New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-04
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

EccLEsIAsTICs IN CoNFLIcT.-Russian news
papers state that two professors of Oxford Uni
verslty-Mr. Fowler and the Rev. Mr.. Neague
are now In St. Petersburg TO further the
scheme which was agt;tted several years ago
the reunion of Christendom. They have gone
TO press upon the Russian Ministry of Worship
the advislblllty of opening in Western Europe
an orthodox Church where Anglicans who ac-
cept the d0gmas of Eastern Chi1stendom can
worship with the outward forms of the Angli-
can rite. The question i'll 1872 submitted
To the consideration of the four Patrialchs of
the Eastern Church, and the two professors
nave gone to Russia to see If they cannot secure
a decision 1t is doubtful, however if they
succeed, for they depended largely upon the
influence OF Professor PObedonoSzef, the Arch
Procurator of the Russian Holy Synod with the
Car. Pobedonoszeh is not in the good graces
OF the Gar just now on account of an impru-
dent conflict III which he has been engaged with
one of the ablest and most liberal of the Rus
sian prclates, the Bishop of Titlis The cause
of the battle between the two theologians dates
as far back as July 10, when the anniversary of
the death of the Russian poet Lermontott was
celebrated III his native town and district.
I1ermontoH was killed III duel in the twenty
sixth year OF his age, and the local clergy
were uncertain whether it in accordance
with canonlcal law to say "A mass for the soul of
one who had met death i'll this manner they
wrote to the Bishop of Tifis and to the Arch
Procurat0r PobedOnoszetf for their decision.
The Bishop at once replied that there was no
reason whatever why Il post mortem eXcom.
mlnlcatlOn should be passed upon such a
man as the beloved poet. The CLERGY acted
upon the episcopal Judgment and LermOntofi's
memory received all the ecclesiastical as well as
popular honors. Soon afterward "A message ar
rived from the Arch-ProcuratOr strongly for
bidding the "lnOppOrtunc soul mass" When
the powerful ecceslastlc, says The London
Echo, found what the Bishop of Iifis had
done, he sent an angry letter to that prelate,
threatening him with a deposition and Danish
ment TO Il monastery. THIS step has reused
great Indignation against the 1anatica Pobe-
an 'Zlr haS hnI fnlfb
shaken III the man who could SO cOarsely attack
one of the most popular and learned of the
russian clergy"
YORKTOWN RELIGIOUS SERvICEs.-Our Prot
estant religious exchanges for several weeks
past have contained some vigorous protests
against the carrying ont of the programme at
the lorlNoWn Celebration, which, il IL cur
rcnty reported intrusts the regious services
to the Roman Catholic clergy. The last paper
to add Its protest Is The Acr- Ork Observer.
here is 1t says, mo other law than that of
good taste, prOpnety and public fitness TO
govern the managers of such "A celebration in
tlclr selection of ministers of religion. There
Is one grand distinction IN this free country,
and that Is between ROmaniSts and PrOtcstants.
II Is line separating those who represent
Rome from those who represent Anglo Saxon
freedom and constitutional principles. If the
officiating ministers on this occasion had been
selected from any one Protestant dcnOmna-
ton, all the others would have been invited,
and at liberty 10 cooperate, because they all
hcan liberty, which was secured III its tinalty
when Corvallis surrendered at Yorktown.
Not 80 with the Romanlst ministration. That
Church represents the highest Stvlc OF despot-
ism known 10 the human race. 1t is the en-
bOdiment of the doctrine that the Church is
supreme over all human governments. which
exist onl Y TO advance the Church This Is
the aVowed doctrine of the Church of Rome to-
day. Every body knows this The managers of
the Yorktown Celebration know il rs well as
we do. They knew 1t when they determined to
set aside the consideration that out of fifty
millions OF people perhaps five or six of these
millions are KomanlStS. while more than forty
millions abhOr that doctrine. The injustice.
the improperly 90 use the mildcSt tclm) OF this
arrangement, must be obvious to every enhght-
cned American Glzcn. 1t Is too late 10 remedy
II now. Indeed, II WAS made with full knUwl-
edge of the fact that II would bc offensive to the
religious sense of the country, and the protest
of the lovers of American principles Will he of
no avail. But we wish to be put on record in
regard TO this matter as Protestant American
cltlzens.
CHURCH WoRsHIPIN RUSsIA.-The Rev. f. p.
Thwing, of Brooklyn, writes from St Peters
burg To The CORgregdtiORdiiSt in regard to the
religious practices OF the Russians among whom
lac has been spending some time. The Greek
service, he says Is IN ancient Church SlaVOuic
and Is very elaborate, being well calculated to
impress the common people with awe fer the
Gar and the Church of which he IL the head.
The distinctions of wealth and social standing
are abolished in the house of God. There are
except when they bow and knccl and fall in
the dust. IT would not do the average Amcri-
can Il hit of HARM says MIR. Thwmg. "to be
put through n course of gcnuiiectlons and pros
trations after the Greco Russian stlc 1t
might help To moderate some of his impudcnce
TO be made to kuccl oftcncT; even To get his
face fairly in the dust, as | have seen in the
case of Wcl-dicSScd ladies, black coated
civilians and officers in gold lace. aS well as
poor folks In regard 10 the doctrines taught
and 10 the reverence which the people pay TO
the Church, Mr.. Thwimg says: These people
diner from the Romish in rejecting the Popc's
prlmacy purgatoY, supcrerogation, iDdul-
Believing that flame is cmblematic of spiritual
rs well as natural life. they use the candle at
baptism, betrothal, burial and other sacred
ceremonies. When | have seen the dcVout
stand with barred head, even in the RAIN and
cross themselves when passing on the side of
the street opposite to Il church have thought
Of the ContemptuOuS dissertation of modern
use of them for hazars, restaurants, gambling
and IOrtunc-tC telling; and of others who. with
covered head and cigar in mouth, stand and
smoke and spit about the Nestibulc OF Gods
place OF prayer
j. b. Dimblebv, of the British Chronological
Association, sends to Public opinion Q.ondon)
some chronological notes on the Revised Yer
SION. The New Testament, he says, necessarily
contains Il great many chronological expires
SlOnS OF the highest scientific interest. and he Is
disappointed at the manner in which this palT
of the work has been done, or left undonc Dy
the rcViSers. " In whatever sense" he SAYS,
the Revised Version may be received 10y ord-
nary Christian readers, II cannot Toe viewed
without much disappointment 10y chrOnOlogiSts
historians, who find ii not only stripped of
the usual marginal years, but the text de-
t, xH..l .l,,.. .1,t.,