New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-07
IN THE CHURCH PORCH.
NOTES or rHE PULPIT AND PEW.

The Rev. Arthur Richie, rector OF st. lgnattns
Church, in this city publishes little paper called
The Catholic Champion the chief mission OF which
seems TO be 10 ieer at the Protestantism OF the
Protestant Episcopal Church In HIS last issue he
advocates the reservation of the Sacrament, and
declares that,the Episcopal prayerbook teaches iran
standardization Speaking Of "stitudinarians' IN the
Episcopal Church, he says: ave have even hearu
OF very dgnined member OF the Epscopai oencn'
inviting ministers of different Protestant denominations
TO take the parts OF Fpistoler and Gospeer at
mass he was celebrating one Thanksgiving Day. THIS
is evident reference TO Bishop Potter who, couple
of years ago. invited the Christian ministers OF Mount
Kisco to assist him In Thanksgiving service
It is an Interesting fact that many Of the extreme
High Churchmen In the Episcopal Church show niue
respect for bishops. Here Is The Church Nnes'
Of England, for instance advising tho American
bishops To get rid Of their present innated lawn
sleeves as they, tho bishops, "qulte suhicienty
wtnd-bags alreadvs The present vestments OF the
bishops by the way a great source OF discomfort
10 the rituallsts who seornfuily refer 10 them as
"magpes,a when with such blgh ideais VI
church treat bishops with such scant courtesy ues
can hardly ask outside "sects7 to acknowledge tho
divine authority Of the SUCCESSORS OF the Apostles
am told that pastoral visiting is becoming unfash'
ionabe In tho old days the visit OF the pastor was
a great event Notee was given OF 1t beiorehanu' su
the household including the servants was assemoleo IN
received with humble DIFFERENCE, each person was
infinitely questioned TO hts spiritual condition, anu
II the occasion seemed 10 warrant IL, the terros Oh hp
FIRE were hannted before the impentent. The cniF
dreu were catechsed and admonshed ana inc NiSi's-
ton ended with long prayer, after whHh !
doubt not everybody breathed sigh OF reheh
How far away all that seems TO the average Chrsuan
OF TO-DAY Even II the modern clergymen believed III
such a visitation It would be impossible for MN 70
make IT, Ho couldn't get household together No ne
first place; and even he could they would not SUP
nit 10 such spiritual espionage. The Clergy Vi %
day find little opportunity 10 bring In religion "hen
they call upon their parishioners. AS rule, Ihey uo
not see tho men Of their church, who presumably most
need their pastoral oversight and the women arc ho'
usually in q frame OF mind to enjoy religious IN
trospection. Perhaps they are overwhelmed win
work. or harassed by servants. Perhaps they DO NOT
have on their best gown, and arc iuogicay ahhoyou
at the pastor for taking them unaweres Altogether
oven the most taotful pastor usually DO little 70
deepen the spirituality OF his people by making psora
calls under the modern conditions CertsinS no
cannot drag IN religion without reference 10 time OF
circumstance. And he can only hope to 90 goou iu'
directly by establishing such bond Of sympathy anu
friendship between himself and HIS people that when
they arc in trouble they will nstncdvely go 70 him
for counsel and advice
The MONDAY services at Trinity Church this last
week were slngularly successful 1t is suggestive
fact that So many men can DO found not only Wiling
but apparently ANXIOUS to so 10 church on week
day. Are we after all mistaken when we say that
the age doesn't care for region7 Certainly these
services arc proof that such largo generalization
can be made.
Bishop Foster, Of the Methodist Church, says that
no clergyman Is worth $4,000 year. Two large
classes OF men I'm the ministry viii utterly dissent from
this vIew those who receiving that sum and those
who homo TO receive It. But few, II any, men
In the Methodist ministry belong 10 either OF these
classes, the Bishops statement viii doubtless De IN
dorsed by bis brethren OF course 10 Is I'M
possible 10 measure the spiritual worth OF clergyman
in dollars and cents II must be remembered that
there is another side to tho question. As hired
official OF an ecclesiastical corporation clergyman Is
worth Just what salary he can command. no more
no less. And rule the clergy as well as the
churches act this view Of the matter.
Bishop william Taylor writes hopefully in Tho
Christian Advocate" I'm regard to his mission work
in Africa, which he has returned with renewed real
HThe Church at Home and Abroad IS tho name Of
the new consolidated missionary magazine OF the
Presbyterian Church. The consolidation appears TO
meet the approval OF the Presbyterian churches and
will doubtless stimulate their interest In the work
of the missionaries
The New.IIavsn Congregational Club recently dis
eussed the question Ought Clergmon TO Wear Gowns
I'm the Puipt77 This recalls the fact that many New
England clcrgymen wore gowns In colonial times but
at the Revolution the practice was discontinued because
1t was thought ~ DO opposed to the spirit OF de-
mocracy II also tended 70 foster the belief that Clergy
men were class set apart, idea totally opposed
10 the genius Of Congreg9uonallsm Some members
of tho club, however think that other reasons now
exist why the wearing OF a gown IS advisable. 1t
would counteract the spirit Of irreveTence
for tho Church and IT'S ministry Sthat
Is prevalent and add dignity TO to onice
OF clergyman. Moreover, II would satisfy
WrtFa In M
other ways Is giving tone and color to the severe
SIMPLICITY OF Protestant worship Notwithstanding all
this Il Is not likely that the wearing Of gown VIII
become at all general In Congregational Churches
II s an unpleasant fact that clergymen in this eoun-
Try are sometimes found toadying 10 the whms and
caprIces Of rich mon. have spoken of this matter
before but do not think have ever told ltue
anccdote that illustrates the tendency In very striking
WAY newly Installed pastor OF certain ehurch
was exceedingly anxious 10 capture for his church
wealthy and influential man who was unconneoed with
any church. So no took pains to learn all tho pct
ideas of the magnae, including his love of orchids and
Holstein CATTLE and sermon in which all these
ideas vore skilfully brought into prominence. hut
the rnagnAtes attendance at church was somewhat I'M
certain 80 the dominic kept this sermon a. reserve
10 be used whom the great should be present lie
had 10 walt eight weeks for this event but at last his
victim saunerod IN and the sermon was delivered In
fine stvo You WILL Of course. expect me to say that
he landed his big fish in one Of the most expensive
news But alas for the vanity OF human hopesl tho
sermon contained some chance illusions to God and
the maRnaie was an agDosuc he was deeply offended
and promptly hired pew in radical Unitarian church.
in which the existence Of God was virtually an open
question: This IS one Of the evil tendencies OF the
voluntary system But there Is another side TO the !
question. Dr. Magee, Bishop OF Peterborough, Eng |
land gives some facts which show In startling way
the evils OF a state church Since hayo been |
bishop" he says / have been called upon to instt
tute four olerDmen, Of whom one was parslytIc,
another so aged and nfim that the ground Of his
age and inhrmy, he asked me for leave Of perpetual
absence from the important parish 10 which had Just
trsti,uted him a third was a reclaimed drunkard who