New-York tribune., 1881-09-11

ations by which Malta was annexed to the
British Empire. That the Roman Catholic
Church Is established has never been disputed
and the priests have added To its legal style the
further qualification of dominant The
eecclesiastlcal buildings and practices of the
Englsn herctcS are supposed TO depend for
their existence on a toerati0n which would not
be voluntarily accorded. The English Govern
ment and Its representatives in the island have
generally regarded the zeal of the Roman
Cathohc priesthood and its adherents with
been forgotten that, when the Republican
French occupied Malta in the place of the
knights of st. John their proclamation of the
churches and their insults to religion induced
the inhabitants to welcome the English be-
slegers, who, not without their help, at last
compelled the French garrison to surrender
1t is not probable that in future any Catholic
invader will be able to appeal to the religious
sympathies of the Maltese against the rulers
who have always respected the susceptibilties
of their subjects. Neither France nor Italy can
at present easily assume the character of
champions of the Church; and the Maltese
Also scattered over the coasts of the Levant
prefer English protection to the parotnage of
any foreign power"
THE FRUITS OF CAMP -MEETINGs-Now that
the canlp-neetng season is drawing to close,
our religious exchanges are taking a retrospec-
tive view OF the work that mas been done the
past summer. The opinions of Methodist papers
VIII prove the most interesting perhaps in re-
camp-meetings," says The Christian Adrocate.
"are very encouraging as to the numbers in
attendance, the decorum of the audiences and
the excellence of the preaching. There can be
no DOUBT that these gatherings are to be for
iohg tlme TO come a prominent feature in
American religious life. Methodsm has no
monopoly OF camp-meetings now. Ch9utauqua
and birmingham have become centres of wide
spread religions, moral, and intellectual cul-
turc, and OF interdenominational acquaintance
Some distinctivcly religious meetings, as Ocean
Grove and the Vineyard, keep their attractive
ness Tor thousands But we do not hear of
conversions in proportion to the numbers in
attendance. 1t is to be feared that the preach
ing at these great gatherings is less simple
pointed, and hortatory, less adapted to produce
conYlcton than III the days gone by. So some
OF the fathers think, and some of the sons agree
with them. he Methodist also brings out
the point that the number of conversions is
smaller than would be expected. "The sum-
mer camps of Christians" it says have this
year been unusually successful materially,
morally, socially Whether the religious re-
suits are as gratifying may depend upon the
point OIL view. The number of conversions re-
ported is very small. Indeed we do not any
Longer measure an outdoor meeting by this test.
The religious results of amy regular church ser
vice can seldom be put into fgures: and the
camps are entitled to the common mercy of
human Judgment. If a Christian worker comes
Rome refreshed IN mind and spirit, the camp is
entitled to credit; Any increase of knowledge
made 10y a Sunday school teacher should be
put down for the camp. IT, in short, the
churchwork all the year round shall be better
done because OF the camps, let the camps be
recognized as so far useful. From this broader
Inspection one Will return with a conviction
that the religious summer resorts are doing
good"
DIR. THOMAS PLEADING FOR TOLERANCE
The Rev. DIR Ii. W. Thomas whose trial for
heresy has caused much interest i'm Mletho-
dist circles. preached his first sermon this fall
in Chicago last Sunday in Hooleys Theatre
hpin
PEELED to stand during the service. The sermon
was on the practical phases of religion as dis
tingulshcd from the speculative and theoreti-
cal In the course OF his sermon, which was
peculiarly interesting in its bearing upon the
charges which have been made against him,
Dr. Thomas said: And Mr.. Wesley was
equally tolerant and broad in his views con-
cerning the liberty of minister's In his thirty
eighth sermon he argues that when a minister
Is DONG good, Is saving souls, that il is wrong
to IN any way hinder him. Wesley was thus
catholic and liberal n hundred years ago, aud
1t seems To me that nothing is more needed in
these days of dcclenSion and doubling than the
union OF all devout souls in spirit and work, and
broader tolerance of personal liberty in the
theoretical and the speculative. In this way
the practical work of religion could 20 on with
ont Interruption, and with the strength of
united army, an what is theoretical, and criCi-
cal, and speculative could formulate in each
mind and the best thought of each mind could
find free expression without causing contention.
You will see, my friends, that the whole drift
tiou to the practical and the important in re-
liglon Us distinguished from the speculative or
theoretlcal to call attention to the highway of
holiness over which the unclean shall not pass.
This way lies plain before the open and willing
soul. 1t is not overcast by darkness nor an
gered by debate.n
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONGRESS. - Last
year the Church Congress was omitted on ac-
count of the meeting of the Episcopal General
Convention in New York. This wear the Con-
grcss Will be held IN the Opera House at Provi-
dence, *: l., beginning October %. Bishop
Clark Will make the opening address and viii
preside at the daily sessions The subjects to
be discussed are civil Service. Reform"
" Methods of Charity Organization "The Re-
lati0n of Parishes TO the Diocese and of Dio-
ceSes to the General Convention in the Matter
of jurisdiction and Representations Liturgi-
cal Growth" "The Revision of King Jamess
Version of the New Testament" "The Educa-
tion of Divinity Students" and spiritual Cul-
ture-its Aims and Methods.' Among the
speakers and essayists announced are the Rev.
Dr. John Cotton Smith the Rev. DIR. John
Henry Hopkins, the Rev. DIR. Phillips Brooks,
the Rev. DIR. Ever, the Rev DIR. L. f. Boards
ley, the historian, the Rev. DIR. j. f. Garrison
the Rev. DIR. Goodwin of Philadelphia, the Rev.
). ii. Gurteen, the charity orga.. .izer, Robert
pans IT, ,b pr Rsa Samuel ELIOT The Rey
ward McCrady, of South Carolina, Judge
Shelley, of Virginia, and Professor Price of the
University of Virginia. Civil Service Reform
methods will be discussed entirely 10y laymen.
The writer's will be Charles Gibbons, of Phila- |
delphia. Seth Low, of Brooklyn, and Joseph
Packard, jr., of Baltimore F; the speakers are to
be Ex-Governor Bullock, of Worcester, and
Everett T.. Wheeler and Francis Iynde Stetson,
both OF TINS CITY, The mt eting is expected to
be very interesting one.
The relations of the Russo Greek Church to
the Eatican from, the topic of an article In The