Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-10
SUNDAY EASY CHAIR.
THOUGHTS IN TIE REALMS OF PRESENT
AND FUTURE.
The Doctrine OF Providenees "-Inspira
ton Of the Bible-Rengicn in Eng
Iand-Revival seryices-Etc.

The Christian Advocate editorially says ::
We are asked what Christ wished to teach
concern ng the doctrine of IS Providences
by his reference to certain Gallileans, and
to those on whom the "tower in Sloan
fell" He meant to say, probably, that we
must not think OF those on whom great
calamities fall as personally worse than
other men, nor of such cslamities as sent
in correction or punishment of the sins of
those particular persons. Great disasters
and calamities are meant for peoples,
nations and the race, as educative forces,
and teach little concerning the particular
moral standing of the victims. They
may fall on the best of men, as on Job, or
on sacred corporations, as on churches
burned by lightning. We are, therefore,
never to charge any disaster to the
special wrong doing of those on whom it
visited, unless we can show the direct con-
nection between them. No doubt we may
say, in general, that the divine providences
are so ordered as to encourage and uphold
virtue, and discourage and smite vice but
there are many long suspensions and SEEM
ing exceptions even to this general law,
during which the right suffers and wicked
ness prospers. In a normal or ideal state
of society virtue is its own reward. But
we live in times out Of joint, and abnor-
nal conditions often, and have to wait to
see the right indicated. Disasters and
calamities, falling as they do, are largely
mysteries to us, because we are too finite
to know specifically from what they rise,
for what they come. We can only say that
thew come on account of the sinfulness Of
mankind, and that they tend to humble
human pride.
The Rev. n s. Rulison, an Episcopalian
clergyman of Cleveland, Ohio, preached
recently on the inspiration of the Bible.
In the course of his sermon he said {:
There are persons who have pet theories
of the Bible, and think that all other
theories are not genuine. Some hold that
every sentence and word in the Bible is
free from error This is dangerous
theory, because we do not know whether
our English words accord with the full
meaning of those in which the Bible was
originally written. The ancient writers
are not teaching the world the different
sciences they are teaching religion. We
need have NO fear that science is going to
overthrow the inspiration of the Bible.
The question of just how the Bible is in.
spired i, full of difficulties. The purpose
of the inspiration of the Old Testament Is
to tell of Christ, and the New Testament
is similar in that it tells to man the object
of Christ. The purpose of the one was TO
tell men truths /; the object of the other to
carry out those truths. Jesus Christ is
the key that can unlock the meaning of
the inspiration of the Bible.
There are As 900 places of religious wor-
| ship in England and Wales having about
Is 900, 900 sittings. The average attend
ancs on Sundays is about 10000, 600
The stated ministers of religion number
st, 0O0, of whom %. 600 are OF the Estab-
lished Church. On every Sunday there are
delivered $4,000 sermons, or 4 600, 900
every year. There are 5000, 900 children
in the Sunday-schools, for whom there are
500 900 teachers. There is a stated minis.
ter for every 700 persons or l40 families,
place of worship for every 500 persons Or
, 100 families, and communicate for every
eight of the population. The annual cost
for maintaining religion in the Kingdom is
ZIG. 600. 000. IN. Y. Tribune.
George Williams, the former actor, has
closed HE evangeEstic meetings in the Tab
ernacle Congregational Church, Chicago.
During the two weeks in which the
meetings have been held, says local paper,
the lecture.room of the church has been
filed every night with an attentive
congregation. Mr.. Williams has endeared
himself very much to the people by his
earnest, practical addresses. A marked
feature of the meetings was the service of
song under his leadership, He possesses
rare qualifications in leading the people in
this service. He is now holding series Of
meetings in another portion of the city.
Il is seldom borne in mind that, without
constant reformation, that is, without
constant return to It's fountain head, every
religion, even the most perfect, nay the
most perfect on account of It's very perfec-
ton more even than Others, suffers from
its contact with the world, as the purest
air suffers from being breathed. Il Max
Muller.
a number of ladies belonging to various
evangelical churches in Paris are busy in
preparing for sale of work, to be held
early in February, on behalf Of the heavy
expenses of Mr. McAlls now greatly ex-
tended work. 1t is to be sort of French
Thanksgiving donation.
Professor Samuel Ives Curtiss, OF Che
Congregational Theological Seminary, re-
Gently preached in Chicago on probation
After Death, in which he denied the doc.
triDe of future probation.
It takes lifetime to build character;
it only takes one moment to destroy one.
How sensitive is righteousness, how resent.
fuI is the spirit of purity and nobleness.-
Joseph Parker.
The enforcement of the new Arch
bishop of Canterbury has now been fixed
for the Thursday in Easter week, March
29.h.
Arrangements for the work of Moody
and Sankey in London in the autumn are
already in progress.
A weekly united service of Christians of
N .icr.s i. ~, NJ. .,.,. -. ~