New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-14
IN THE CHURCH PORCH.
RELIGIOUS FERMENT AND COMMENT.


an African Farm reflect so accurately much Of the
religious unrest Of the day, that doubt not they
viii give serious trouble TO the ciergy. One old
fashioned clergyman tells that OF his parish
toners already affected BY them: and he bewails
the decadcnce Of the times which allows such devesh
boolE,' he calls them TO be circulated OF course
these and other similar books are not cause, but
merely . symptom. They only put In concrete form
thoughts and ideas which moro or less vaguely
held by large numbers Of so-called Christians
Their suppression would therefore do little TO stem
the tide Of speculative doubt which Is SO prevalent
to-day. We have outved the age when the public
burning Of a book and its author was deemed the
best remedy for heresy and don't think that
pastor will ind 1t possible to keep his people from
reading such oooks as Robert Esmere." II 1t were
possible Il would not be desirable The new re-
urfon which they inculcate Is really not religion,
and is not new Christianity has met and vauauishcd
such attacks before, and do so again-not. how
ever BY blindly opposing them, but by recognizing
whatever Of truth there is behind them Even heresy
reacts for good upon the Church In the long run.
In his daring book The Heart Of the Creeds,' the
Rev. Arthur wentworth Eaton, radical Broad Church
Episcopal clergyman tries to define with scientific
exactness what the modern school OF rational Chris
tians in the orthodox churches believe. In his dis
God, Man, Christ the Creeds, the Bible tho
Church. the Sacramens, the Liturgy. and the future
life. Mr. Eaton calmly throws overheard nearly all
usually regarded belonging TO these great facts.
The God Of Tertulhan, Of Augustine. and It may be
added, of Milton, disappears, and in His stead Is pic
tured Personal Presence. Imminent in the universe
yet transcending all creation. Christ redeemed the
world not by suffering a penalty that, except Tor
Him must have borne. but by revealing the fac'
of Gods enshrlnement in nature and the soul OF man.
And so in everything dogma Is minimized, ana tho
function of reason Is exalted. Mr. Eaton certainly hs'
the courage of his convictions and states clearly ana
inexorably the ultimate position OF Broad Chufchism'
In this lies the value OF his BOOK, ratncr
than in its novelty, for he lays down
no principle that has not been substantially held by
most Of the leaders in the Broad Church schooi Oh
thought In England and America Mr. Eaton Is 10
be commended for his honesty and bodness' ana 1
am confident that his book will take high place III
the literature of the Broad Church school OF thought
which Is sadly lacking in such explicit anu dehhi'e
statements Of belief A few years ago well-Ano"n
Broad Church clergyman Of this country tried TO IN
duce the recognized leaders of that party to unite In
formal statement of their position to be pupisheu
in book form their names; but he was unable
10 persuade them TO take such STEP In this re-
fusal, or perhaps inability 10 define itself lies the
radical weakness of Broad Churchism, both as re-
lsious force and as a party in the Anglican Chufch'
Twas glad to see that correspondent OF The rr1o-
une the other day. lifted up his voice against the
growing abuse of ecclesiastical titles. / have NOT
the statistics at hand but It Is well known fact that,
relatively vastly greater number OF sueh t'es are
borne by American than by English clergy MEL In
England the degree of ID. d. or LII. d. means great
deal. and comparatively few are honored with IT,
But In this country 1t may mean no more than fhat
some little struggling college, really no higher IN
grade than a high school, has seen III to compliment
the rec pient with an undeserved honor, when 'his
becomes no honor. Indeed. happen To Know Oh
two casoS in which the clergymen who write d. d.
after their names simply assumed the title them
fhape N
The strange fondness of American clergy men for
ecclesiastical titles is the most hopeless iear
lure Of the Some time ago received business
note from a religious paper which was ssheu ny
John Smith, we viii say, because that wasn't inc
name Not happening 10 know the eccleslasuca
status of the writer. l addressed my reply 10 MT
John Smith, and received an answer ABUSING
me for my lack Of respect in falling to address my
note TO the Rev. John Smith, D. D., LIZ D., ID. Z. L..
Doubtless this good man was exceptionally ruoe ANU
unreasonable but suspect that very few clcrgymeh
of any denomination like to have their titles ignore"
Au of which suggests 10 the thoughtful observer hat
there is still good deal of hummery" in American
Christianity
lady told me the other day that when her father
died few weeks ago the family flooded with busi
ness cards and circulars of undertakes, empaimers
florists and tombstone manufacturers On inquiry
am told that this practice is quite common. Ihese
people watch the death notices in the papers, ana win
house Of mourning in order TO drum up trade. Inc
lady sneak OF said that one firm actually sent cut
OF q desirable monument, with the name and age OF
her father printed IT, and In an accompanying note
suggested the advsabillty Of placing the order with
the firm at once. This be IT remembered, was SEM
10 the afflicted family before the funeral TOOK place
Such a gross violation of the prophecies cannot be
too strongly rebuked and II people should refuse TO
patronize tho men who guilty of IT, 1t would only
be a fitting punishment
see that the Evangelical Churches Of Cleveland
have united in movement which has Tor lis Cd
Iect a house to house visitation Of every person In
the city This suggests the query why the Christian
denominations in the larger cities do not oftener
unite In such movement The great diHcm'y
with most mission work in our cities is that quite
as much money and effort expended in the de-
nominstional machinery as in the more important
work of Outstanding the people. Manifesuy 1t
would be an immense gain in every way IL all the
churches Of this city, for instance, were TO unite IN
simple declaration of rel gion and ethics, and were
20 send an army of enthusiastic missionaries into
every neglected corner Of the city TO preach this
Gospel held IN common by all the churches. 1t would
result in great saving Of costly church machinery, In
the first place and in the next place. would reach
An immensely larger number Of people. These mis-
sionaries Of Catholic Church, in the widest sense
O. the word need not even be ordained minister's but
men anu women full OF the spirit Of Christ. They
would be the pioneers of the organized churches;
and their work would be TO cvilize as well as Chris
tianize the ignorant the vicious and the depraved
The regularly organized churches could then enter
upon this faow ground with hope of success which
under present conditions is almost entirely absent
What say the churches Is their urofessed desire for
unity strong enough to make such scheme feasible!
II not don't think that all the current talk about
u.fty is worth any serious consideration.
While SO many Episcopaans are trying to revive
Al rl.on
music, the Roman Catholic Church shows signs OF
desire to discard It, Says Archbishop Janssens, Of
New Orleans at belongs to the infant days OF mu-
steal art Some Of its compositions are truly grand,
impressive and majestic but the greatest portion OF
the Gregoran Chant lacks harmony and melody"
Unlike theological dogmas, antiquity alone does not
anparently commend music the nineteenth century