New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-04
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ment OF the affalrS OF the American DlDlc
Society still continue to occupy the attention
of the religious press. The opinion is nearly if
not quite unanimous that the Bible Society
ought TO ask for a full and fam examination of
Its books by committee of DISTINGUISHED men
in whom the public has perfect confidence. In
regard to the charges OF the Connecticut
Society and the reply Ot the Bible Society The
ChicdQo AdrdRce SAYS We cannot say that
we quite like the spirit and manner of either
of them Neither saucy, nor lofty, airs are III
place IN conducting questions OF this sort. But
mt least, there is at the present time such Il
scnsitivcncSs on the part the constituencies
of the benevolent societies rs to the grounds
of confidence that it will be absolutely neces-
sary tor the Bible Society to NV the fullest
investigation and to offer the most accOmmO-
dating assistance in the prosecution OF such
inquiries and then. give to the public the re-
suits of such cXaminatOn-if 1t is to retain
public confidence unlmpalrCd And the more
promptly and frankly this Is done the better. p
he Methodist says: Let "a competent COM
mttce from the outside go over the matter
thoroughly and lepOrt-as we presume they
wOuld-that all Is as it ought to hr, and then
we shall all be satisfied. The contributing
public Will claim the right to be satisfied on
such points as are raised by the Connecticut
Bible Society. II the managers insist that
Providence alone shall audit their accounts,
the contributors may remand the collections to
Providence" 1 he Waterman draws the fol-
lowing moral from the controversy: The
lesson taught by this incident to the one party
is-the importance OF making financial exhibits
so full as to anticipate every inquiry that Is
likely to be raised and to the other party-to
enter on any inquiry that may be suggested as
necessary, not in the spirit of detectives III
search of something criminaly concealed, but
with the assumption that there IL nothing IN
tentiOnally hidden he Northern Christian
AdrocGte is one of the few religious journals
which regard the answer Of the American Bible
Society as conclusive: " And 1t is equally to he
regretted 1t says, that there are influential
religious Journals which, after the satisfactory
answer TO the charges have been made, still
call for investigation, rs If the ground OF cOnil-
drucc were weakened if not destroyed. Such
zeal for the honor of the Church and its
agencies ovcrshoots the mark, and raises Il
question as to It's own sincerity
THE RELIGIOUS QUESTION IN France
Gambcttas appointment u NJ. Bert rs Minister
of Worship and Puulic instruction in the
FrrncE Cabinet il u fruitful theme tor the re-
ligiOuS Journals, which are OF the opinion that
the outlook in France Is not an encouraging
one. NJ. Bert SAYS The LOHgregGti1pdiiSt
" is an advanced POsltiviSt whose appointment
to this post shows the hostility OF the Govern
mcnt to religions teaching of any kind. 1t
means the prohibition of such teaching 50 far
as Government has authority. a step IN the
same direction il ;he proposed transfer oil the
regulation OF public worship from the Depart
mcnt ot the lntcrlOrt to that oi Public lnSttdc-
VI.
soon expect to see Felix Adler chosen Mctho-
dist bishop rs VI. Bert given this power over
French worship Ii looks as IT NJ. Gainhctta Is
ignorant of the recent growth Gt the religious
spirit among his COuntrymcn. II ne has made
"A mistake here il will prove dangerous one 10
him similar view OF the case Is taken 10y
The Christian HtcLgcpCr which says OF NJ.
Bert To PVT the control OF public worship
ana education in the hands of this lauatIcal
and bitter atheist and matcrialIst, Is is II WI
liam LLOYD Garrison had been appointed
United States Marshal or Commissioner under
the Fugitive Slave Law, or Wendell Phillips
were made Secretary of the Treasury, or
Robert IAgcrSoll elected President of the Bible
Society. There may be some occult policy
under the surface, or some grand surprise in
tended by this sensational Prcmlcr but GER
tainly the only apparent Interpretation Is, that
VI. Gambetta is an enemy TO religion. IL
will be necessary for the Premier to explain
this appointment If It means what 1t seems TO
mean the clouds are gathering once more
about the beautiful and Inflated land" me
Christian Union takes broader view of the
question. Hitherto, 1t SAYS, the stronghold OF
the Republic has been IN the fowls and cities ;
" il was the country which rallied 10 the En-
pirc, because the Empire was religious and the
Republic WAS athclstiC.' No state, 1t adds,
is strong or permanent which depends for its
strength on che cities GImbctta Is wise
enough 10 recognize this fact, and he has been
working. thus far with singular success. to
mean TO Ice defeated in this purpose by the
country priests; he therefore has determined
that. since they are Supported 10y the state,
they shah not use their influence 10 undermine
the State Hence the appointment OF NJ. Bert
EPISCOPAL MISSIONARY CONFERESCE.-Therc
WAS Il large gathering of bishops and prominent
rcctor- OF the Protestant Episcopal Church III
trace Church, Utica, Tuesday evening when
the opening exercises of the Missionary Con-
ference were held. Among those present,
either then or on the following day, were
Bishops Whipple, Paddock, Nicely, tlarksOu,
Huntington and Howe, and the Rev. DIS. \. /.
living. W. \. Nnvclv, John Bralnctd ana ).
II. E,clcStOu. The opening sermon was DENY
cred Wednesday morning 10y Bishop Nicely OF
Maine, formerly rector of Calvary Church,
Utica. The principal address OF the day was
made by the Rev. Or. living secretary OF the
domestic Committee. Last yea. ne Salu' LOT
the first time the receipts exceeded the apprO-
prationS Grace Church, on Brooklyn HeI ghtS,
that used To give only SJl o a year, now gives
from $1,000 10 $1,000 a year. Grace Church,
Newly York, that contributed only $500 year
now gives from = 900 10 $1,000. some
time, call these churches the TWO graccS, SAID
Dr.. living. " don't 20 10 these churches any
more: there is no need of it; | don't know rs /
shall ever visit them again unless II NAV be To
thank thcm.' lie said that there were about
100 missionaries in the field. Last year
500. 600 was raised but more than this was
needed and could bc used 10 GOOD advantage
Bishop Clarkson, of Nebraska, spoke eloquently
of the oppOrtur tiles for missionary work IN his
state; and Bishop WhIpp!r of Minnesota,
oDcupd the discussion of Indian missions. His
address is said to have been deeply interesting.
Bisnop Nicely conducted the services in the
evening and addresses were made 10y the Rev.
Drs ". Il. Huntington. Of Worcester, Mass,
and W. 4. SnIvcly, OF Brooklyn and by Bishop
Paddock, Of Massachusetts. Thursday was De
voted mainly to foreign missions and to work
among the colorcd 'ople in the South. Alto
gothcr the sessions were very interesting.
The Church of England and Protestant EpS-
copal journals ON the one hand ana the Yves
leyan and Methodist Episcopal journals on the
other hand. have been engaged IN an animated
controversy since the Ecumenical Conference
in regard to the churchmanship o. John Wes-
lcy-was it High, Low, or BtoadY In ITS last
issue The Christian Union takes up the subject
and discusses it i'm tins manner: " Now, what
does il matter whether his Guardianship was