Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-28
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO MINIS
TIERS AND LAYMEN.
Expressions of Opinion by Newspaper
Representing the Various Demon
nations, on Many Subjects.

Phe Chris,ina Inquirer (Bapt) says: in
the Baltimore Baptist Dr. w. E Hatcher, 8
man who weighs his words, describes Sam
Jones' as the 'ungodly and blasphemous
evangelist No doubt there is consider
able trath in the adjectives, but it puzzles
one to understand how evangelist can be
tackled on to Them
The CegtFal Fea (Pres says: "If fsy-
I atty to our Calvinistic system Of doctrine-is
to be fostered in our church, the training of
our Sabbath-school children should receive
dae attention. The Shorter Ca,echism il
neglected to fearful extent. OF the 7,1lT
Sabbath-schools reposted to the last Assem-
bly,, 3.243. or about 46 per cent, do no,
study the Shorter Catechism. This ought
not so to be. There is no compendium of
Scripture doctrine in existence suited to
the youthful mind that is so valuable as
our Shorter Catechism. 1t ought to be in
troduced into every Presbyterian Sabbath
school. Otherwise. we cannot expect to
raise up generation of strong and intelii-
gent Presbyterian Christians. Our Metho-
dist Episcopal friends are not so neglectful
of their standards in the training of their
children. We need to initiate their de-
nominetional loyalty"
The Watchman (Bapt) says: "The story
of Dave Crocxett's coon that called out
from the tree, when it saw who vas aiming
at him, Don't shoot, I'll come down. has
been often used to illustrate the prudence
Of surrendering in good season but we
have always thought that the coon should
have been pretty certain that ii was the re.
doubtable Dave beneath him; that the gun
was loaded; that it would not miss fire, or
that Dave would not this time miss his
aim, before the wisdom of coming down
could be made evident. There are, it seems
to US, too many theolegians who, when
they see q sharpshooter calling himself
German critic, come down quite too
readily. We remember some English and
American theologisns who came down
for the Tubingen sportsmen altogether too
soon, and it would not be strange if some
of those who seem SO eagerto come down
for Weilhausen and his co-labsrers would
wish, after dozen years or so, they had
stayed up"
A movement for Sunday closing of the
Chicago Fair has issued an address to be
forwarded to the religious press of the
country for approval and signature. The
Chicago Living Churchill E.) has returned
the address unsigned, with the following
explanation: THE editor of the Livinq
Church will advocate the closing Of the Ex-
position on Sundays, at least a far as all
industrial and commercial activities con.
nected with it. He cannot see, however,
that there Is any more harm in walking
through the parks and halls and conserva-
tories of the Exposition on the Lords
Day than in carrying on great mass meet
lngs for the discussion of moral questions
Indeed, the Exposition would vem to be
the best place for the holding of such meet.
ings. In view of the fact that the city will
be crowded during the season referred to
with multitude who have for, the lime no
homes but the hotels, boarding houses and
| saloons the managers would seem TO be
following the law Of mercy and not sacri.
| fee by keeping open on Sunday afternoons
such portions OF the Exposition as above
| indicated"
Dean Murray, of Princeton, writing on
Isaac Barrow, in the Homiietic Revie,0, says:
"Barrow's distinctions always have a off.
! ference. He does not confound things
| opposite in their nature, nor separate
things which belong together. And, if we
| are not mistaken, the homiletic use of such
study is very great. How of;en, for ex-
ample, have sermons on wealth, or amuse-
ment or temperance failed simply for want
of truth and proper discrimination. 1t is
easy always to be sweeping. The pulpit,
after all, is not in the wholesale business.
| 1t is not so easy to make careful distinction,
| to retail truth, so that it sticks in the indi-
| vidual conscience with its thou are the
man. But he who will work for this, has
this for his reward, that be covers the
whole ground more Justly and more eff.
caclousiy. He will find in Barrow's ser.
mons useful study for this end. Like
DIR. South, he wrought out his plans care
fully before writing, and while he filings
aside all scholastic subileties, he brings
common sense to bear in the use of these
determinations. We have heard certsin
men described as discriminating preach.
ers.' The class needs 10 be made larger. ),
"Farmton" says, in the Adrance: 1t has
! become quite customary for our churches
TO put gallery for the choir either behind
the minister or beside the minister. The
| people want to see the singers; they want
to face the music. | do not like the Gus
tom. These last months | have been sit
ting in the pews, and have faced the music
| have thus added evidence, drawn from
observation, to my theories, that music
should be heard and not seen; it shoalc
| appeal to the ear and not to the eye. TIT
sense of worship il song through tht
agency of the ear is marred by the distrac.
tons which the eye brings. The organist
jumping about on his seat, paving thu
pedals, pulling the stops, the size of thu
sopranos mouth, eccentricities of dress anC
department, all these the eye brings to the
heart and mind and thus serves 20 mar The
sense of worship. No. no; let US hide oul
musicians, in order the better to hear thei
music. Even theaters hide their o-ches
tras, and the Catholic churches put thei
choirs in side galleries or lofts where the,
are not easily seen. shall rel nee in thu
day when there is a clear discrimination a
to the proper place of music in the church
using the word place in material as vel
as an Intellectual end spiritual sense
The Cumberland Presbyterian saws: "Per
hsps under our Presbyterian system wha
is called candidatiDg is a necessary evil
but 1t can never be otherwise than embar
RAISING to man with ordinary sensitive
ness and any proper modesty to enter tn
pulpit feeling that he is on exhibition: tina
his virtues and fhilings are to be CRITICAL
observed, and, in due time, discussed an
voted on. The people come 10 such
service not to be fed, but to criticise th
spiritual food set before them, and to pas
judgment on the style and Character of tn
COOK. Nor does it much relieve the emba,
rassment if ii is understood that the churc
as well as the prospective pastor is on tria
that while the members are taking bi
measure he is also taking theirs. The fee
ing on both sides is in danger of bein
strained and unnatural. One sermo
preached and listened to under such Gil
/ cumstancss is not fair test. Most iris
sermons fail to give true impression {
the preachers ability, and he needs NOR
than one Sabbath with the people 20 forr
correct idea of their character and want:
There would perhaps be fewer misfit pa:
torates and less frequent changes if ther
were some standing arrangement anon
vacant churches and unemployed ministe.
requiring every candidate for the pastors
Office to spend some weeks or months i
the congregation before receiving call"
The Uaitorian Reciep says: "a friendl
bit possibly over-anxious critic of on
movement in some of its more radics
phases bias sent Us few words which W
may well accept as hint or warning: 4
man-made religion, specializing about
, silent, absent or quiescent God, lookip
condescendinglv towards an amiable, help
less. harmless Jesus, making man a sell
sufficient creature who is happily and a
, last successfully striving to be self Statistic
-sll pain and suffering spfinging solel
, from mans ignorance Or of disregard {
. natures flaws" with It's one sin-the leav
| ing OF the Unitarian Church. SINNERS
, will rapidly multiply in and about Bosto
, il this is our creed. Most significant of a
! things in it is its ignoring of Emerson
! whila oyoltiro Oh npipu and Part CT or or