The New York herald., 1879-09-07

we remember tnot even EmeFSOu, IN MS elriier wiz
ings. carried the rights of ndvdualism far that
he thought it wholly unworthy of true soul to be
governed by what the world thinks right aud wrong
This phase of New England thought has received
ample illustration and suffers the reducfio ad atssr
dam in the case of Freeman. That poor deuded apos-
tle of the advanced thought did what he thought
was right. aud. however deluded, was perfectly
conscientious in his act of murder He imagined
that he was doing Gods service and obeying the
dictates OF the highest religious ecstasy by slaugh
tering his child and pleads this in extenuaton OF
his crime. But common sense that is tho sense
that is common to man-condemns him without
dissent. Tho truth is that man has right to
think or act outside of old established laws.
man may grow to be taller than his fellows. but
hc can't wear a hump on his back and call himself
straghter than other people. He may know more
than most men. but he has no right to know
much that he justify himself. either in the
name Of religion anything else for act which
his honest ncighbors condemn. We nced not all
look alike but it is folly to crawl oil fours like
brute and then claim that by that act prove
selves moro sanity than the rcst It's not safc TO
be too eccentric.
man may be induced to give mp every other
right but the right to find fault no will never yield
except with life.
II the mon who in the religious meeting delight to
tell how bad they be taken at their word
how indignant they would be. It is q curious fact
that they don't want you to believe word they say
about themselves.
1t Is very serious question. and yet one which
every man ought to think seriously upon. whether
if you should be out of your mind you would
have far to 60.
THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH.
PROBABLE RESULTS OF THE LATE FAILURE OF
THE CoNvoCATIoNs-THE DIVISION INTO
sECTs OR PARTIES.
The do-nothing policy of the joint convocatons of
Canterbury and York after years discussions
and consideration of the doctrines contained in the
Athanasian creed rubrcs of the prayer book
ing vestments and the like. likely to lead
sion from the establishment. The English CORE
spoudent of the Chxrckman. OF this city. writes to
that journal to say the disagreement Of the joint
convocatons to be expected. because no church
can get on where the clergy, meeting separately
from the laity and claiming that no legislation can
take place except by their initiation and previous
decision, are divided into two coequal bodies and
those bodies each into parts. and where agree
ment can be arrived at among ali four divisions The
statement Of the is reductio dd dbsurtum.
The result is that matters will go just before
and the sQuabbles about ritual will continue
checked, and the only voice of the Church on the
matters in dispute is that which she uttered in 1861
Dy tue regal auCuOrtleS pTOnOunC1nx on evidence
laid before them by lawyers. just as tbcy would
in any dry case OF civil right and wrong.
this is no Interpretation at all. and that
they must obey what they call the plain.
literal sense of the ornaments rubric. the
Church must 20 on with tine present course Of pre-
sentiments, trials. suspensions. meetings or the
English Church Union" humiliation of the bish-
ops. who powerless. disgust OF the laity. and
prolonged enfseblement of the Church.
This correspondent stigmatizes the members of
the Association for tho Promotion OF Union in
a.~I
their right place among other dissenters by and by.
this prophet Is true two secessions instead
of one will be the result. For having rejected
substitute for the old ornaments rubrIc' intro
duced by tho Dean Of Chester the lower houee OF
the Convocation Of York retained the old rubrc
with all its ambiguity its Interpretation OF meaning
by the courts OF law and its certainty OF fruitful
field of contest The rejected declared the surplice
and stole to be the vestments of the clergy and
no other. But this was too sweepingly In
the interest of the rituasts who. under the lead Of
Archdeacon Dennison and Mr.. Berdmorc Compton,
and backed up by the Standard have formed another
association. whose avowcd object is to preserve
the Prayer Book intact. msread and obsolete
papers calling for adhcrents and an express
sion Of opinion his new departure the
Arcnoeacon 'els sne peop,e sna' sney nave
tion in York. for that of Canterbury has faledthat
il, from his standpoint OF HghC the latter
has failed but through the o6stinacy and partisan
ship of the Convocation of York the old roots Of
bitterness are left undisturbed.
FAILURE ALONG LINE.
The attempts to deal with the "Athanasan Creed
by convocation have experienced . signal failure
also. The explanatory" scheme passed at Canter-
bury has been rejected ut York. rather, found
single adherent, and the proposal OF the Bishop of
Durham to make the formulsry permissive and of
the Dean OF Chester to leave it in the Prayer Book
without prescribing its decisivey negatived
by the High Church proctors. The notable fact
the outspoken attitude Of Bishop Lghtfoot in favor
of some change; and as his appointment was lately
hailed by all parties with such unprecedented
thusiasm his opinions musi in the end carry weight.
At the call of Archdeacon Dennison a meeting is to
be held in London in November to complete the
association upon the following basis Tho
preservation of the Prayer Book as 1t is absolutely
intact. refer particularly at this time to:-1. The
position therein of the creed of St Athanasius with
the rubric prefxed. aud without declaration ap-
pended. 2. The ornaments rubric, without alter
alton. note rubric subjoined. trans
ferring to the discretion" of the Bishop the
'liberty of use'' now guaranteed by statute. And
he considers the matter OF such vital Importance to
the Church that he promises to devote the remnant
OF his days to the organization proposed. And yet
there hardly be question that his opposition
to any change will increase the clamor for some
change in the Prayer Book. and will divide the
Church into three parties-high and low and con-
servative churchmen.
REFORM OF RUSSIAN MONASTERIES.
German newspapers are informed that the Holy
Synod Of Russia is contemplating q reform Of the
monasterics and nunneries under it's Jurisdiction.
Especially in the former abuses said to be rife
to 8 serious extent Instead of leading life of de-
vout contemplation and religious self-denial the
monks OF all grades arc accused of revelling in
worldly cnjoyments. Every and thon the
world is scandalixed by the announcement of some
crime committed by inmate OF a religious house.
Only q short time ago the igumen Of monastery
on the Don absconded with the money belonging to
the institution, carrying on with him ut
the time the wife OF leading
chant IN the neighboring town. Monks in Russia
do not take the vow OF poverty, but allowed to
hold and acquire private property. II is said to be
tDe intention of the synod to deprive the lower
grades of religious orders of this privilege. Apart
from private property the religious houses are said
to own q vast amount of corporate property. Their
annual revenue is understood to exceed 5000, 900
rubles. They holders of dividend-bearing
stock Of various kinds to the amount Of 29.UOO,00O
rubles. But all this is said TO be nothing in
comparison with the enormous wealth represented
by the gold and silver ornaments. pearls jewels.
costly vestments and church plate In their pos
session.
UNCONVENTIONAL NOTES.