New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-21
IN THE CHURCH PORCH.
ptTrcrorrs Tuor-GuT AND COMMENT


logians 1t would be simply impossible to-day for
clergymen with any reputation whatever to heaoor
each other with tho savage vlndctiveDess shown by
these doctors Thus far therefore, we msy score ono
for the theoogans. But am afraid that they sonc-
times feel the Intolerance and bitterness which tho
state Of public opinion does not make u advisable iSr
them to show. For Instance, talking the other
day with student OF the Episcopal 1h'oiogic~
Seminary OF this city. lie was young non Of moro
than usual intelligence, whose disposition you would
at once say naturally kind and gentle Ahh
yet in the course OF the conversation this well IMAM
ncred young Christian, about TO become 'oacncr OK
q religion Of love, said that II he had the power no
would burn at the stale two wel-known Broad
Church clcrgymcn of Boston and New-York Az
first thought he was joking, but to my amazement
and horror 70 ind that he in dead earnest.
Ard he told me, that his views on this mat
ter wore shared by the great majority of his fellow
students. OF course, after these young men have
left the semim onastc life Of the seminary, and have
entered into relations with the real word arouno
them, good deal Of this nonsense will be knocked ous
Of them. But wide acquaintance with the clefsx
OF all denominations leads me to believe that many
Of them 90 10 their graves without having completely
learned the meaning Of charity and tolera'ion. IL
Is this latent but real sectaran bitterness which 10
doing more than anything else to keep the Christian
denominations apart.
While there Is much tnat is nOpeIut III INC o'"""-
ening process that is going in all the churches there
is a wild and lawess liberalism seeking for recogn-
ton which is inmical to the very existence OF
Christianity The liberalism which respects the facts OF
Christianity and finds It's sphere only In interpreting
those facts In such way TO bring them nome 10
the conscience Of mankind, Is net the zoe pu' 'n'
friend OF the Church. although II may often disturb
popular beliefs that have grown up around the iacts
OF Christianity. But that sort Of orthodox hoefa'-
ism is too tame for many, who make fe'lch OF
breadth. as though breadth the only eharac-
teristic of religion These liberals are like baiooh'
in that they float by means of their own gas re
vcrsInr the rule OF the theological Bourbons they
hold that what Is old IS necessarily false, ana "nae
IS new and bizarre Is necessarily true Ihey 'aho
as much pride in DOMINIC a new opinion a. does INC
debusnte Of the in her first ball dress lhdeeu'
they are as fond OF new intellectual millinery as mo
typical Rtualist IS supposed TO be OF ecciesas'cH
vestments. Absurdy incredulous where any Nen-
cradle dogma OF the Church IS concerned. no matter
how much in accord with common sense such dogma
NAV be. they are just as absurdly credulous In Tho
case Of their own theories and guesses. Starting on.
with the boast OF Intellectual freedom, they soon END
by becoming the vercst slaves Of selfmade, seliim-
posed dogmas and they little OF the real re"a
of things as the bat-lke theologans whom they a'o
so fond OF reviling They continually SPEAK oi @
selves as floating with the mighty stream VI 'chueS
mitch iS carrying men from the darkness OF SUPER
ti,pon 10 the Eternal Light. But their only con-
nectlon with that stream IS that tney a he real ad
vance OF religion and hold no lesltiEsde hch,
the beautiful expansion of modern 1,Son !, IL Very
Desirable 10 dlsng uish carefully between these Two
kinds OF liberalism. One means growth ana the o'her
death to the churcnes'
number of tho city clergy tell me that the
parochial activities Of the larger churchss arc ~
manv cases seriously crippled b. the longcontinucd
Of their narishiOnerS. -Four, or
rerhaus six, weeks in the summer used 10 Do 'ho
eytent Of this absence. But now wealthy ana even
we,lto-do people begin to leave town little ai'er
Easter. and an increasingly large number OF 'ncni
do not come back until November, or even pecenoe'
This IS bad enough. but it is by no means ai <.or
the Christmas holidays, many OF thcm star. On ss.
for Southern California Florida. or oid rom.
