, 1886-04-04
OPINION.

The Examiner says: "a very intelligent
friend OF ours says that Mr.. Joseph Cook has
now given in his adhesion to the general plan
on which God is conducting the affairs of the
universe
The British house of lords passed a resolu-
ton last week to the effect that the time
has come when In the interests Of religion and
education all national collections should be
open to the public On Sundays as on other
days.
TIL Boston Herald says: "a very sensible
and practical contest for a prize was that
lately held in Philadelphia between theologi-
cal students Of the Protestant Episcopal theo-
logical Summaries. 1t was for the best read
ing Of ~selectel passages OF the prayer book,
the Scriptures and the hymnal A prize Of
$500 was offered by a gentleman of Philadel-
phia. The committee of judges consisted OF
the bishop Of Pennsylvania, the vice-chancel-
lor Of the University Of the South, the donor
Of the prize and nine others. The winner
was Edmund S. Rausmanier, Of the Cam
bridge Divinity school Considering the
dreadful manner in which much of the read
ing in church is performed, it is n wonder
that more attention Is not given to training
for it In the Episcopal church, especially,
the accomplishment Of reading well is even
more valuable than the art Of speaking well.
And for scholars in the public schools who
may never have professional use for skill in
reading aloud, better instruction and more
practice than they now get would be Of the
highest value"
The independent says: whether the Bible
is of divine authority, and hence binding
upon the faith and conscience of men, is a
question Of fact, to be answered amrmatively
or negatively in the ligf, of the evidence.
All must admit the possibility Of its divine
authority. Every candid person will also
concede that there Is at least some presump-
ton In favor Of the divine authority OF the
Bible. What, then, is the rule OF prudence
and sound discretion in the light Of this pre-
SUMPTION Our answer TO this question is
that such a presumption is, for ali purposes
relating to our practice, as good as the most
absolute demonstration The Bible being a
revelation from God, we are then in this
world probationers for Immortality, here
forming a character that will determine
whether we shall spend TINT immortality in
heaven or in hell"
The Living Church says; "'An Isolated
Churchwoman' protests against the rubric
proposed in the Book Annexed which forbids
the administrator Of the Lords Supper, Eek
cept three Tor two at least communicate
with the priest This, taken in con
necion with the rubric, which directs
that none shall be admitted to the
Holy Communion except those who are
confirmed or those who are ready and dcsir-
Gus 10 be- confirmed,i would debar all who are
situated as she is from receiving this holy
sacrament. even at the hour of death She
may not be aware hat the hindrance already
exists, a rubric in the office OF the Com
munion Of the Sick requiring that two at
least shall receive with the priest Wherein
Is the 'fiexibility' Of the proposed rubrici Or
has the Isolated Churchwoman no rights on
her death bed which rubrics are bound to
respectf'
w ought not 10 wrong these men, even II
we are suffering from their presence all the
evils that anti chinese agitators 80 glowingly
depict The world never yet, in theory at
least, wus willing to sanction the doctrine
that we are only to do right when 1t pays
Obligation does not cease when loss fr suffer
ing begins. On the contrary, we are assured
In the Bible that it Is better to suffer evil
than 10 commit a wrong. " . > History
teache5 conclusively that nations are
inevitably punished for their misieeds.
Let us lay up no heritageo Of woe for ourselves
o. our children by any high-hnnded injustic,
to these strangers in our midst. To the law
n 4 to the testimony ! say, and not to tn
> eiuns and the ~prejudices OF the hour. y
lsv " Wnltft ON the Chinese.