Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-24

of GOODNESS; but also regards the true and
the b sautiiul. Superficial as the work of
She CHI ntauqua societies may be, the in.
spiration towards culture, the atmospheric
influence o, good music and good lectures
sucig as MARI ed the gathering at Lake.
view, Mass, VII. 'ch We visited last week.
are better than /. he grotesque pietism and
vociferoas devoeion>s Of the ancient camp
meeting, which negl.cted the real hells Of
life in osder to ssys people from fictitious
ones"
The CssashnIase says: The Nicene
Creed is important aseontsiniDs the essen
tials Of TrinitariaD and CiifItological
doctrine; ard the Apossles' Creed is inval-
liable and Indispensable short and effec-
tive summary Of the sacled facts on which
our faith is built. Peopfs who have these
in their minds and heaTss seldom need
anything more of the kind; at least, that
is the experience-of' the American Church.
ghere are exceptions to all niles; but the
rude is that an intelligent and honest mar
who constantly uses these cresds. or even
the shorter and sirspler of thers.alone, will
not 10 astray, but viii remain mentally in
andiwithin the limits of apostolic and
essential orthodoxy. Moreover, these two
creeds, and especially the Apostl IS, have
the immense advantagsuf being accepted,
catholic; in every sense of the word Far
more nearly than any osher human-form-
ularies they fulfill the old requirement,
qatod Senspr, qIod ubique, -qssod db Omsi5a'.
There is no copyright on them; no monop-
oily of; their use. If P-esbyterians are
wise they will take what iosready to their
hands. Do they think they can construct
anything better, or even revise these to-
advantage. With profound respect for
modern abilities, and all due.faith in pro-
gress, where progress is possible, we do not
believe the assembled wisdonof America,
aud Europe, too, could turn out tanything
one-tenth as good"
'Tt is great mistake" says the Amerieda
Hebrew, Ito assume that because an idea is
labeled philosophical it is therefore un-
teachable to children. Why WAS itthat the
mothers of old had no trouble in imbuing
their little ones with the idea Of God, of
human dependence upon Divine Rrovi-
denee, of human accountability to Divine
Justice, and of the blessed, inspiring, hope
of Immortality? Suppose the history of
the world has not yet given us an example
of al. intelligent people asserting to GER
tain fundamental religious principles that
is not avery lucid or convincing demon
stration thatthe phenomenon maynot be
witnessed at seme future period Of the his
tory of the world, for that matter that il
may not be made an actuality in the pres
ent. The proposed teaching of religion in
its basic principles does not at all involve
the construction of new religious scheme,
which shall swallow up in its capaeioas
NAV all existing religions. 1t befogs the
whole subject TO introduce into the discus
sion of it such entirely extraneous> and
irrelevant issues. There is little reason
for raising up dread and dismal ghostsfrom,
out the superstitious, cruel past Of the. hu-
man race. What if bigots and fanat-
les in the Middle Ages ruthlessly op-
pressed, foully murdered, or burned at the
stake those whom they could not persuade
to believe as they did? Isthat any reason
why we to-day should refrain from instll-
ing into the hearts and minds of the little
ones who pass their tenderest and most re-
ceptive years in the public schools those
grand, noble, universal religious truths
that are common to all religions %
The ChurchHlaa says: "The deaconess, to
be an effective instrument of church work,
rust be well trained. She must be fitted
to discharge the duties of nurse, apt to
teach the Scriptures, and fitted for consol-
ing and even converting sinners. While
one woman may be peculiarly gifted to do
one particular branch Of this work, she
should also have an acquaintance with all
that is requisite to discharge every func-
ton of her diaconate. knowledge of
Greek will not make her one whit less
handy in nursing one whit less fervid in
consoling or exhorting, as it will render
her great deal clearer in teaching the
New Testament. The course prescribed
by the Grace House Deaconess- School
seems likely to prepare any goodly and
sensible woman for the discharge Of her
exalted work in the ministry. Difficulties
will no doubt be found in the reconstitu-
tion for practical purposes of this long,
obsolete ministry. But, as in the revival
of community life recent here and in
England, difficulties will give way before
courage, patience and experience. In
bright and liberal American life the in
strument will gradually adapt itself and
modify itself in accordance with the needs
which it meets. The key will gradually
fit into the wards of the lock, and door
be opened to many outcast women and
many neglected children who have so far
been cut off from personal contact with
the living ministry of the church. The
revival of deaeonesses. is one of the sur
prises, perhaps, of modern church, history.
1t is, nevertheless, the recovery of one of
the Church's neglected heritages,. and if
surprise is felt, it is the surprise of Chris
tian in the prison of Giant Despair when
he found in his bosom the key of faith
that delivered him."