New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-17
IN THE CHURCH PORCH.
pFTJcJoUs NOTE AND COMMENT.

hrncinp 10 mass this result. That no SPECIFIC form
of Church government boast oil being al "''s'oA
ordinance for all time is verdict Vhi0n noVoi ~
scholars are rapidly approaching nnanns Il, Ionuo
inc The divine right OF particular iorni vi NhuiOn
.s ,.t will foIlow the divine right of kings and
,.no,o ., the same tomb The overvaluing OF ex-
,apal. IN religion will be TO be at variance WIN
the whole drift of the teaching of Christ and win he
nature of the Christian, as distinguished from inc ou
Testament dispensation. a sense OF inc supreme
inheritance of the Christian spirit, of the religion Oh
the heart will more and more impress all religious
bodies with the comparative insignihcance OF the
differences in polity, over which there has been SO
hot contention"
II seems to me that this admirably expresses the
most intelligent Christian thought OF the day on TINS
subject. But 1t will find no practical expression IN
the churches for long time to come IL IS III ia0''
an esoterc view of the question, which OILY appears
IN Jnvate discussion among Christian scholars anu
philosophers al have long ago outgQwn denomns-
fionasns said 2 prominent clergyman Of an orthodox
church TO me recently. But my people have not
ana therefore employ its powerful agency IN doing
what can for humanity. But the day Will como
when both pastors and people VIII all reach WIDER
outlook Then the denominations Will be swallowed
nm in the greater Christianity Of which they are the
segments."
From the fact that so much has been said during
tho last few years IN favor of organic Christian unon
1t has como to be vaguely supposed that the denomna
tonal walls have been nearly all broken down of
course this is far from being the case Many of the
outward signs OF 1t is true are discreety hduen
out of sight, and there is great deal of goodnaured
talk about the necessity of unity, that commits no.
body to anything, and leads to no practical result
But II there is less open warfare between the denom
nations there is guerilla warfare Eceieslasucai
shafpshooters posted on every denomnaiionai re-
doubt whose business 1t is to guard the interests OF
the denomination against tho attacks Of every other
denomination And It must not be forgotten that
there is bright side as well as dark side to all this
Partisanship and secariansm mean earnestness
Ideally they are very imperfect. and even unlovely
things but by means Of them most of the worlds
work is DONE In some cases. when man has come
10 believe that all denominations equally true
he is not far from believing that they are all equally
false II the denominations hinder each other, as
they doubtless do. they also assist each other AS
several logs Of wood in a fireplace VIII burn much
better than single log so the several denominations
maintain a much warmer glow Of enthusiasm than one
single denomination would manifest 1t is well to
remember this when considering the admitted
evils Of denominationalism
do not always follow inelllgenty the controversy
now going In American Judaism between the con-
servative and the progressive parties. 1t is perhaps
impossible for Gentle to understand the fuli I'M
port Of many of the social and religious questions
which are so earnestly discussed In the Jewish papers
But can see that the outlook of American Judaism
is very hopeful In the face Of many and great OBJ
taeles within and without It adapting itself TO its
American environment And without dropping any of
the fundamental positions of its faith, 1t every year
getting into closer sympathy with what may be called
the highest outlook of unsectaran Christianity The
educated American Jew is a man of catholic SYM
pathies with keen appreciation OF all that is best in
Christianity. And although he does not accept It's
dopmatic creed he is proud 10 know that its Founder
was Jew and that its moral code is that laid down
by the great Jewish lawgiver don't Know wnat the
masters in Israel may think on the subject but In
my opinion, American Judaism is destined to be the
teacher and the leader Of Judaism throughout the
world.
1t often happens that men o. the world whose
morals are VIGOROUSLY loose most severe in their
denuncIaons Of intellectual upbelef And the strange
part of it is that they really sincere in their re
pudiation of such unbeef. Down In the bottom OF
their hearts there is profound belief in the code Oh
Chrisa morality which in their daily lives they iai
to follow but which they vaguely expect some day 10
follow. when they have exhausted all the pleasures
az life / am neither defending nor iustifyng these
men in their inconsistent attitude toward religion, put
merely refer to 1t as interesting phase OF human
nature which manests itself In every age and coun
Try The roues of the Court OF Charles the second Oh
England were as rule sturdy believers In COD and
the Church and to-day the libertnes and roisterers
of the capitals of Europe would almost to man. re-
frse 10 associate with an open and protested infdel
And the fact is to be regarded not as an argument
against Christianity, but as an unintended fiOu1e
maid 10 It. The confession Of many such men, IL
they put IL IN words would be the confession OF me
great Apostle to the Gentiles ave know that the
law IS spiritual; but L am carnal sold under SIN
For that which do, I allow not; for what would
that do not but what hate, that do 1. For de-
light in the law of Cod after the inward man. BUT
sec another law IN my members, warning against
the law of my mind, and bringing me into capuVity
10 the law of sin, which is in my members
wretched man that ami Who shall deliver me rom
the body Of this deathF
Save sThe Boston Courier " The work done by tho
spenitent Females Refuge, whose annual meeting
took place last week. is doubtless an exceient one
but why in the Of common sense Is u necessary
that Il be done under name 50 repusiVe' why
shonld an errng woman be required TO describe her
self as rpenitent female before she can secure he
ssneAs Of the charity which is founded to save such
nc she?s At seems TO me that the criticism is Just
one and might apply TO many excellent institutions
which both in their and their methods Oh Tt
sorm needIessIy wound the susceptibities OF those
whom they are trying TO rescue.
Archdeacon Mackay-Smth has found it necessary
10 write letter to the press warning the clergy OF hi
Church against coming to New-York in the hope OF
getting something TO do. Hardly mall" he says,
fails to bring me application from lady seeking
church work or a clergyman desiring temporary
or permanent engagement in New-York The great
majority Ct these Letters arc so written as 70 excite
profound regret that one is so helpless to give al
encouraging reply have already referred TO ths
matter and 1t is only necessary TO add here, thai
the samo thing is true Of every denomination, anc
that hundreds Of good clergymsn are now wasting
their time in this city, in the vain hope OF getting
parish in or near the metropolis. The desire FOL
city charge Is widespread among the clergy OF thi
country, and every year it is becoming harder L
induce frstclass men to accept country pastorate
The original meaning Of "pagan' as we know, was I
dweiler IN the country II this tendency speak Of
continues to increase, the modern jewellers In tb'
country may again become "pagans' in moro than ONT
sense. For this regard the religious problem
of the country churches one that demands Thu
serious attention of Christian people. II quite a.