, 1874-11-22
LIBERALISM IN THE CHURCH. :,

The leAyen Of Liberalism 1eem1 to oe A. Work
in the theological lump and in most unexpected
quarters: 1ts 1ast manifestation Ia in Congre-
gationalism, and New England Congregational
ism Ut that. The good old Pu1itsnical divinee
must have stirred most uneasi]J in their graves
during the recent session Of the Congrega-
tional Conference at Bridgeport, Conn.,, II they
were aware Of the effect Of Yale liberalism upon
their SUCCESSORS, or II any. notes OF the Discus
sion which was favorable to greater Christian
zeal, moro c4tholicity OF dogma, and more
solemnitY Of forms, penetrated into their qciet
resting-placea Mr. Beecher has always been
An audacious iconoclaat, but his liberalism has
never occasioned much surprise, ID he has
spoken only for himself, and the denomina-
ton has. not felt obliged TO- aooept bis
views upon theology any moro that they have
his views upon ftee-loye. But in this Confer
once the delegates we're the leading men Of the
Church, and they spoke for the Church Thus
Dr.. Bacon, In discussion on creeda, demanded
that the Church should make such 4. ststomant
OF belief as would not exclude ~ any Christian
from the privileges OF the Church, and asserted
that the whole practice OF subscribing to creeds
had no warrant either in Scripture or in reason-
Dr.. Rankin, Of Fairfield, Dr.. Fields, and ether
Doctors concur1ed in DR.. Bacon's views, and
drew up resolution recommending the churches
to make such statement Of belief ~ would not
exclude any Christian. which Was passed by An
overwhelming majority. This having been done,
President Porter spent q short time in vindicat-
ing Tyndall Dr.. Burton then discussed the
value Of book OF common prayer aud Of
forms for various ceremonies The Arguments
which he sdduced in support Of = prayer-book
we're very pcrtinent- He Knew it would be
great aid to young ministers who were often too
melancholy and low-spirited to pray well; it
would choke Of old ministers who we're liable to
pray half an hour without stopping; It would
suppress fantastic and ridiculous praying and
lastly It would prevent otheEs from making the
mistake, which hs made sometimes, Of inhmas
ing that deceased person might be unhappy in
his condition. implying thereby that be WAS not
in the better world. With regard 10 the admin
iste1ing OF the Sacrament, he took very advanced
grounds, and said In this connection: I'VE
want the strengthened ritual-many Of ua- We
want the TIE Deunn,' ne want the 'Gloria IN
Excelsis,' We want the Catholic ereeds
spoken or chanted by all the people. we want the
incompatible 'Ter-Sanctus,' We want the
Benedictus,' as spoken by Zacharias and
chnnted by all generations. I suppose there are
some among III who would discard such hymn
as the 'Te Deum,' for the very reason that it
has been aung throughout the Christian world,
almost universally, for more than thousand
years." The views Of the Conference on Rit-
ualism may be inferred from the fact that vhsn
good Deacon Tompkins had the temerity to offer
resolution condemning Ritusliam, it vas voted
down by large majority.
The action Of this Conference ia suggestive as
q sign OF ths times. It will strike many another
good old deacon besides Tompkins with sort Of
holy horror, but it indicates most accurately the
drift Of the religious world. Mr.. Gladstone, In
his famous article On "Ritualsm," attributed
the tendency Of the Church in that direction to
the esthetical element, and there is much force
in tho assertion. There is very general long
ing upon the part Of worshipers to relieve the
cold, hard forms Of dogma and creed BY making
thei1 worship attractive with beautiful forms, 80
as to draw in the outside world