Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-11
RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS.
The Church Work Of the Past Year

| The Church Work Of the Past Year.
| From the New York Times.
The past year has been fruitful in
important religious movements. In
the United States the event most wor-
thy of notice was the meeting of the
Worlds Evangelical Alliance In this
city In October. 1t attracted a large
number of prominent representatives
of the principal orthodox Protestant
denominations from Europe, Asia and
America. and enlisted degree of at
tention that is rarely given to reli-
gious assembly not pretending to au-
thority. On reviewing the diversity of
opinions and of forms of worship and
church government which were repre-
scented among its members, the range
of topics discussed, the catbolicity of
| their treatment, the clearness and abb
hty of the papers which were present.
| ed; and the impression which the meet
ing carried with it, it may be Justly
pronounced an imposing demonstration
of the force of Professionalism and its
substantial unity IN essentials. The
meeting of the Alliance was followed
by the secession of Bishop Cummins
from the Protestant Episcopal Church,
and his effort to organize a new Epis-
copal Church.
Aside from these movements, the
year has been very quiet one for
American churches. The negotiations
for the union of Presbyterian churches
have come to a halt. The half dozen
or so Lutheran bodies have been cast
i,,c, a ,,,T for Gonna Y,,aoDc of 11,eb
ing a better understanding between
their respective organizations. One of
them-the General Council, body of
High church proclivities-has invited
its fellows to a conference for the dis
cussion of the points which divide them
all, and the possibility of harmonizing
them. The scheme is well received, al
though the belief is not entertained
that any material approach to union
Will result from it. The affinity of
churches seems to be more operative In
the British Provinces, where the two
Presbyterian churches of Canada and
agreed, through their synods and as
sembies, to become one organization,
and their presbyteries are confidently
expected to ratify the agreement. A
similar success has attended Methodist
efforts, the Wesleyan and New Connec-
ton Methodist churches Of Canada and
of Eastern British America having
bought their negotiations for union to
the eve Of a successful conclusion. The
effort to unite the Free Church and the
United Presbyterian churches in Scot
land has been blocked for the time, but
the negotiations between the bodies an
swering to these two In England are
continued.
The church Of England has been ag-
itated with the rituaEstic controversy.
The convocations of the two Archie
piscOpal Provinces Quoted the discus
sion over the Athanasian creed early in
the year by the adoption of declara-
ton that that eloquent and formidable |
document did not add new doctrines to
those otherwise taught, but that 1t |
was intended as a clearer expression |
and fOrcible reminder of doctrines IN |
culcated in the Scriptures. This |
theme of controversy had hardly been |
removed when the cOnvocation Of Can
terbury was again attacked by a petit |
ton from 4S3 priests" of the Church |
Of England, asking for the appoint
ment of additional confessOrs. The |
cOnyOcatiOn was compelled to adopt |
another declaration to the effect that |
penance and what is called sacramental |
confession are not recognized IN the |
formularies. The Archbishops were as
sailed in May by petition from Co. |
200 members of the Church, asking |
them to put down rituahstic practices, |
or at least to enforce the decisions of |
the courts against them. They replied, |
saying that they were very sorry the |
practices complained of existed; that |
they would do all they could to repress
them; but that was very little, and |
suggested to the petitioners that the |
most effective remedies were with the |
laity, who could institute |
prosecutions in all instances.
Germany, Switzerland and Italy have
been in turmoil with the conflict which
has prevailed between the civil powers
and the Pope. In Prussia pew laws
have been demanded to meet the new
attitudes assumed by the Roman Cath
Ole bishops. They have been freely |
granted and vigorously executed. I'm
der Incorporation the instruction given
in the theological seminaries, the ap-
pOintment of pastors, the discipline IN |
ficted by the church upon its minis
tiers and members have all to be sub
mitted to the supervision of the Gov
eminent. In Switzerland the Pope |
has undertaken to appoint bishop in
defiance Of the laws and IN the face of |
the civil prohibitions. The would-be
bishop has been escorted over the from
tiers. and commanded to stay there. |
The Roman Catholic Churches of Ge-
neva have been subjected to regula-
tions Of newly-increased stringency, |
and three of them whose cures would |
not conform to the provisions of the
law. have been turned over to the old /
Catholics. The constitution of the |
Republic has been amended so as to |
make it extremely uncomfortable to the
advocates of paramount ecclesiastical |
authority, and the Jesuits have been
sent where, if they continue to doharm,
it VIII not be to Switzerland. The con-
fiict in Italy has been a continuatiO nof |
that which has ragged for several years.
The government of the Kingdom has |
driven out the Jesuits, ordered the sup |
preston of religious orders, and the
appropriation of their houses, and for
hidden pilgrimages, and the Pope has
Illuminated anathemas. In Spain, the
ecclesiatics have intrigued and coop |
Grated with the Carlists to destroy the |
Republic and enthrone superstition |
again. In France, they have plotted to
set up the Count de Chambord as King |
under the Pope, and sought by the in |
stitution of pilgrimages and the exhi-
bition of miracles, to rouse thepeople |
to frenzy for the Church and mon
archy, and they have witnessed the fail
ure of their schemes.
In Brazil, the Government and the
Bishops are at war on the question of
tl.n L..n,rr, IIIh