The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-15
but one opinion among Christian peo
pie and that is hearty Amen.

| NOT open It's proceedings 10 bne vulgar
gaze of the world, it has allowed the
world to know the conclusions it reached,
and also to read the reports which its va
rious committees presented. The Sy-
nod was close conclave of prelates
from ali branches of the great Anglican
| Communion. It meets once in every
period Of ten years or SO, under the pres
idency of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
1t assembled early in July, and after nam
ing committees on various subjects, ad-
iourned to meet late in the month, when it
finished its labors and took orders for the
publication of the results. The concin-
sions Of the Synod have no ecclesiastical
or legal authority. They aimply declare
the policy OF the Episcopate and are of
moral or educational force only. The
Bishops attending, numbering 145.
The authorized publication of results
embraces: q an Encyclical addressed to
The Faithful in Christ jesus ~ the
resolutions adopted; and (3) the reports
of committees accepted but not adopted
by the conference.
The Encyclicsl Letter touches on the
| subjects discussed by the conference be-
ginning with that of Temperance. It
approves the efforts which have been
made within the church for the suppress
sion of intemperance and hopes they will
'be increased manifold" bat it utters a
caution against the condemnation OF the
use of wine as wrong in itself and against
the reported practice of 'substituting
some other liquid in the celebration of
the Holy Communion"
On Parity the letter utters strong
words and expresses the belief that ''noth-
ing short of general action by all Chris
tisn people will avail to arrest the evil.''
In this connection the sanctity of mar
riage is spoken of as the "center Of So
cial morality" which is seriously COM
promised by the facilities for divorce" !"
The Christian conception of marriage as
the faithful union OF one man with one
woman till death is upheld as against
| polygamy; but it is conceded that the
problem Of dealing with polygsmous mar
riages in heathen countries is not an
easy one.
The letter regrets that there is q grow
ing laxity in the observance of the Lords
Day, calls attention to the Importance of
the social problems OF the day, and to
the ,claims OF emigrants to the United
I Etstes to ChcistiaSs care anJ ylapashy,
sud proesede3 tke means Of in
e,.ic...;r,s, .h.ys,a, ia..- ssSs4hsss tie taitl.
I lhe rensisdk tsaeliiasf fSg tie young 8
declared to be sadly defcioht in depth
and reality; the study of the Bible is too
much neglected, and the clergy are ex-
horted to give special attention to the
treatment of doubt arising from misap-
prehension OF the relations Of revelation
and science. The subject of the mutual
relations of dioceses and branches of the
communion is treated briefly and the atti-
tudeof the church toward other religious
bodies separated from it by unhappy di-
visions is described as being that Of readi-
ness to enter into brotherly conference
with any who may desire inter-commun-
ion. The Encyclicsl closes with a state
ment of the standards OF the church and
with recognition of the goodness of
God in his dealings with the Anglican
Communion.
The resolutions formally adopted by
the conference are nineteen in number.
The first two commend, without approx
ing all its statements, the report on Tenn
perance, and declare the use OF unfer-
mented wine unwarranted by the exam
pie of our Lord and an unauthorized de-
pRrture from the custom OF the Catholic
church. The two resolutions on the sub
ject of Purity and Divorce approve the
report on the former, and declare that
the church can recognize no other di-
vorce than that granted for fornication or
adultery; that the guilty party in such
cases is not fit recipient of the blessing
of marriage, and that the innocent party
if married again under civil sanction
should not be refused the church sacra-
luShNSs AA4S LlAtL lCSOAObAOl ca pICEbSE ltlC
opinion that persons living in polygamy
should not be admitted to baptism, but
be kept under instruction until this oar is
removed, and that wives OF polygamists
may in some cases be admitted to bap-
tiam.
AS to Sabbath observance, the sixth res
olution recognizes that it is of divine OBJ
legation, that it has been a "priceless
blessing" that a great change is now
threatened in the sacred and benefeent
character Of the day; that the tendency to
make it a day Of secular amusement is to
be deprecated, and that the danger Of
encroachment ON the rest Of servants and
employees should be guarded against.
The next three resolutions simply sub
NIT the reports on socialism, emigration
and the mutual relations OF dioceses to
the consideration Of the communion.
The tenth resolution expresses the opin-
ion that no particular portion of the
church should undertake revision Of
the Book OF Common Prayer without
seriously considering the possible effect
on the other branches of the church.