Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-22
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO MINIS
TIERS AND LAYMIyN.
Expressions OF Opinion by Newspapers
Representing the Various Den0ln-
nations, On Many Subjects.

Z
English Church Association, having writ
ten to the Archbishop of Canterbury t,
complain of the services at st. Mary's, Car
diff, at the opening Of the Church Con
gress, received a somewhat vigorous reply
of which the following is portion "A.
regards myself, do not clearly gather
from your letter what it is that You ask
me to do. At this moment hold the re.
sponsible office of Judge in a formal litiea.
tion which you have yourself promoted
and | can hardly suppose that you expect
me to correspond with you upon questions
which, at your instigation, are about to be
argued, and which will be heard through
out with the best assistance, and with en-
tire impartiality. Since you deplore wha:
you describe as the destruction of all
hopes of reunion at home,' l take leave to
say that it is hard to realize what sort OF
hopes of reunion are dear to associations.
whichever side engaged, to whom their
own uncompromising opinion is the only
endurable law. Men who seek the peace
of jerusalem will detach themselves from
factions within"
The Bishop of Peterborough DIR. Magee)
spoke in his recent Diocesan Conference
on "Christian Socialism" He said :
"They had been reminded of the abortive
attempt at Communism in the earlier DAYS
of Christianity. 1t was a very remark
able portion of Christian history, but it
should be remembered that this monetary
desire for Communism was the result of
the people being of one heart and of one
soul. In any State in which the entire
population were of one heart and soul
there would be little need for such dis
cussion as they were now having. 1t was
an interesting fact that, during the period
that this attempt at Communism was
made, there was great and increasing
poverty at Jerusalem, st. Paul being en-
gagged at that time in making a collection
all over the Christian church for the Door
saints at Jerusalem. He always had it in
his own mind that this unwise attempt at
Communism in the early days of Chris
tianity might have increased and deepened
the very poverty which St. Paul sought to
relieve. 1t was at any rate very remark
able coincidence in church history that in
the one place where they found Com
munism for the moment established, they
found in that place the very greatest evil
dence of poverty and the greatest need for
its relief"
The Bishop of Rochester, an old-fash-
ioned Evangelical originally, in his recent
charge, speaking of brotherhoods under
VOWS, said that Until a responsible scheme
is presented for the consideration of the
church, it is surely premature to condemn
the idea" As to VOWS, the Bishop pointed
out that the Bible record is full of all kinds,
and instead of depreciating or forbidding
them, it recognizes, sanctions and regulates
them. "Civil society, under the analogous
form of oath, insists on them as obligatory
and confirmation and holy matrimony and
ordination, the church in the most distinct
and public manner possible recognizes the
Importance of VOWS of life, and refuses to
admit to her greatest ordinances without
them. If Christian people really feel that
VOWS help them to great and lasting sacri-
fees, and that they keep the flame of en-
thusiasm burning in the heart, what right
have we to interfere with their personal
liberty or sternly tell them that they wish
to bring back Romanisn? We want en-
thusiasm; then do not gratuitously chill
it. You cannot expect enthusiasm with
out little eccentricity. Condone the &C.
centricity for the sake of the enthusiasm;
and let good sense have hearing, touched
with justice and love. What possible
harm can there be in a life of celibacy,
limited or lifelong, if God be more glori6ed
by it? 1t is a kind of life which multi
tudes of sanity and devoted men every
day prefer and maintain for themselves,
taking no great credit for it. Let us be
free, with VOWS or without them, in striv-
ing by all means to save some for whom
Christ died"
Canon j. III. Knowles writes as follows,
in the Church Eclectic of the Prayer-book
and Hymnal revision in the recent Epis-
copal Conventions: "There were those
present who opposed any further revision.
Now that we had the Evangelical Can
ticles back again and the liberty defined of
using Mathis, Litany or Holy Communion
as separate services, they deemed the
Prayer-book full enough for all ordinary
occasions, ard did not wish any further
liturgical meddling with it, prompted by
mere good taste, sentiment or love for En-
slish uses. They deemed that the Book of
Common Prayer was not a prohibitive
document, and felt at liberty to go back to
any ancient service in accordance with its
letter and spirit. Hence, they did not
care for extra Epistles and Gospels for
Easter or Christmas; better were ready to
their hand in the Sarum Missal They
did not care for stated provisions for cele-
brations at weddings or funerals, as If rec
ognized for the first time by the Church.
They had them already in unadulterated
shape, and did not care to risk the newt
able irreverence of liturgical tinkering and
discussion in a mixed assembly and
with open doors. The Prayer-B Book as it
is, and use it as you know how is the
motto of those who know that as it stands
it is Catholic document, and contradicts
every cherished tenet of mere Protestant
ism. Its bare letter teaches apostolic sue
cessession, real presence, Eucharistic ado
ration, baptismal regeneration, priestly
absolution and prayers for the dead. Why
cast slur upon it by adding little bits
here and there dictated by a mere diet
tdnte spirit coquetting with few Catholic
opinions? The discussion on the Hymnal
utterly broke down after a dismal two
hours of leyiathan criticism which may be
indicated by one specimen, where someone
proposed to strike out the word shake
from the Morning Hymn so that the line
should read, Force off dull sloth,' and not
shake off, for that seemed vulgar. Would
that we could have 200 plain, good hymns
bound up with the Prayer Book for the
comfort of plain people, and then leave
every man to print his favorites and his
grandmother's favorites at his own ex-
pense. 1t does seem a dreadful waste OF
time to spend the precious labors of such
a body as a Convention upon subjects
which it is not competent to act upon at
all. / hope we never again will see litur-
gical revision or hymn tinkering after
1892"
The new English Bishop of Corea, Dr.
Corfe, has published letter, the admirable
spirit OF which must compel respect. Bishop
Corfe says: Having at the call of the
Archbishop of Canterbury relinquished
my post as Chaplain in the Royal Navy, 1
have to-day been consecrated and sent to a
country 10000 miles distant. in which we
have as yet no churches, no clergy, no con-
verts. The bishopric is entirely unen-
dowed. With every desire to do more,
the Society for the Propagation Of the