The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-05
RELIGIOUS OPINION.

|
The Episcopal Recorder Or. i. says at
Is pleasant TO sec the friends OF q bad cause
in retreat, and when the newspapers have
been befriendng bad cause, IL is edifying
to watch them lowering their colors and
marching of the field The newspapcrs
with few exceptions, have been aiding and
abcttng the Andover people in their strife
with orthodoxy and the American board, "
ETC., etc. but in fact the Christian Union
is almost il not quito the only religious
paper which has been .''aiding and abet-
ting" a. said by the Recorder.
The Rev. DIR. J. T. Duryea, pastor Of the
Central Congregational church OF Boston,
lately said at meeting OF the Boston Tonic
Sofia association: AT q previous meet
ing OF this association ! made q statement
that has excited some comment. Lest II
might be regarded rs n hasty and ill-con-
sidered utterance, will take this occasion
10 repeat IT," The speaker then quoted
his former statement with all the weight OF
emphasis that he could give H. 81 believe
| the Tonic Sofia system IL destined 10 ac-
complsh work for the masses Of the pco-
ple second only TO the Christian religion"
The Je,cish Msscpgcr calls this telling
tales out Of school," "The EpisoOpdl Re-
ooroer remarks Some churchmen think
that there IL too much OF the drcam-likc
about the whole project. That the cathe-
dfal is not needed il well known, as 80.
Thomas and Grace church are the only
two churches Of the Protestant Episcopal
denomination that are full, while nearly
all the others are poorly attended, except
on high days and occasionally ON Sunday
morning" But the Episcopal Recorder is
Reformed Episcopal" and opposed to the
regulars.
The Chrchman Up. E.l says IA promi-
nent official Of the Papal church in this city
has recently stated publicly that American
Roman Catholics are 20 take their politics
as well as their religion from the Pope.
There N nothing strange In this 10 those
who are familiar with the claims OF ultra
montanism. II may be rather strange that
Il should be stated NO openly. But this
may only testify 10 the growing boldness Of
Romanists in New York. IL il a most sig
nihcant fact, however, that, with few ex-
captions, the daily press Of New York city
has taken no editorial notice OF this asser-
ton Of ~ prominent an official in the papa
cy. IL IN a matter that trenches at once
ON the whole political development Of
America The Ercning I'od chose To verify
the report before commenting ON u. and
published Mgr. Pres,on's disclaimer aud
explanation"
On the subject 81 Sunday newspapers
the Critic saws "Rcligion IN 10 all think
ing minds, and 10 many even that are
deemed unthinking, the most important Of
human concerns; and there are few read
ems that do not take an interest IN all the
more important religious movements, az
well ~ In the progress Of religious opinion.
To learn Of these movements and changes
Of opinion In detail one would have 10 read
not only great many religious ncwEpa-
per-. but many books and magazines as
we'll; but summary Of thcp sufficiently
copous for most readers could readily be
furnished by the Sunday papers, either in
original articles or reports, or In the form
Of extracts from the latest issues Of the re-
ligious wccklica. In this way summary
oi religious news and an epitomo OF relig-
ious opinion could bc given, free from bias
in favor of any sect, and In a form adapted
Ia reading by persons who have not much
time 10 spare. That Il would be more in
tcrcsiing, 10 intelligent readers at least,
than much Of the matter which the sun
day papers now contain, IN certain: for
even the best of them often contain pages
Of padding which could well he spared in
favor of something really adapted TO the
day. II some such improvements ~ We
have here limited nj were carried into eff
( feet, II would be easier than u II now 10
. determine whether the Sunday newspaper
II, or IL not, hindancc 90 religious OBJ
scryanccs, aud an agent In sccularizng the
sabbath"
OF Dr. Phillips Brooks lectures on
Tolerance, the London AcndmV says
at cannot bo said that thcsa lectures -
animated and eloquent ~ they ar con-
: tribute much ~ our existing knowledge Of
the duty OF tolerance. The author has not
begun at the philosophical starting point
OF his subject, VIZ: the genesis Of belief
lie speaks VI conviction a. " Il were al.
ways uniform In degree and in Kind, lie
has evidently never subjected his own be-
licis 90 the searching analysis which most
! men Of intellectual power deem u right To
bcsiow on their crrdcnda, aud therefore
cannot claim Ia he nn authority, inicllcctu-
! ally speaking, on the subject Of which he
: treats. Owing 20 this defect OF pcpara-
, ton, he commits himself az starting 10 the
9 singular paradox that ~ tar from earnest
: personal conviction aud generous tolerance
I being Incompatible with one another, the
two are necessary each 10 each.
! Stated thus without qualification, n
more unioundcd proposition could
a scarcly be- formulated, or one
\ moro fully conindicicd by the growth Of
dogma, whether In churches or In indi.
= viduals Doubles there have been cxccp-
tional cases In which persons Maurice
, was an example of profound conviction
|. have been conspicuuusly tolerant Hut
this WIS true In his ease ON account, firstly,
: of his Possession II \ mrc amount OF many
= sided imaginative sympathy; secondly, DO
cause his own convictions, even when
y most earnest, were never square " angu.
" lar, hut had oil their corners rounded oil
and deliberately smooihcd, NJ II 10 prevent
! all injury 10y chance collisions. The an.
4 thor u, however, not consistent As be
y PROGRESSES In his lectures his frsl crude
D paradox Of the necessary alliance ~ Also.
a lutte ccriitudc with tolerance begins TO dis.
% appear II his lectures reach second
l edition, he had better reconsider this posi-.
ton, which L., indeed, much too nairow
lor his comprehensive Intellect aud genial
a sympatlirs.h