Christian
magsrae The true ruling elders In our day are our
preme mandate Of the whole Christian community.
Let put this IN another light Inc Vnnrch ma,
family OF She redeemed gathered together with thclr
Lord. our present ORGANIZATIONS are tentative ins't
tons, N which we strive to realize some part OF tne
/ truo ideal which comprehends mans whole nature
Now maintain that our ORGANIZATIONS for public wor-
sbp are not themselves the Church. but partial efforts
! 10 realize the idea OF the Church; aud l maintain
ton When uien are gathered together to worship God
TO hear Chusan teaching, or TO partake of the Lords
hc true relation 10 God members Of tho redeemed
family. When Chrlstan men are met in Christs name
the council chamber the court Of Justice to carry
into practical ef,ot the principles OF Christian equity
for OF the whole q, Gods children with whom
say that Is not the Churchi say on the con-
try, that it much the organization for Chris
which tries 10 realize The true Christian life OF the
deemed humanity. The Christian congregation is a
truly than all the rest the Christian nation Is CHURCH.
NATIONAL RELIGION NOT LAruUDISARrASIsM.
Bat shall be met perhaps, by the objection that
national religion. as 1t comes to express itself
at all In act, IL latitudinarian, and that men
must be admitted TO share in Its worship
and government who would not have been admitted
into the primitive churches submit. general that
the conditions OF the question are altogether different
from what they were when the Churcn was small
community In the midst OF vast heather empire, We
cannot be they were and the total absence OF what
called Church discipline IA better than its exercise In the
petty manner which alone Is possible now. But more
particularly wound observe that we must look for
discipline to other than those OF formnares or OF
formal exclusions ID tne present udy ln tn9 nTst
place the laws OF Christian State would exclude the
worst onenders-they would have excluded the only
recorded in the New Testament the incestuOus man
COrinh. But IN the second place, the sound feeling
OF the community acting upon the CONSCIOUSNESS OF us
members must in national system be nuch stronger
than the discipline Of small private society In sec
tartan system each sect Is apt TO bid against the others
for members. and there Ia strong temptation 10 deDaSe
out OF the purview OF his church; aud II feels his
position uncomfortable he 10 other sect or
things in which the whole Christian feeling of
the Sr TS Tes hs to p peT o H R
ence over IN coasceneos Of individuals even not
upheld by formal exclusion, wonld be exceedingly
great or the list OF evil men with whom st. Paul
says Christ should not eat, it might not neces-
slry and formally touch some whom more den
mite exclusions might reach but it would bear upon
Others such the covetous, the extortoner the rail-
crs those exclusions are pOwerless. IL Is clear
impressive and attractive Of all things is
love. And II once II should be found that If in religion
the church which would be the result OF ali tins
would be the most attractive Of all We should have
different opinions sun; Dut tneY would DO hatuIa dll
fcrences forming schools within the Church, modifying
another, pretending TO draw to themselves the
lie OF the Church. They would not be. as now.
the actQus product OF past centuries, emDitered by
entecuth centuries, and founding the whole Christian
lie special points of difference still greater oen-
conscious that it In all its acts moving branch
OF CnrsiS Church feeling that In all public matters 1t
was engaged satisfying the interests OF conflict
lug parties put In providing that Christian justice and
love should reign among all sections OF the community
such tone react upon the character OF the men
VINO put forward IN public life and 1t must react
also upon life of individuals, as have already
pointed out,
do not like to close this paper without guarding
against the repFoach Of yaguenes by showing how this
principle should affect the actual and exciting life OF the
be far too long; and must be conented with only
few remarks. wish TO point out that the mode in
which national Christianity should work itself out must
be different in different cases, according the crcum
stances the oducatou the traditions OF each country
The ordinary question Of Church Establishments is |
tame, matter not Of principle OF Christian expe-
dieney. was In favor OF Dsesablishmen In Ireland,
am against it in England where the Church may at |
least De made national. In America, where there
any public provision OF Christian worship ana instruc-
tOn except remote contingency You have, indeed,
the reading OF Scripture in many Of your common
schools national fasts or thapksgyings epjoned by
the sabbath II appears, also, from the account OF vii
lage communities in some parts that there Is argu
ment in religion sufficient TO unite the whole OF the in
habltants under one pastor see also that efforts are
Christianity by the Legislature, and newspaper, called
f1is Uurpose h published at Philadehia These synp
grow tor the present without being able
precisely 10 anticipate their issue IL Is not let us re-
member SO important TO have formal recognition Of
the impress of Christian justice and love. Toward
this in growing unity, let all your churches strive
In the European States things are very different
There have the traditions OF national Christianity
which though has in the past been often carried into
effect in way that has done violence TO mems con-
sciences, yet has been effort to reach true ideal
If in some the effort must be up 1t is only
because circumstances do not admit OF its realization
The ideal must still be maintained
Germany the legislative power is not TO be REGARDED
extraneous body imposing rs Will upon the Church
but rather as the representative OF the whole com
munity, through which alone the laity act. The
legislation OF Prince Bismarck. which concerns all the
churches alike has been on the whole approved by the
laty even Of the Roman Catholic Church, and its ten
deucy is 10 correct by the national power expressing
OF the really extraneOus power, the Curia OF Rome
when he spoke of free Church in a free State, his
meaning that the Church should be free in the
@ Snt Within Itself HIS successors have taken his
words, but have interpreted them implying that the
whole spiritual lie OF the nation should be gwen
tied aud bound, 10 the nations worst enemy.
plead that. II what have urged as to the tendencies
of thought be true. the sympathes OF this Con-
should not be thrown into the scale OF the abO
ton OF national Churches but into that Of their right
direction that should desire they should
formed not DESTROYED Let me point out how this Is
the case with the Church OF England. There the law
proceeds the assumption that every citizen
Der OF the Church and has free influence in determining
relating to Christian worship and instruction as
general of the country believe that
unity. Unhappily while the state Constitution has
and more SeoPe ISs lrHe ScG1 tne
the Tndors and the free action in religious matters has
been forced 10 without, Instead OF Within The
reforms which ], IN common with other Church reform
ers in england advocate are these:
We desire that. in every parish, q Church council
should be elected by the free the inhabitants
without the consent Of which no changes should be
made and which have the power subject the bishops
consent TO make any changes allowed by the general
law This being done, desire that the general law
should be progressively allowed, 10 leave
power as possible the free action OF the local bodies
who would tho adopt the Church system 10 the wants
OF the parishiOners. We desire further that all
Institutions which tend TO division among Christians
should removed, such that which prevents all but
In Inlp nf fhA
preaching the national puplts the requirement Of
The Prayer Book service and the illustrations Of the
tat all he