The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-03-23

eHCe ana value OF Tue CnrlSIlan ministry
are not to be measured by the number of
men in it who achieve notoriety. Notoriety
is easily gained. Any marked divergence
from those with whom he is classed gives a
preacher notoriety. But notOriety is not
influence. When a man becomes famous
for his eminent usefulness among his fell
lows. rather than for his eccentricity
among them, his influence is likely to cor
respond to his distinction.
Every year in England there is an agita-
ton over the deceased wife's sister bill.
Our English brethren have not been able
to free themselves from the domination of
this old Hebrew prescription. Our read
ers may be surprised to know that, al
though it is not a civil prohibition in this
country, it is an ecclesiastical prohibition
in at least one religious body. Until recent
years it was forbidden by the Presbyterian
confession of faith, but was finally stricken
out by vote Of the presDytery.
The Christian Register CUnit.) says: 1t is
a relief to know that foreign religious
! journals do not hold the American clergy
responsible for Mr. Talnage and his vag-
aries abroad. The London Christian World
describes him as a clerical monstrosity, and
not a normal tpye of the American minis
/ ter.
Our Lord practically "passed by'' one of
the crucihed thieves, and gave the benefit
OF gratuitous regeneration to the other, in
| his own dying hour. And surely If moth
/ ing in the latter was the inducement, and
1 his penitence. his faith, and his prayer
were the gifts of God, it devolves upon our
! critics to accountfor the different deStinies
of the two in some other way. The Bible
and the Confession recognizes the facts,
but give no rational explanation. 1.-THE
one was taken and the other ft''-Mid-
Continent.
AS is well known, there are two religious
/ bodies in this country termed the Reformed
| Presbyterians. They are designated for
convenience sake as Old School and New
/ School Committees from each of these
churches met in Pittsburg, Pa, lately, to
consult together touching union of these
churches. They found their way to an
agreement on every question but one. the
relation of members of this civil govern
ment. 1t was proposed to make this a
matter o. forbearance, leaving members of
/ the church to do as they pleased about vot-
/ ing. But the Old School men were tena-
eious, and the union has not been accom-
plished
As we have published the remarkable
story about the discovery of an uncial
Greek manuscript of the Bible at Damas-
! Gus, we may as well publish its conuradic-
ton. Professor Neubauer, of Oxford. pub
fishes in the London Times letter received
by him from the Syrian archbishop of
Damascus, dated Damascus, January 18th,
in which he says that no such discovery
has been made in Damascus The library
referred to as containing the manuscript is
the famous public library founded by NAL
hat Pasha, which contains two thousand,
more or less, valuable Arabic manuscripts
| collected from all the mosques in Damas-
Gus. In this library there is no such man
uscript resembling the CodeX Sinaiticus.
The Southern Churchmdn (P e says
The public school system, where education
is secularized, tends to deaden the religious
sensibiitles of children. While education
is to be eminently desired, it should be
such as not only sharpens the intellect, but
1 quickens the affections and makes strong
4 the will; to be taught to understand God
and have the affections quickened towards
! Him, and the viii energiZed for good. I'm
! less these be a part of an early education,
education fails and religious sensibilities
are deadened.
CONVERSION AS = CONSCIOUS PROCESS.
We suppose there are many persons who
are aware that the doctrine of ''conver-
sion." as that doctrine is widely accepted
today, is an entirely modern conception.
This doctrine is that in the vast majority OF
instances, if not in all, conversion to
Christ is a conscious process. 1t is ex-
pected that a rule the person who has
been through it can tell all about it, the
time, and place, and the instrumentality
which brought it about. Those who have
any acquaintance with the average prayer
meeting know how frequently the partici-
pants in such meetings recount the story OF
their conversion. The tale is told for the
hundredth time in very much the same
terms. And what is it that the memory
! recalls in such instances. 1t is certainly
not such change of disposition and nature
as the New Testament indicates as belong
ing to conversion. Now all this is an limo
walton. 1t came in with the preaching OF
Jonathan Edwards and the Wesleys. II
was under their powerful and territically