Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-11
THE REIGN OF TOLERATION,


OF late years there seems to have been a
general breaking up of the ties of sectarian-
ism that have for so long time divided the
Christian world, and it is now no longer a
strange thing for clergyman of one demon
ination to occupy the pulpit of another
church opposed to his own sect on many
points of belief Nor is it uncommon for a
clergyman to forsake the church in which he
was reared and accept a call to preside over a
flock of some other denomination. This
liberalizing or growing together of the sects
is gratifying to all who have the interests of
true religion at heart, and is a harbinger of a
better era and greater progress in the relig-
ious world.
The past ten years have witnessed won
derful Taxation of sectarian bias. The first
formidable blow struck at the intolerance
bellion against the ritual of the Episcopal
church headed by Bishop Cummins, of
Kentucky, and Cheney, of Chicago. The
struggle against the prejudices and traditions
of ages was long and bitter ono, but lib
eralism finally triumphed in the organization
of separate denomination in which all pro-
testants against the ancient formula of
Episcopalianism as we'll as other incogrui-
ties of dogma in other churches could find
q common ground upon which to stand.
The Reformed Episcopal church has already
had wonderful growth. Its ranks have
been recruited from the mother church
from among the Methodists, Presbyterians
and Congregationalists, while a few Access
sions have come even from the rock rooted
Baptists.
The prosecution of Prof. Swing for here
sy by the Calvinists of Chicago,
and several similar church trials of
less note throughout the country has, caused
a large growth of independent church or
carnations, owing no fealty to any recog-
nized general presbytery or conference, and
in these some of the most eminent of cur
pulpit divines have found an opportunity to
expound the gospel according TO their under
standing, unhampered by creeds or forms.
With scarcely an exception these have proved
successful, sure indication that the
mass of intelligent people think more of an
outspoken and Independent expression of
opinion on theological theories than of creeds
or sects, no matter how venerable with age.
The desertions of ministers from those Or
CARNATIONS that hold strenuously to the ex-
treme Calyinistic doctrines are growing more
numerous daily, while the itinerant system
in vogue in the Methodist church is bear
ing its legitimate fruit in the abandonment
of that denomination by nearly
all those who have attained
eminen,e in the pulpit, for churches that
give promise of permanent residence in any
given place. Nor is it infrequent at this
day to find Universalist or Unitarian oc-
cupying temporarily the pulpit of one of
the so-called orthodox churches, and no ad
verse comment is made, although no more
than a decade ago such thing would have
subjected the offending clergyman to church
discipline.
We do not regard this iberalizing of the
CQurCneS as lnulcat1VS OF DECENTRALIZATION, out
the reverse. 1t springs from more intelli-
gent understanding of each others positions
than has heretofore subsisted. Men are be-
ginning to see that, although they may differ
from their brethren of other churches on
immaterial points of doctrine, all are sincere
in their belief, and are earnestly endeavor-
ing to pursue the right path. Even Calvin
lists are beginning to acknowledge that
man may be Christian even if he rejects
some of the five points upon which
they base their belief. Clergymen of
all denominations unite in the same prayer
meetings and the same union services, seek
ing to advance the cause of religion without
reference to III effect the movement will
have upon their own particular church.
We repeat thst this change in religious
sentiment is matter for congratulation. It
indicates speedy termination Of The reign
of intolerance among Christians which has
done so much TO hamper the progress of