New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-22
IN THE CHURCH PORCH
CHANCES AT MEN AND THINGS.

Not long ago INDUCED in some good naturcd
criticism OF cholrs The subject Is incxhaustible
one For instance, heard the other day OF noted
tenor OF Baltimore who was rendering solo In
warren's "Te Deum," and installing the instructions
for the organst as to the Of tho stops for tho
words Of the To Deum' sang out at the top OF his
voice, "Pcdal, great gambia, and SWELL to tho
amazement OF the congregation Another Instance
even more absurd was that OF wellknown baritone
singer In the same church who on another OCCASION
placed tho slrir on tho wrong note lie hah an1pecu
the air of Tho Jewish Maiden to hymn beginning
Before the Lord we bow and Instead OF placing
the sur on the first two sylabss no placed II on tho
last one and rendered It thus Beforc the Loru
we bow.wow.wow' The effect was immense
Thore is a perceptble reaction in favor OF reisi-
Gus educah But 1 cannot believe WIN sonio
enthusiastic churchmen that we arc coming oach W
tho old New England ideal OF religious COLLEGES
Some colleges like Princeton VIII doubtless "'"n
for a long time their denomnatonal impress bu.
the dav Is coming whom even the denominatlohai
colleges will to largo extent cease to be denomina
tona although in certain sense they VIII douo'o''
remain religious. But It needs gooh deai Vi 10
rIon IN a college TO satisfy some people. ~"
weeks ago some one I'm Baltimore paper denounocu
Johns Hopkins University as hotbed OF athe'sh'
ali because UNCONVENTIONAL Christianity Is NOT ioi
maIy recognized in It. But, as has been sald' tho
University IS not irrcligous: It is simply non-re-
gious and in the nature Of the case must DO So NO
dlstnctively irrelgious University could live ior
year in this country.
Tho American BOARD controversy over future pro-
baton is losing It's interest for those who nave
been taking such active part In It, IL wouio DO
hazardous for outsider TO venture an OPINION a' !"
IT'S merits But It is foregone conclusion mat inc
conservatives will eventually have to yield some Oh
their positions The theology leaders In the CON
al
arc in sympathy with the needs and aspirations OF the
age and while they hold firmly TO the essentials OF inc
old faith they do not hesitate to modify us outwau
expression in conformity to tho thought OF the ago.
Even the conservatives beginning to think that
barren controversy about theological opinion Is
waste OF time.
whenever the clergy take hand in politics, they
are promptly reminded by everybody what poor pol-
tcians they are Indeed, long as clergyman's
chief business is to prepare sermons, doubt II IL is
wise or prudent for him to take the stump. Dogma
tsm doesn't do in politics, and by his training the
clergyman is always dogmatic. He IS also apt TO be
creulous when he ought to be incredulous, and vice
versa He does not understand that In politics COM
promise is often the only possible course nor can he
be convinced that good and desirable policy must
be supported by all sorts Of people, who hold all sorts
OF opinions on questions other than political Tho
clergyman who withdraws from q political party be-
cause a prominent member OF that party happens 10
hold agnostic views shows q lack Of good sense and
good Judgment that excitcs the contempt OF many
men OF the world. OF course 1t Is not denied that
clergyman so acting may be- and doubtless is, an up
right and conscientious man. But he shows child
ish inability to understand that catholic liberation Of
opinion which is necessary In carrying on the great
affairs Of fe and he provokes the old sneer-as unjust
as It is brta-that there three sexes. men, women
and clergymen.
Professor Swing thinks that the divisions Of Chris
tanity work one benefit in the small towns. They
make the services more homelike, because the con-
gregations smaller The Cavinists. the Method
iss, the Epfscopaans, the Baptists, tho Congrega-
tonaists and the Romanists must build, IN order to
accommodate in each separate sanctuary sixth part
of the church going citizens. Therefore each house OF
worship Is small, and although such multiplying OF
crceds and buildings is bad financial and spiritual
economy, vet the man who has fed from the crowds
and tumult Of city finds decided pleasure in
church service in which all might Join hands with the
preacher without HIS leaving his desk, and all can
speak a good morning to each other with the eyes
alone One seems TO be part Of the choir One
could hand fan to the minister One could ask the
Soprano why she was not at the choir meeting tho
night beforei where she had caught such coldl
Suddenly. in such narrow confines the House OF God
has become home He seems nearer 10 each one.
All to each other. The little children
seem welcome, because the pomposty Of wealth and
spendor being far away. there IS nothing TO hinder
Jesus from taking them up In HIS arms
A clerical friend Of mine predicts that within the
next fifty years all the non Episcopal Protestant
churches will have liturgy and vcstments think
he Is mistaken. The tide of aesthetcism, or, If you
please, of rel ous feeling that seems to be run
ming that way, Will reccde. At heart the American
people have no love for elaborate ceremonals uni
forms. And when attempt anything in that line
show so much awkwarlness as to expose us 10
rdlcule To me IL seems moro likely that the great
Roman Catholic and Anglican communions in this
country will gradually abate somewhat Of their ritual
and vestments The democratic movement, which is
powerfully affecting every other institution, will
not spare these venerable churches.
we'll Informed clergyman has been writing in "The
CongregatonallsD about the great gains of the Roman
Catholic Church in Germany German Professionalism
IS unable TO hold It's against the cid Church with
is of Jealous and devoted priests and laymen.
Even in that stronghold OF Professionalism, Halle,
Catholicism IS gaining This Is only another instance
showing the wonderful recuperaive power possessed
by tho Roman Catholic Church. Relatively 1t is al
ways stronger Protestant country than In country
whore 1t Is supreme.
The largo number Of church members who take only
an apahetic interest in foreign missions will derive
much encouragement from the speech Of Boston
clergyman at the convention Of Christian Endeavor
Societies at Chicago. "What IS the USE, asked this
grntlcman |" Of discussing foreign missions when there
10000 foreign ndsls and idol worshippers landing
our shores every month There is ample room for
foreign missionary labor right in tho United States.
Boston, with 100000 people, has no morc than $4,000
members Of Protestant churches NewYork, with
5000 900 people, has less than 90 900 Protestans and
Chicago, with 100000 people, has fewer than 900
Pedestrians. There are 100000 people In these
three cities who do not attend churches. Why,
them should We so to India China, Germany or
Italy, to preach tho Gospel II the Bible IS those
who do not believe the Lord Jesus have nothing be-
foro them but eternal punishment These {, $500 900
people the road TO eternal destruction. About
$4,000 die and 60 to pertition every year.
While this sort Of harsh dogmasm will disgust a
large number Of sincere Christians 1t has the great
merit of frankness and honesty. II any considerable
number Of Christian prcacherS rally helIeyn Il thex