Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-05-24
ECCLESIASTICAL

Int MAI "a, o
ECCLESIASTICAL. Il
Several large churches nave held
conventions during the past week,
md Catholic Intervention in Irish pol
tics has also contributed to impart
interest to ecclesiastical matters.
Among clerical gatherings, those Of
the Presbyterians have been most
conspicuous. At Saratoga, the Rev.
Herrick johnson, d. D., Moderator
Of the Northern Assembly, discanted
upon the perls Presbyterianism is
especially exposed to, and in so
doing, delivered a sermon filed with
thought. According to the view
taken by that eminent divine, the
Presbyterian church is Yielding to @s-
thetic culture and demanding an at
tractive service. At the same time
in maintaining its creed and confess
sion, it Is losing the spirit of its
Master. Error should be combatted
with swords tempered in the arsenals
Of heaven, and yet, just when the
church has most need Of such weap-
ons, she is threatened with a famine
Of standard bearers. Only a small
proportion of those educated in re-
ligious institutions have ministerial
aspirations, and the trained man is
generallyithe wrong man. The church
has been endeavoring to create a min
istry without due sense of its depend
ence upon God and proper application
for His assistance, and has on that
account been disappointed in Its aims.
If the above be the true condition
of the Presbyterian churchill it has
reached s. period when jealous and
temperate upholders Of its doctrines
cannot be ob~tained-its days are
numbered; but the LEDGER has nc
idea there is eve approach, as yet
to such a catastrophy. In its view
there are still both a work and mis-
sion for that church, for the prose
cution of which a suitable ministry
will be provided. But if the result
shall be otherwise, there need be NJ
fear that christianity will greatly sui
fer thereby, or that the gospel vii
therefore cease to be preached.
Particular denominations are o
less Importance to religion than is or
dinarily supposed by their advocates
Amodern church is nothing more tina
voluntary association placing simila
Interpretation upon what is general
accepted as revelation, and althoug
every so-called evangelical societ
was once deemed by good men nee
esary to meet and overcome erroni
Gus phases of faith, none of theI
have been infallible or free from mi:
takes in their attempted applicatio
of principle to duty, and were MOI
of them to cease, there would be sti
hope of the survival of the fttest {
them to administer to coming gene
atoms. 1t Is not surprising therefor
that very recently the inhabitants
both the old and the new world ha'
had their attention directed to q pr
vafent doctrinal error of long stan
ing, into which ecclesiastics Of almo
every grade and nation have been b
trayed-denial Of the naturel right
revolution.
At Saratoga, the southern delegat
the Rev. William Brown, D. D.,
Fredericksburg, Va, while exchan
ing fraternal relations with the Mort
ern church, informed that body, tn
organic union between these churc
es would be impossible until after 8
acknowledgement had been made
error, committed in the beginning
their disruption. What was thus {
manded is understood to be dlsayo
al of utterances concerning the
lodged sin of attempted revolution.
In this country where church a
state are theoretically If not pract
ally discovered, and where natiol
existence is due to successful revoI
ton, it would seem to be more ma
raj to resist such ecclesiastical int
ferance with politics than in Euro
where the relations of civil and rel
ious governments have been Of
most intimate character, and VIII
the Catholic Church has v claim
the right to control Kings and dir
the consciences and loyalties of 81
jects. Nevertheless papal interf
ence with Irish agitation has b.
more bitterly denounced there, I'll
was ever the action of Northern CHI
tians by Sontherners here.
Commenting upon the course
the Pope, MI. Thomas Brennan, S
rotary Of the Irish National Leag
thus explains himself: "When
Pope speaks er-cathedro, his opin
will be respected but when he t.
of the politics Of Ireland, we b
just as much respect for his opin
as for that Of any other man of al
ty-no more and no less. If he ia
sides with England against Irela
then we win be against the Pc
There was a time before the pei
of Ireland became educated-w
it was necessary that priests she