New-York tribune., 1886-08-22
RELIGIOUS JOTTINGS.
AMONG THE CHURCHES - TOPICS INTER
ESTING THE PULPIT AND THE PEW.

AMONG THE CHURCHES - TOPICS INTER
ESTING THE PULPIT AND THE PEW.
The other day in San Francisco General Sherman
told little anecdote about an Episcopal clergyman
that may be worth repeating. While the General oc-
cupied Memphis DUR ng the war he issued an order
that all the churches should open Sunday. HThe
day after the order promulgated" said the Gen.
eral " was waited upon at my headquarters by
clergyman who announced himself as the Rev. Mr. -
Of the Episcopal Church of that city. He was got up
in the highest style of clerical garb and bis face wore
the expression OF prede determined martyr. said ;
Sit down, am very glad to see you. What do you
want What I do for youP He answered
General, have seen your order about opening the
churches on Sunday and a good deal embarrassed
to know how to obey it, or how state my objection
replied There is embarrassment in obeyng
order. and as for objections don't care to hear
them. You obey the order and never mind yonr
objections. He replied But. General you are aware
that since our unhappy civil commenced the
ritual of the Episcopal Church South has undergone
material change Has said l. I have not noticed
it, He said: We are directed by our church to
pray for the Hon. Jefferson DAVIS President of the
Confederate States and of enthusiastically
compelled TO obey tho directions of the church. ana
he looked at me with the expression of mart."r
about TO be taken 10 the stake and burned alive.
regarded hun moment and then sad On never
ullliS pi"y iO' bd'lS JuSs ~
you can lie needs every prayer you can get Oh
but my friend, | am drcadfully afraid praying won
do him any good he has gone up He looked
curiously Mt and then said Will you require
me to fray for Abraham Lincoln az President OF tne
United States BY no means, my dear fellow sali
l. Let him alone. He don't need any prayers.
Abraham Lincoln Ia just sure of salvation IA any
man who has died. or ever will die
Next Sunday morning it occurred to ms wouId
go to this church OF has and see how he got on oer-
vices had just begun when in. but took my seat
where could have good view OF him and lie oil me
lie saw me before | got half way down the aisi,. He
went with the service and when he arrived at the
point of conflict between the Episcopal Church South
aud the order Of Sherman with one eye the prayer
book and the other eye he prayed for all IN
authority over lett out Davis and let Lincoln alone
] had no more trouble with the Episcopal Church
after that"
The coming meeting of the American Board of Com
missoners for Foreign Missions is to be held at Des
Mones. And the Rev DIR. Dana of ST. Paul. takes
occasion in The CongregatiOnalist TO remind the
brethren that they had better not waste their valuable
time in discussing policies and "deparures," and
barren theology questions There is little interest
felt in the West" he says in questions which seem
be pronin Mt just in other quarters. For out
here where the night with Titanic sins is desperate
one. and where Immediate repentance must peIlOrce
be emphasized, intent upon practical issues
Speculative ques sons command but little attention.
An aggressive evangelism Is now the demand Oh
every Western community and never was there more
determined zeal than at the present This session o
the Board can 90 much to intensity the courage ana
faith Of the militant hosts in the States likely to be
affected By it,
For months past the Congrcgationalists have
been vigorously discussing the theology of their mis-
sionares. The controversy seems to hinge around
these TIRE possibilities Either all to whom the Gospel
has not been preached will perish eternally; or an
opportunity will afforded them to accept the Gospel
after heJ die or. many will be saved without ever
having heard the Gospel at all The practlcai po,ht
whether missionaries shall be sent out WHO
bel eve i'll this possible probation after death Inc
Christian Union says: Ii is not easg TO see how one
opinion than the otner cuts the nerve o missions
deadens destroys evangelical piety. Al AT
events the facts in the are that ew IL any
intelligent Christian any longer believ. IN the
damnatIon OF the heatnen without an oner OF saviour
that hold tha the heather may bc saved without
knowledge of Christ and without faith IN HIM. that
others hold that knowledge oi CHRIST ana an op1oI-
turtv for exercising faith in Him are essential 10
salvation and will therefore he Afforded hereafter 10
those TO whom such knowledge and opportunity nave
been denied here but that neither OF these opinions
l. the part OF the message which any earnest Christian
minister desires preach either at home or ABROAD
Whether the churches shall freely ordan TO MISSION
arv service men whc believe that the heather can De
saved without any knowledge of or faith IN Christ ana
refuse ordination TO those WHO think II not Impossible
that such knowledge and opportunity 10" sneh iath
NAV lie afforded hereafter because this opinion Is not
conradlcted by the Bible, is one OF t0e questions
which the American Beard and its constituents III the
churches have to consider and determine"
The work of DE- Bernardo among the homeless boys
girls OF London mas nov asSulcu
Entertainments for these waits frequently given in
his evangels;ic hall which bears the odd name OF
Edinboro Castle These entertainments are attended
hy two or three thousand children. who having been
fed. clothed and washed. become somewhat amenable
TO the influences of the Gospel But tney won stan'
any hummery and delight in taking the starch out OF
any dignifed parson who tries 10 talk at them Not
long AGO 900 girls were assembled IN the hall. wbtn
a pompous bishop appeared on the platform ia iuh
dress to deliver to them neat little Episcopal nom
ily. Bnt when the young heathenS saw tlc % khce
breeches black silk stockings slyrr-buckleh shoes
and shovel hat they burst forth IN one lond yen oi
derlsion, and the man of God was obliged u leave
without having delivered his hJnlly. much 10 us
Indignation and disgust But the same children listen
with eager interest the plain and sometimes ll'c
ae lists who spend their lives ia the service OF
the poor and tTendless. Ignorant as they are tueY
know that even the correct cccle-iasllcaI uil
form is of less Importance in this work-uday "oriu
thnn a consecrated life, whatever people oil FASHION
may say TO the contrary.
Dr. Parker. of the City Temple, ia an able man. put
many of his sermons are disfgured 10y frothy and
theatrical rhetoric Not long ago lie was guilty OF the
following extravagant outburst: "Gods own
damnation fail upon any who touches tue
ministry that ne may live by it, II he would turn TO
the pulpit my prayer would te that God might strike
him dunno on the road and blind and deaf aud lay bis
hand UPON him like a burdcn." This outrageous
language is thus temperaely but justly rebuked by
writer In - The New-York Observer" a paper which
would be the last to excuse any who cutter the ministry
from unworthy motives If DIR. Parker could be
transferred from ks high pulpit IN the City Temple,
where. venture to say he has never had to wait
dav beyond quarter for his salary to one OF the
country parishes in this land. or even IN hls own
Fngand where the faithful and self-dcnying minister
of Jesus Christ receives Tor the support OF his family
salary not equal that which the mechanic. or even
the day labOFer earns. We apprehcnd te tone 9' h ms
language would bc very much subdued, and his
nraver instead of being lifted up to strike dumb his
more humble. but equally cOnsecraied brother, woHid
lie that the minds of the members Of the churches
might be so enlightened TO appreciate the sacrihces
of those who arc called To break unto them the bread
of eternal life. The few metropolitan pastors VINO i've
n luxury, without thought about their secular
affairs are not in position 10 speak appreciatVey 0u
this subject of ministerial support among the
thousands of devoted pastors IN the rural districts.
Canon Fremante has been telling the English High
Churchmcn that there many places IN treat
Britain where the English Church has 80 completely