New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-18
RCHTHOUGHT AND TALK
THE RELIGIOUS OUTLOOK AT HOME AND
ABROAD

The Rev. Dr. j. b. Reimensnyder, rector OF
st. Jamess Lutheran Church IN this city, good uaturedy
calls THE TRIBUNE to task for not saying anything about
the Lutheran Church. 1t might be replied that from
point OF view could be said BLESSED the church
which has no history" Tho great and influential
Lutheran communion both In this country ard Europe,
10 well organized for Christian work ami so faithful In
tho discharge OF that that there s little for the
newspaper chroncler to tell But Dr. Remensnydcr Is
mistaken when he says THE TRIBUNE has said nothing
recently about the Lutheran Church week ago today
contained fresh and striking figures In regard u
the reaction In the Lutheran Church OF Germany
against rationaism uDbele These figures seem 10
show conclusivey that Luthcransm is still true 10 us
noble traditions and that IL may be counted upon to
stand n bulwark against inhdety In the fathersnd
It is not perhaps generally known that the Lutheran
Church observes Lent very strictly During the whole
of this season there special servc In most Lutheran
churches. Holy Week aud Easter are observed Win
great solemnity and the different ecclesiastical season
marked by appropriate decorations for the pulpit
and altar The authorities Of the Lutheran Church
claim that it has 50.0OO.00O communicates they
also claim that the only church which is established
II every land In the world IL has about 100000 COM
munJcants in the United States.
The retirement Of the Rev. Dr. John Fulton from the
active duties OF the ministry in the Episcopal Church Is
creating wide comment IN that denomination on &C.
count OF his prominence aud the reason which mas LED
him to take the STEP This reason 10 the ever
increasing indignation and disguise with which
he views churchs neglect to estab-
iish courts OF appeal In letter to The Chwehman
OF last week he says:
1--WE spent something like ten years In stormy dts
cussIoD OF trumpery matters OF ritual We are
years discussing q doctrinsire project Tor
the mpoVershment OF the Prayer Book by inc intro
ductiOn INTO II OF number OF strcaks OF awdry palcn
work and of rubrca rgdity by changes
which show nothing clearly as the literary ana tur
gcal ineptitdde Of their proectors put mattec Oh re
righteousness
has been and over again shown by the VI
carried with more than Roman Non possumus no" LOT
All these Things true. but is not true that have
ever for one single moment conceived the thought OF
Wsre s a. r rne as believe these to be- should not
abandon it, TO resign arectorshp not to abandon the
my charges. and TO enjoy that 'glcry I'm
dependence which the Apostle Paul insisted ON MAINTAIN.
ing In the Church OF COrnh but which 1t Is not easy 10
MAINTAIN In the Protestant Episcopal Church Not being
man Of fortune am to serve the Church gratutousy,
the of altar But in whatever way God shall
choose hope to servo until my lifes end. and to be
but which will then be SYMBOL Of loyalty 10 the Church
Of my unshaken faith OF my most sacred recoiections
and Of my undying love-
The curates of the English Church have been utter
Ing pathetic little cry Of their own IN some OF the
English papers recently. Thercry is unfortunately not
novelty. An English curate in many cases may be de-
fined being endowed with all tho tastes OF man OF
culture, but denied the ability to crafty those tastes
lowered with the spiritual prerogatves OF minister
Of religion in probably the wealthiest church IN CHRIS
tendom he must live the income OF all upper servant
and work harder than a common lackey And after
spending part of his life in hard unrenumerat
ve obscure labor better prospect than to die
virtually pauper and leave his family actual paupers
And while Tor him there is such tnns as preferment
he other Fortunate moro influential clergy
promoted from one rich benehce to another, with
everything given them mako their life pleasant ana
han
wealth. or family, advances many less gifted than him.
SELF asked to bo contented and to believe that the
Lord is keeping him in humble position for his own
good, aud that really fine parish and liberal income
would be the worst things In the world for him. lt
speaks well for the faithfuness of this hard-working
class that they have been satisfied with things
they they been willing to forego the earthly
reward In order that they might obtain heavenly re-
ward. But in a while even the most ohastened
worm will turn , and once in a while few curates tell
what hard lot is theirs and modestly venture to say
that they ought little better show even in this
life The busy world Of London reads their cry, over
coffee and YES 1t ia really too bad about those
poor curates" and hours forges all about their
existence: In tins way many an lncOnVenent uu,geoy
Is ignored out of sight In the great hury-b OF hfe
There are probably more than 200 religious news
papers published in the the United States and Canada
The combined circulation of these papers Is about
$500 600 Allowing that four persons on an average
read each paper religious press Of this country has
about 10 OOO 900 readers The Methodsts publish ffty
papers OF great Influence and circulate about half mill
ion COPIES The Roman Catholics have forty papers,
which circulate about 100000 copies nearly half OF
these being German. The Baptist Journals have about
100000 subscribers; the Presbytcrlans 100000; the
Lutheran 100000; and the Congregational 7o,OO0
Said clergyman Of an Evangelical Church in this
city the other day. 1t is high tune that something
done suppress these vulgar evangests who are
bringing SO much dscredt religion. Understand
have no word say against tho moral character OF
and ain
Christians their But they are utterly unit for
the sacred functions of religious teacher have two
children boy and girl who trust will grow up to be
true Christians But would not for moment allow
them listen to the harangues OF Sam Jones and Lam
pasas Jake. Whyl Because II they went to hear Sam
Jones' for instance, they would learn to speak low
slang; they would hear the outpourings of an essen
TALLY cossre mind they would listen to the ignorant
denunciatlon Of things in themselves harmless; and
would descend from the high plane OF wellbred
gentlemen aud gentewomen to vastly lower not In
morality, 1t may be, but IN refinement do not want
my boy preacher Of the Gospel who says of the
profession to which his father belongs The worst enc
mics God has got to-day the pulpts Of this world"
do not want my girl to listen the words OF a
VINO pours Walls OF his ignorant abuse on women be-
Ss@srd " to the usages Of polite society This vulgar
preaching may do some good among bummers and black
legs sincerely hope II may. But IT will only repol
thoughtful and Intelligent people No self.respectlng
munster ought to have to 90 w b saG@ oSaT.e
ligOn into contempt"
correspondent Of The Providence Journal gives some
interesting about the music In the London churches
What strikes an American forciby in the English
church SERVICE he thinks. is the respect paid to the
music They look upon the anthem. for instance,
Bit OF musical padding but as an integral part OF
the service. The psalms are chaned not read re-
ponsvely; the responses are sung and In many
churches the ordinary reading portions OF the priests
part are intoned. In short the service as whole 10
musical one and not mixture OF music and speech.
One unpleasant result of this is that the singing is
often so hurried that becomes reverent and unmean
ing pater frequently gabbed instead Of chantcd
and the organsts tempted to dash Into the hymns
without any prelude and go through them quickly
that many people find the place until It'll oil