New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-02
IN THE CHURCH PORCH.
RErIeroUs NOTE AND COMMENT.

individuality about thcm that you wonio NOT oApo0'
In tho Presbyterian Church. Dr. John haii' iOt hi-
stance, comes before you as the teaeher' .ne
the guide You feel that no is intensely anxious 10
imureSs some truth or some aspect Of duty upon you
and won listen not because OF his eoQuenoe or snowy
rhetoe but because Of the Importance OF bis Worus'
In DR. Paxton you have another type, man whose
brain is teoming with burning thoughts, sparkling
ep,erams quaint aphorsms, homely sayings, dron
conceits and noble flights of pure Anglo-ssxon elo-
ausnoe AS you listen TO him you feel that there is
hig man behind the brilliant word painting and clear
cut arguments man much In earnest that he ISN'T
afraid 10 be unidentified when dignity would keep him
from reaching the hearts of his people. He is truly
great preacher, and nobly great opportunity
which IL given TO him In his church. Dr. Parkhurst
Is another type Of preacher strong, chaste, polished
classical and sympathzing in every word, with the
seveng, iustce-loving spirit OF this mighty industrial
age His sermons, like those Of DR.. Paxton, arc rich
mines OF brilliant epigrams aud aphorsms sentences
which are 90 perfect IN form and idea that when
you read them you wonder that no one has ever
uttered them BEFORE beautifully cut canoes Of thought
whose greatest art is that they conceal all art and
shine with the SPARKS Of genius. church which can
produce such preachers need not fear that It will lose
the ear Of the world.
Speaking of great preachers It is an interesting fact
that there is very little sectsransm in their sermons
However strongly they may believe In the distinctive
make these tenets the theme of their pulpit dscourses
Perhaps 1t because they feel that the pulpit Is not
the place for the introduction Of anything less man
universal truths perhaps, with the Inspiration Oh Tue
seer, they unconsc1ously take wider outlook thah
their church standards; perhaps they forget inc
churches altogether in their eagerness TO reach the
hearts OF men. Whatever be the cause, the fact
Itself Is evident. have heard DR.. Paxton preach
a great many times and once have heard him
1fv utter N a distnctiyelV Presbyterian dogma
You will hear more undluted Calvinism in the
maiden sermon OF the youngest Presbyterian MIN
lister than you viii hear In dozen on
DR.. Parkhursts sermons. DON'T infer from this that
these men are not good Presbyterians On the con-
trary, they such good Presbyterans that they
viii not allow even Presbyterisnism TO come between
the people and the fundamental gospel of Christ
You viii search almost in vain for any distinctive
doctrines of the Episcopal Church in the published
sermons of Phillips Brooks and even when such doc
ines appear they are so presented as 10 mako tnem
az into the scheme Of the greater Christianity OF which
the Episcopal Church is small part This cathoDcity
Of preaching is something to be thankful for Be
cause II the great preachers were TO use their gifts
of sJoouence and for the upbuldng Of their
denomIn stonal lions secaransm instead OF rehgon,
would be the gainor. But in their refusal TO give
To PARTY what was meant for man. they rise to the
height Of a splendid opportunity and supreme duty
When a great preacher comes before the world ne
belongs not simply TO his denomination, but 10 the
aggregate Christianity of all the denominations, whose
aoblest thought he interprets-
The meeting Of the Presbyterian General Assembly
IN this city has called the attention OF New-YorRers
10 that great and important body OF Christians
Presbyterianism represents . very marked type OF
Christianity Just docs Romsn Catholicism, Bpsco-
psliantsm Methodtsni. II not easy 70
ainerentiate this type in words; but It is easily
In this city the Presby-
terrain Church has always held very honorable place
n has numbered among its members some of 6he
most enlightened, patriotic and progressive OF our
cit1zcns. In its corporate capacity II has Always
been on the side Of law, order and morality And
while conscaentiously refusing to its members any
very great liberty Of thought, II has ever been the
champion of liberty in the State. In recent years
N has grown in wealth and influence; but IL has
not forgotten its old ideals, and has yielded little to
the shirt OF wordlness that is abroad It's ministers
have been almost invariably men OF learning culture
and GOOD sonse and have been generally found hent-
FED with every worthy movement In the community
While maintaining in its integrity the standards OF
its faith, and while abatng mono OF Its raditonai
ptncpes It has, in these latter years, become less
angular less harsh and more human. While refusing
10 look upon all creeds equally true or equally
sslse its attitude toward other Christian bodies has
become moro sympathetic and charitable. II has,
In n word felt the influence Of what Matthew Arnold
called the zetgeist and IS learning TO look on itself
a. q part Of that creator church Of all those who
follow the teachings of Jesus.
A lady presumably q Presbyterian, writes 10 me
ss follows: a wish to know what the Presbyterlans
North South and Cumberland, have done In the worn
Which falls under the Of 'ssterhood life In the
Episcopal Church. read OF the Presbyterian deacon
esses, and hear that Mr.. Allen, Of Sow-York, f.
president of Missionary Board, all in an indefinite
sort of way. But should like to know definitely wha
opportunity is afforded woman free to do what she
win spiritually fitted and Obliged TO support herself
IN the way of special work In tho Presbyterian Church
her object not being money the things o.
.hs worlds In answer 20 this l would say that the
idea of organizing special order Of Christian women
who might be called deaconcsses, was INTRODUCED
tink IN the last General Assembly. And 1t has beer
received with some favor by the church at large
But 10 has not yet taken any practical shape No suos
order of women has been actually organized; ana
possfbe that the traditional fear Of sterhoods which
q "a common aanong PrcSbytenans, will stand in TIN
way OF rs immediate establishment
The one church IN which humanity seems TO taxi
absolutely no interest Is the Comptist Church o
H,ananity There. s2lre about two dozen OF thes
eranlls IN London, who meet once week m stun!
tttle bau In Lambs COnduFtst. The walls an
MASTERED with pictures Of the "positivisr saints
among whom are julius Caesar, Socrates, St Paul
Shakespeare and Jesus. The liturgy used Is lasys
orsbbed from the English Prayer-Book, Humanity an
Auguste Compte being worshippnd in place Of tn
TRINITY Prayers are graveiy addressed TO Humanity
the virgin Mother,r whatever that may be, whic
wpuld be funny II they were not blasphemous. Thor
are many priests in the Church of Humanity, o
xshou, the chief Is Dr. COngreve, q somewhat learne
hut misty person OF more or less unbalanced mind
The months are named after the saints; this is th
,oonth OF julius Caesar. The new era dates fror
compte. couple Of Sundays ago Themistocles wa
chs saint commemorased. The presiding priest read
s,esson' from Dean Plnmptre's translation
Aeschylus, about the deeds Of the saint The twent
posltivists present listened with rsPt attention
suc historical statements the ships were crowds
into the straits nor could they give help to each other
Then something from Mr. swnburne was read, and III
droary farce was ended. The amazing part OF " q
is that this trayesty OF ssoerdoalism and nghtmaS
OF creduiity Is solemniy enacted by men whose low