New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-07
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

| \ w. Eli
l'nu who, In behalf of the churches of Christ in
oouthampton, Chester, Southport and Liver
p0oi, iIGciosed check for $500 which had been
q ne,u ioL .ne Iund to be used in the erection of
q new CHRISTIAN church in Washington The
ieGter, which was addressed to Dear Sister,
was In part as follows: II feel sure Won will
n nos n tmo liberty ! take in addressing few
presslhie sorrow of the attempt to take The val
uiole lie or your honOrcd husband The
cnu d;51 with which | stand identified feel
special interest III the matter that has cast sucb
gloom over the civilized world They recog-
me- IN your, distinguished and respected hus-
pand, not only the high qualities Of mind and
I,o ,t wnlch are so generally attributed to him,
put also DIVINE klnship growing ont of rela-
uohs winch have been formed by n common ac-
ceptance of the gospel of Christ. This is the
,llost sacred OF all relationships, and it is this
that has moved your brethren in this country to
send you letter of deep sympathy and con-
gratulastlon, Last week four of the churches in
ACCOMPLISHMENTS planted and nurtured
LACEY oy aid from American brethren, with
whom you and your dear husband are organ
lcaiiy ass0clated-decded to send you letter
offering their sincere coincidence in your great
aan,fIio on ana at the same, time giving some
small token or their deep thank fulness to our
KIND heavenly Father for His gracious preser-
walton of your dear husbands life-and think
ing that nothing would be more grateful to
your feelings, they decided to send contribu-
tion to the Washington church building fund
to be used in the erection of a new house of
worship for the congregation of Disciples
sure In behalf of the churches represented, in
forwarding with this letter the sum of f1OO, as
me results of last Lords Days collections in the
sma GhnfSnes 10 We hope that this
!he purpose indicated, with the assurance that
It comes from hearts full of gratitude to God
Ior Ills merciful prov; dence over You and
yours BE pleased to tender our hearty sym-
patty to your dear husband and assure him that
wmle he is passing under the rod, his noble
bearing, his Christian patience his words of
I n ana nope ana his sweet resignation to the
Divine will have been eloquently and effectu-
ally preaching to the whole world.n
THE CASE OF Mr.. CowLEY.-The Rev. Dr.
James Mulchahcy, rector of st. PANTS Church
who was one of the committee appointed to
consider the case of the Rev. Edward Cowlev.
has written to The Chrchmdn for the purpose
OF explaining some of the questions raised by
the Editor of that journal in a recent issue.
ne quotes the canOnical law of the church.
that 1t was the bishops duty to see that an
inquiry be instituted rs to the truth of such
public rumOr,n in order to show that some
thing quite different from, and much more than
4 4 mere ex-parte examination is contemplated"
ne quotes again to prove that the COM
" Is there not here he then asks, "a
very large, If not absolute, grant of discre-
honary power to the committee9 And is it
not clearly the purpose of this canon to pro-
tect the clergy whenever any one NAV be the
victim of scandalOus rumor, by investigation
1alr and impartial, but in certain cases, through
a process less formal and less exposed than
IN open trial, as well as in other cases, to put
the lying rumOrs into a substantial pre-
sentiment for trial? If this construction of
the canon be correct, it cannot be alleged
against the Cowley commission that it pro-
ceeded "extra-canonically in receiving evil
dence for rs well as against the accused 1t
may he claimed that they had right 10 take
the record OF the criminal trial sufficient in
itself for presentment, and | have no per-
sonal reason for obiecting to that claim; but
mold that the committee was as clear in its right
to go into a thorough investigation of the case
ana that there were some very good reasons
which made it seem obligatory to take this
course. | hold also that, having determined
on tins course the committee had no alterna-
tive but to make their conclusion, unless it
should be unqualifedly averse, the with
holding OF pTesentment, for it would
be manifestly impossible for a present
ment to be made after such prolonged investi-
CATION, and accompanied by the accumulated
mass of evidence, without involving such an
overwhelming presumption of guilt against the
accused as to deprive him of any fair chance
for possible acquttal as the issue of his trial.
We are not blind to the unpleasant conse-
quences which are involved in the issue as it
now stands. But the case is one which must
inevitably involve unpleasant consequences in
any ISSUE and it is surely better, far better,
that the Church should suffer wrong than that
She should do wrong to even the humhlest
and meanest of her ministers or members"
Information from {" the highest attainable
authority has been received by The Christian
Adrocdte to the effect that no provision has
been made for the consideration, in the Ecu
inencal Conference, of the subject of church
extension in any of its forms. Says The Adco-
cate IN discussing this question No competent
observer VIII question the proposition that the
rise ana progress of the cause of church extern
sion III the Methodist Episcopal Church are the
most striking facts in its recent history. Yet
no recognition, we are assured, of these vast
enterprises Is found in the programme, 50 that
If 1t he carried out, stranger to McthOdlsm may
attend all the sessions of the Council and not
become aware of the existence of institutions
which are planting churches with almost magi-
cal rapidly. -. We hope that there is some
mistake IN all this. 1t seems incredible that
such an oversight should happen, But II it has
happened, i'll some way il should be rectfed,
even If supplementary meeting should be
held"
takes the Rev: Joseph Cook to task for having |
altered the following remark in the course of !
q recent temperance address in London: |
think 1t is beyond dispute, among the scholars |
OF the first rank, that ut the Passover the wine |
used was Notwithstanding, aud that our Lord |
instituted the supper with such wine" "Tak- |
ing this adjective mon Intoxicating in its |
only Legitimate sense says The Congregation |
dHSt, |" 1t seems incredible that Mr.. Cook can |
have been guilty of such a misrepresentation \
as the language contains. We ask for in |
formation: Is there a single scholar OF the !
first rank and recognized as such-at An |
dover, Harvard Yale, New York, Princeton, |
or anywhere else in this country, who holds |
and teaches what is thus affirmed to be beyond |
dispute y
The Mennonites have "a UNIQUE method of |
choosing minister. They nominate candidates, |
and the candidates meet and draw lots for |
ne position. The drawing is simple. A |
bishop or elder takes number of HYMN books, /
all Of which are alike, and places in one of them
n slip of paper on which is written, " Ii is your
lot" The candidates then select the books, |