New-York tribune., 1886-02-21
PULPIT AND PEW.
WHAT THE CHURCHES ARE SAYING AND
DOING.

DOING
Judging from the complaints that from time
to time find their way into the religious papers OF nearly
oil tho denominations the number OF really desirable
who entcr the ministry is not keeping with the
growth OF the churches Many reasons assigned for
this state OF affairs one is tho mateFalism OF the age;
young OF ability and ambition are attracted to
other professions than the ministry which the prizes
greater and IN which thore are fewer restraints.
Others say that tho death OF moral enthusiasm IN this
age has operated to keep men out Of the ministry.
Others again blame the churches for making the minis
terial calling hard uninviting. T is argued tna
many church congregations put premium on conven
tional medoerity 10y furnishing any e,denges OF oris
unpleasant for manly stu Others again think
that the aid extended to young men studying for the
ministry by aid societies ia deGorazing and tends to
keep out OF the ministry just those who are most
desirable. Whatever DO the causes tho fact seems to 10
admitted AMI what ought to be done 20 remedy this
st. .tc Of affairs is question which is seriously puzzlinS
the thinking men In tle CLUTCHES.
Bishop spaldlng, OF Peoria H., is generally regarded
as the man who will be chosen rector OF the National
Catholic University about TO be established. Bishop
Spalding has ays been very active iu educational
matters and Is REGARDED standard authority In all
questions pertaining to Catholic schools. Dr. Chap
pclle OF Washington. Will probably be the professor OF
OF history is as profound OF Edmund Bu ke. and
that he egoy Way qualified for the important chair
OF history,
The growing hostility between the Church and the
addressed by the three French Cardinals. the Arch
bishops OF Paris. Lyons aud Toulouse, to the President
OF the Ropuio against de Frcycncts criticism OF tue
conduct OF the clergy In the last election. As this
protest was no doubt approved at Rome before 1t was
published il Ia important indicating the irreconcilable
nature OF the religious conflict that hasbecn going on In
France during the last few years The recent appoint
ment oi NJ Paul Bort 20 important post Is regarded
by Catholics much Enetshmen would regard the
elevation OF Mr.. Bradlaugh 70 Ministerial oiiico'
Indeed it is asserted by French Catholics that tho Gov
ernmont deliberately tries to anagonlte the Church In
this way they explain the frequent suspensions OF
clerical salaries, the reprimands Of bishops the total
suppression OF some hundred ana hfty unataehcu
Wears and the constant attempts 20 haras and annoy
the religious orders. Church property and even church
edfces are frequently seized by the Government on the
plea that better use csn be made OF such property by
the state than by the Church. Under these crcnin
stances wonderful that Irritating skirmsh IA
constantly going on between the civil and religious
authorities And unfortunately the situation promises
to become wOIse before II becomes better.
The lmporarcc OF outward union Of all the sects OF
Christianity does to bs rs much OF a burning
question as it few years Some say that this
idea has sunk out OF sight because 1t proved to he
chimercal others maintain that the conception OF out
ward uniformity has been swallowed up In the greater
idea Of an essential union spirit and sympahics which
Is now taking shape In the minds OF Christian mon.
They oInt to the fact that dcnominaonasm weaker
while charity and liberation stronger than tpoy used
to be- content to know is said that
there is an essential III their aims, although
there may be differences in their methods on the other
hand It is urged that dCnominaonaisn Is really the life
religion and that ITS docadcnco at hc present tine
something DO deplorcd universal liberation, they
urge only possible where the love OF truth Las become
weakened and all religious zeal mas become qncnohe
they call therefore, for the rebuilding OF the Old
dcnomina Oua fences which hayo partially fnen into
decay.
While this discussion has been going The Christian
UHiOn whose suggests its presumed mission has
been leaving ecclesiastical questions to settle themselves
and has been setting itself to the solution Of some OF the
social and economic questions that naturally group
themselves around the great fact OF Christianity. Aud
in the discussion OF such questions those OF labor and
capital has displayed honesty OF purpose an ntui-
ton OF related facts and a sympathy for struggling
Humanity that do IL great honor 1t is indeed hopeful
sign OF tho times whom religious journal seriously tries
to nnd answer 10 the unsOved problems or the
present day Heretofore III many Instances too much OF
THEN time has spent IN trying to solve problems OF
other ages the solution OF which would add nothing TO
present day is s rule fully alive the questions OF
the day and discusses them with vigor, honesty and
dignity.
Tho official Year Book OF the Church OF England shows
that during the last twenty i've years the Church has
raised and spent for religious and educational purposes
the sum OF S4O1, ,SGGls5. This does not include con.
trlbutlous many oharch societies and TO various
parochial purposes concerning which accurate data
could he obtained. Altogether IL is probable that the
Anglican Church has raised tho astounding sum OF
$500 900 600 during tho last quarter OF century This
it must he remembered represents not the corporate
OF tho Establishment, but the voluntary con
building, home and foreign miss Ions, education and
charitable and phanthropic work It is by studying
such figures these mOdestly hidden away In year
books and annual reports that one begins to learn some
thing OF The great working power OF the Anglican |
Church.
The Churchmdn s still unhappy over the religious |
situation at Harvard oxI Iaiued by President Eliot.
This week it ntimates rather broadly that Christians
who send their Harvard may expect judgments
instead OF blessings And In the blacklist OF italics 1t
calls this venerable university school OF irrelsiOn. IL
evident that tGo ministers and the Cht rch lapets
intend make very lively for the reforming Presdens
OF Harvard.
Now that Professor Max Muller anl his colleagues |
have completed in twenty -four yolumo. translation OF
the sacred books OF the East English scholars and theoo-
CLANS are examining them TO soc how they compare |
with the Christian ScrI lures. Those who expected TO
nd wisdom ualloyed these sacred books OF tho East
will 1t ia said sadly disappointed They are largely
taken up with the trivial and minute details OF ex
tcrna observance and the impression is produced
u reading them as the whole OF the Eble writton
I'm the style Of the Book OF Leviieus or there
aro beautiful gems here and there but TO the Western
mind greater part Of them will appear TO De the most
absolute rubbish. Many Christian scholars arc now |
poutng the fact that IL the whole OF these books had
beon translated years ago. the sentimental Interest iet
In them by so many would never have eXlstoi. rms
interest only kept alive by tho publicity given 70
few translated from these books for the unthnk'
ng multitude naturally supposed that tbcre were more
whore these from while few loud voiced nndois
declared that tho Christian Bible would cease TO h9 rea
n these other Bibles known. The translation OF
all these sacred books will probably eisspao theSo
mistaken ideas, and they viii DO read by lew oestaes
studous OF comparative religion who Will trace "a many
these CHILDISH hahbliuSs the dawn u the ren-ious
CONSEQUENCES VI manAlna