New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-10-19
ypI>rOrIL CHrRcH CONGRESS.

This religious body, which meets in Cincin-
matt during the present week, represents, we
understand in more than IN ordinary degree
the learning and intellectual force of It's sect.
They have taken up one or two subjects for
discussion, too, from their comprehension Of
which the secular world Will bc very apt to
jude" of the learning and intellectual force
which they are able to briu, 10 bear on matters
outside of theology and church management.
one of these Is the connection OF science
and religion; question which l. of such vital
importance to the church just now that 1t viii
bear no veal, handling from iij-qualh,d menu
bcr~. The most profound and dcyout of thro-
lo,lans recognize the Importance of proving
that the teachings of the Bible are not con-
tradictod 10y any newly discovered natural
facts. which is very different thing from
rcconciling them with this or that fancitul
improved theory of scientific men. lhey
hold. too, that these facts OF science are IN
strict accordance with Bible teachings. >omc
of the more obscure ministers of the church,
-, honest and dcyout men probably. but not
- enlightened, took this opportunity, if we
may trust the reporters, to insist that the
Bible and science did not agree, and ap-
ptIltl 10 ItOh upon III Ntiitltt rs VII lillf
sensual, dryIlI,h-a> Mammon himself, in fact,
who could not he served without treason to
cod. Ii l. q pity that prominence WIS given
10 these speakers before the public or that
;hcy should be- held 10 represent a majority
Of then church. Twcut} five years ago many
clrrgymcn at certain dissenting churches in the
West taught that No book should be read
but the Bible, and that all secular learn
ing was a device OF the devil. They
were good, pi0US men, no doubt, but 1t would
hardly be- fair to take them as representatives,
of their -,rts. Very few EpiScoralianS, we
imagine, deny that ruth is divine. whether 1t
concern Gods wnra~ IA ndturc or with hui
uauitv; and one truth never contradIctS an
other.
Ojhr, ,.mi-scculaI subjects are brought be-
fore che cougr,-, every day, and handled
with much libcla'i,l and power. This annual
Congr $. hy the way, Is doing much to elc-
vac the Epl>,opalEn Church ~ the esteem of
practical c.s~gs. That certain prestige and robe
of aucicn; dignity m which tins church wraps
itself. while il Guuutl,-, ?ddcd to It's influence
IN one way. removed II from the worh-day
world and made il difficult Tor 1t to grappIc
with coarse. practical questions. The cOnyen-
tion of bishops and DELEGATES which meets
from time TO time is q stately conference, to
which each member comes weighted with the
character of the ancient body which he
represents; he speak and mods * cathcdra
not as Smith OF Blown he Is hampcrcd by
tradition and precedent
This yearly Conglc,S, We suspect, was Il
lucky thought Of some honest EpiScopalmn
who knew the amount Of shrcwd. sound prac-
teal thinking and working which WAS going on
in hi. church. and had mind that the world
should know i; too Il Is very often made up
of the same material rs the official body but
smith and Brown give uS their own opinions,
and give them, too, with plenty of downright
argument and keen business tact Ii Is
through this Congress that we gain the clearcst
idea of the working place which this church
holds III the world.