New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-24
CURRENT RELIGIOUS OPINION

! There is a vast field Of Church work, to which
the men of the Church called As IabOrers, eye
more imperatyely than the women, and 1t Is very
! false state of things that lets the women DO tue
Work and the only foot the bills. SAID "A
| rector in our hearing, only last week: cannot
! Get any men to help mo- II | 90 after them 10
| enlist their services. their first answer is How
! much ~ Very often II Is the only practical re-
! Spouse that Christian men VIII make TO the most
urgent calls for labOrers IN the vineyard. And get
there Is n lurking desire IN every true Christian
! heart 10 do something IN Chrlsts name, and for
| HIS cause. No man can - 70 the Holy communion
| OF the body and blood OF christ, with any regu-
| larity Of atteudauce without at least percelyng
| that tile -Olemn words OF selfdedicaton, Here we
! offer and present unto Thee ourselves, oar souls
! and bodies ought TO have some meaning other
| than "A passive meaning. The proof that there Is
such desire IN tue hearts Of men nose llps repeat
these words OF set-oblat0n found IN the interest
! which men take IN the good works, prepared Tor
MS 70 walk in, when once they have enlisted IN any
practical duty. ,ually the beginning IS nall the
battle In getting men 10 90 church work lHeie IS
the -hamefaCedness Of appearing to presume. which
! IN the very best Christians IS strongest. mere Is
! the many distaste Tor the eiieminacy aud nett
cheney of existing Church methods which have been
left So ong 10 10 have taken their tone aud
| teh,per from these. There is the bad example OF
men of good VIII but weak brains. whose zeal mas
outruu their discretion. q bring contempt upon the
cause they sought 20 serNe-alI these things act as
deterrents upon men Of stronger mind ana mould,
10 keep them from adventurng their own en-
dcayols ~ tile work and serN ice OF the Church.
The ChuTchman
The schools have opened their doors again, and
the round Of lie TO which the summer vacation
affords the only long Interruption has been begun
IN most homes The summer rest II IL has been
wisely spent ought 10 be happily felt all through
the long winter 10 come. Quieier nerves, stronger
muscles clearer heads, ana 4 memory stored with
pleasing pictures OF summer cNper ence, should he
the fruit OF Nacdt on days Now IS tAe llhe' 700,
10 plan for the winter The new year Tor the
thinker and worker begins after his summer Naca-
ton. Ii that time las been well invested, u ought
10 weld generous return IN intellectual social
and benevolent activity. 20 much Is to 30 done,
so much % ne acquired. and So much may be en-
loved that choice become, more aud more difficult.
while 10 constantly becomes NOR necessary to-
cation ana circumstance Will decide ior most OF Us
must be put forth INTO regular and necessary
activities. But there Is always ndTgL OF leisure
that Is 1T tie disposal Of the busiest and I'D It's Use
neither the heart, the intelect nor the religious ha
ture 7hollI be impoverished. The. ATiStIan beg
ister
How shall! we know what is orthodox "? One
Young preacher lately declared time to be tho test
ruere is an important sense i'm which the tlle-ete-
ment comes In more especially TO Wlthc. the Wusu-
rooms OF unsOuud Thought. but now IS the man
who Is 10 die tomorrow and wishes TO know to-day
whether he in hul further probation beyond tue
grave safely % wait FOL future ages 10 settle that
question And whom is n. u believe What
man of men" most senseeSs and It,. a. Dogberry
calls them-will 10 be sale for him 10 accept as
confidently foretelling the verdict OF tue ages upon
this' lie need be IN 10 dlnicuitY. we nave
most sure ord Of prophecy. 1t isl light sninlng
4 dark place Generations dltei generations OF
thu., who feared God and wrought righteousness
in that light have zone cheertully dow ~ the ehd
% their day, into the dark valley, aud the last
glimpse y 9 have had Of them show ad their iaces
glowing - with the dlWn-gleam OF Heaven. bOd
Spea Ks through lis Word and by His spirit 10 the
listening ear OF faith. II - better 10 trust IN lim
than 10 put confidence even IN tie princes OF The
" ,doln of this world. Ii 4 man wllcth To 90 his
will he shall know of The teaching whether u L.
of Goa' And so paying. wiling knowing ana
being taught. hc shall need no further assurance
That lie il sound and orthodox and 5aie.-.Ihe
COngrrs ationailSi.
The occasional introduction of an anccdote INTO
sermon for rho purpose OF needed Illustration is
peIiectIy legitimate. But everyone who has any
respect tor the truc object OF preaching ana M
dignity Of the pulpit and any love Tor real Ofatory
Oh tue nOblest OF subjects, mast protest agaiLSt
humorous, tragic and pathetic, which characiet-
ICES the preaching OF so many OF the popu'dI
preachers OF the day. However attractive II ma
be and however effective IN drawing crowds
who are III loss Tor other ontert1uiIent on @All-
dav il is a fashion whose effects are only crnl-
ciOus. IL insults the more refined ana htel!,s h'
part Of congregation. II caters 10 an unwh9e-
some taste in the uncuturod II lowers the speaker
himself degrtdes his office and lofty subject, and
i'm the end lessens if 10 does not destroy his ~ heat
uaefuness as preacher of the Gospel III You
caouot interest your audience without becoming
mere story teller be sure that the interest you
do arouse by becoming one Is unhealthy IN
worthy and harmful The Morayan.
The right position Of the Christian mind before
the assertions of the New Criticism is the cOuscrVa-
tive one All the presumption IS against tie as
saults upon the Word OF God. Tue faith OF ages