Contor, and do not get back until the spring of
course this continual fitting must seriously intere'o
with the parochial life Of the churches IL dcpfiVes
the pastors Of many Of their most emcien' "orh.rs
yvl on they most need them, and doubtleSs "eahon'
the ties which bind the people TO their onurou.
7 have not heard that IL has yet hurt tne cn"'he'
financially but should not be surprised II !. e' ,.
uaIv did So The pastors Of iap Guy
osnr.hss Are the objects of good deal OF envy
nn tbe mart OF some OF their less favored nr I'LL 90
what with the intense competition 10 %eH thew have
on their people, their position Is 70 sIhe e'reh IN
many RESPECTS the pastor 81 gD Dyed Certainly
country so~s nersoua influence over his PEOPLE
which is often denied to the city pastor
Said a prominent clergyman 10 me the other Gay
q WHY Is II that there Is not more good fellowship ~
genuine esprit de corps among the cieiss
profession the ministry IS wonderfully INC o''oi ~
fessions in its iealousies and little caDais anu i"
Hero 7 am. for instance the pastor OF large Guy
hnrcb and vet seldom or have an opportunity
20 meet nv brethren OF the other deromnauohs' OF
.ven ~ my own denomination. except onclany' 4"
he srrc Il NAV be said we are all very puss' D'' no.
doesn't account 70. lack OF interest III eaen o'
much less for the petty and unworthy sp'i'' VIZ"
we often exhibit toward brother clergy 'ah' ~
IS case that happen to know Of: ocr,~n W.
man recently became involved in scandal although
=. ~ .ftcrward turned out, he was entirely innocent
And while he was fighting against great ou's 'or "'
was learcr to him than life ITSELF br9lhsr
of the denomination came 10 Me ~ hc vonld
committee and insinuacd that ne couin ~ ~ No.,
teI certain things about the accused clergyman pa
career that would make We Pi,s. tale which
very strong lie had heard some oid WIZ, AN ma
uiti a sni1e that was worthy Of malicious lhian,
he exaggerated and doled out 10 ooer 10 Tu vsY
admit that such fragrant cases are eompala, nec
rare but the Pity OF 1t Is o ,na elsSw each other
as candidates for desirable parish Inc sanu'1a o,
business IS bad in cvey way; pt one er az Clergy
men TO secretly stat their brethren in the hack Aha
is 50 easy to o 90 te ~l hoheF eous good
preacher and it is great pity that he Is Inclined
ID hCreSy' 'BlOthel - t'oo,'
man and II Is share that people leave tho chlich
when he begins TO preach Or DR. or'ho9oS ne'n ~
we'll but really. you know. he has not paiticc ot
magnetism 80 Il goes. Instead OF pouring me PAIN
OF Christian charity over brothers iai hn .me
then we have the audasity TO plume ourselves on
having snoEen the truth IN lOve. IL Is al wrong.
terShly wrong such cutthroa; policy IS bad enough
in any profession Ia ihe ministry II Is crime ,,s no
wander so many Of the lay fail TO respect the Clergy
when We thus fall 10 respect 'Iselves and each
othcr.'
DR.. Bucklcy's vigorous denunclaton IN Inc
Christian Advocate Of Mcthodlss at summer resorts
who deny their own church because II Is supposed 10
be unfashlonablc, and pass themselves OF as Fps
conalans is in my opinion. well deserved lie telis
~ one family who at home attend the M"thoh'St
Church, and who al certain summer csor. trled -
In their own city. Some one present who happenN
TO know the denomination Of the church men!loneI
hush of shame al being detected the LADY said Yes
Methodist Episcopal" And the head OF The family. a
somewhat lou,h old gentleman said 10 his wife I'm
.nrIn folly nffnrucard told ihaI Tho ONLY Nav