New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-06
IN THE CHURCH PORCH.
RELIGIOUS NOTE AND COMMENT


OF Christian people The old fashioned teaching in
gard to the resurrection of the body that the
| last day, the literal body which put in the grave
| would be raised. The countless myriads Of atoms
OF which 1t was composed would be collected together
from every Of the universe and formed into tic
body again by the hand Of God. To this body the
soul would again return, and the being thus raised
from the dead would live forever, either in happiness
or misery. But the growth of modern science has
| largely dlscreditcd this literal conception of the
resurrection Questions like these asked Docs
belief in life beyond the grave necessarily imply the
gathering together Of certain atoms and molecules OF
matter which once happened to be the souls lodging
house, Does the identity of the individual depend
on such contingency II it does, what will happen
In cases where the chemical elements that once com
posed certain body may chance TO enter into tho
composition of other body IT, the poet says
,%Psrai Caesar dead ga and ~ turned m ed to clay,
is IL not reasonable to suppose that the atoms and
molecules that once helped 70 form the body of a
Caesar, Paul Charlemagnc, might be taken from
natures great storehouse to form the body OF some
other mortali And. If So whose atoms and molecules
will they be in the resurrection, If the theory OF
Identical elements be truc7 The impossibIty of salts
faotoriy answering these questions has done much to
discrcdt the old theory expressed in the phrase
the resurrection OF the ncsh.' And modern Chris
tianity is beginning TO lay emphasis on the words
| Of the Apostle "Flesh and blood cannot inherit tho
Kingdom Of Cod
Nor does 1t seem 70 candid thinker that the truth
Of future life is at all dependent on any theory
OF literal resurrection IT, we all believe. the soul
be immortal, the identity of its dwelling house is a
matter OF small concern. lie who made it immortal
will provide fl dwelling place for IT In the world TO
come Just lie has ia this world. Even in this
world the soul continually casting off portions of It's
bodily home. thus signying the temporary character
Of that home The body at the moment of death is
| .i,o i,t.- Lafo- Apdt a.
personal Identity is possible in this life, in spite of an
entire change Of body, why IS it not possible in the
! life to comet To suppose anything else Is 10 attach
importance to the accidental particles OF the human
body which they do not deserve.
| In the April issue of "Tlc Catholic World is an
interesting article. showing that the liturgy Of the
Anglican and Episcopal churches Is taken almost
bodily from the Offices Of the Roman Catholic Church.
Most intelligent people know this, but the infcienccs
drawn from IT will attract attention. First Of all. the
writer claims that the remarkable growth OF the
Episcopal Church in this country IS due 10 the fact that
1t many Of the choicest parts of the Catholic
liturgy. And. I'm the second place, he asks the qucs
ton whether the Roman Catholic Church is not thus
| placed at disadvantage By a sect employing her
divine Offices to better advantage than she does her
self. In English speaking Countries he continues,
and brought face TO face with intelligent English
speaking Protcstants the Catholic Church cannot sue
ocssfuly hold her own stll less draw as she should
from the Protestant bodies confronted she is with
the disadvantage Of having another body or bodies
using in their public worship the Roman ritual trans
| lated into English This writer undoubtedly re
| fleets the sentiments Of many Roman Catholics who
believe that the rendering Of the service in Latin IcpeS
! many who would otherwise like 10 Join tho church.
II certainly an Interesting question and one That
| might prontahly be discussed by Catholic thinkers.
| For one thing the rendering % the Roman catholic
service in English would do away with much of the
Poie slant prejudice against that church. by revealing
lts substantial identity with Protestant liiulgics. Il
mus, be rather tantalzng 10 Roman Catholics 10 near
criticisms Of their "unmcaning and unspirtual SER
vice when Al the same time a great Protestant 'hur u
is growing In numbers and influence through the Use
Of virtually the same service.
The only tangible suggestion thus far made IN tle
direction 81 Christian unity Is sort Of federation OF
churches looking TO cooperation In practical work
But some OF those who have been most prominent
In the Christian unity movement refuse 10 have any
thing to do with such federation on the ground that
il would not promote any real unity. The various
scots they say would still exist and what they want
il the ABSORPTION ~ every sect into organic body
But a. | nave frequently pointed out. there Is 10
human likelihood 81 such union ever taking place
II all the present divisions OF Chrtcndom were To be
healed to morrow by some miracle. new divisions on
new issues would take place in less than year.
thousand, 81 propositions large number Of which
.rc not fundamental. and concerning which there
can Lc no absolute certainty. Aud that all Christcn-
dom should Dee II the same mind IN regard to every
one Of thc.c propositions, !, absolutely ou' 'i 'lr
question. For thi, reason II seems to me- That an
organic Christian unity Is no more than dream.
But ia spite II thi, there may be- ana DOUBT hot
Will be. AN essential Christian unity on the nhe' 81
Christian co operation that have been recently sur
work for such a unity.
4 few years ago bishop Of the Episcopal Church
sad to the Rev Dr. George Dana Botrdman, the
eminent Baptist clergyman Of Phiahclpha. " Board
man. you viii never be- content I'LL You become an
Epscopallan.' ION the contrary, replied Dr. Board
man. am content where | ana minister at
Broad and Arch Ihi, makes me an archbishop, you
see, while ,ou are only bishop The other day
Or. Hoariman thus expressed his conception II
Church unity have an ideal church In my mind.
First. the door Of th, church would make Baptism.
second the Lords table for the Lords people, third,
The docrlnal statement / would make i, God 80
loved the world that lie gave llis only begottcn
son. that whosocvcr belicvcth I'm Him might no.
perish but have everlasting lie fourth. my polity
Presbyterian my activity and real Methodist my
pew rent. At times / would have Quaker silence
No longer the recognition Of smilartcs. but OF
divcrstics.'
The oiicr Of the Kings Daughters. which has re
Gently attained such wide celebrity. /, split on Il
theological question In Difference to the scruplc,
of some Unitarian members In Bo-tOn. the Central
Council. year ago. passed the following resolution
Resolved. That all or any literature provided By the
mits IT. members to the acceptance OF a formulated
creed to specially stated Theological doctrine
be Immediately amended by the Committee Pub
LEGATION, withdrawn from circulation And in
accordance with thi, resolution all references to the
Trinity were cApunged from the Literature of the
order Numerous members OF the order have pro
tested against this action but IN vain, and a num-
Ter Of the Professionals have therefore, withdrawn
from the order.
In the Episcopal Church II has generally been
customary 10 take mp an Offering for The conversion
Of the Jews on Good Friday and II was recently
stated that sixty bishops OF that church united In
asking that the offerings of th, last Good Friday be-
devoted Ia that purpose. In view Of this fact II is
interesting To note that Bishop Potter OF the dioccc
Of NcN Orl formally requested that the Good Friday
q crings Of his diocese be devoted To church work
among the coorcd people. He thus practically de
carcs that In his Judgment II /, more desirable Ia
cvangclzc colorcd people than Jews. and | Imagine
his people will agree with him. The better Ia carry
out his idea, he Is about to organize society To DO
called St. Augustinc's League. named after tho
great Bishop Of Hippo In Africa which shall take
thi, important work in hand.
correspondent Of The Churchman' says that the
second service il but SHINY attended IN England: