Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-14
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO MINIS
TERs AND LAYMEN.
Expressions of Opinion by Newspapers
Representing the Various Denom-
nations, on Many Subj cts.

The american Hebrew says: "There can
not we'll be any worthier Observance OF
thanksgiving Day than conservation OF
ourselves to fuller recognition of our
onty as citizens and more self.sacrifcipg
fulhllment of our obligations as such. It
Is. after all, but little that our country
asks OF US. 1t is certainly not as great a
matter to keep ourselves versed concerning
current legislative and administrative
problems, and to cast our vote according
to our convictions on those problems and
our Judgments concerning the men whom
we Shall lntrust with this solution, as it is
to leave our work for year or term of
years to attend to compulsory military
duties. We have, indeed, much to be
grateful for. Let Us see to it that we leave
our children the same causes for gratitude
that We enjoy. There is need for provision
lest by negligence we despoil EN- ofthose
blessings transmitted to US; lest even we
train up generation incapable of appre-
ciating those advantages which our. form
of government insures to the people when
rightly administered"
The Wotchman (Bapt.) says: "The An
glican monk who calls himself Father To-
natlus' has been attracting much attention
In Boston. His preaching is fervent,
pointed, and, in the main, thoroughly
evangelical. 1t does not differ in tone or
substance from earnest evangelical preach
ing with which the denominations beliey-
ing in reyivals of religion are familiar.
The statements made in the Boston Minis
ters' Meeting last Monday by Somerset
Gardner, to the effect that Father Ipna-
tius was Jesuit in disguise, rest upon the
speakers own conclusions. High Church
practices may go to the very verge of the
practices of Rome, but the doctrine be-
hind them may not be Roman. If it
should turn out that Father Ignatius' is a
Romanlst IN disguise, Of course his conduct
has exposed him to severe condemnation
But IN the absence of rigorous demon
stratlon of this, we rejoice that the essen
tial features of evangelical religion are SO
clearly and vigorously presented. though
in combination with much that we regard
as superfiuous, superstitious and errone-
Gus"
The Boston correspondent of the Chris.
tan Inteligencer Reid writes of "Father
Ignatius" as follows: "When ready to
pray, Father 1gnatius knelt and poured
out his soul before God with all the rapt
ardor of camp-meeting saint. No
prayer-book was visible, but his supplica-
tion mounted straight from its altar to
heaven. He does use the prayer book,
and believes in it, but he only uses it al
certain services. The first time I heard
him he preached upon the subject of the
Woman of Pleasure His Bible charac.
ter, used as an illustration, was Mary
Magdalcne, and his great point was tc
show how Jesus Christ dealt with great
sinners. His Magdalene theory was both
ingenious and interesting. His word.
pictures were full of color. But what
charmed me was the old gospel of Sa.
viour in the flesh and feeling for Others in
the flesh, pouring out of the infinite full
ness Of his heart his love like balm for
their wounds, like light in their darkness.
like rest after their weary wanderipes
That presentation of truth, so Scriptural
so evangelical, SC heart-reaching, did me
vast amount of good. I had a baptism
that day. 1t was such setting forth of
the tender, bene6cent, compassionate
spirit of Jesus, l have not got over il vet
and do not wish to get beyond it. When
one makes me feel that way can over.
look the things about the man that. to
me, are folly and nonsense. With smile
l leave the monk part of his make-up
upon the other side of the street. | walk
with the man ON this side in hearty fellow
ship. There are many who think with
me, and this strange man from over the
seas is receiving and accepting invitations
to preach in Congregational, Unitarian
and Baptist pulpits while shut out from
Episcopal"
Commenting on the recent Conference
concerning moral instruction in the public
schools, the Christian Onion saws: "Ve
take the occasion to reaffirm what we be.
lieve to be fundamental and indisputab,e
though often diGputed, propositions upon
this subject First, that education cannot
be given, nor even the common life of the
school maintained, without moral iustruc-
ton. The conscience, the love, the reyer-
ence mnst be trained and educated in order
to preserve the harmony and solidarity of
the community; nor is it possible to teach
any more than two or three of the most
primary branches of instruction-sucb as
the alphabet, writing and arithmetic
without teaching morals. Reading, his
tory, literature, all necessarily involve
some measure of moral instruction. And.
second, it is not possible to carry moral in.
structlon to any considerable degree, or
teach 1t with any measure of thoroughness.
without religion. Religion is the basis Of
morality. If boy is told that he oupht
not to strike girl, this is morals. IF he
asks why he ought not to strike the eirl
the answer to that question, Whatever the
answer may be, is religion. If it is. Be
cause told you you ought not it is the
religion of authority. If it is, Because it
is not gentlemany to strike girl it is the
religion OF appropriateness. If it is. BE-
cause it is not honorable to strike girl
it is the religion of humanity. If It is.
Because there is an eternal duty of the
strong not to oppress, but to protect the
weak it Is the religion of an eternal sane
ton, the religion of God"
But tie Independent says; 'Now morals
and religion are two different things. Re-
ligion has to do with ones relation to God /:
morals have to do with ones relation to
his fellow-men. Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart is re-
ligion. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself' is morals. Religion may depend
upon morals, end much more morals NAV
depend upon religion; but they are not
inseparable. Now it is for the interest of
the State to have good morals. If it has
no real relation to religion, it does have a
real relation to character; but morals must
be kept distinct and separate from religion.
1t is not any part of the duty of the State
to teach religion under the preference of
teaching morals"
The Rev. DR.. Rollin A. Sawyer says, in
the Evangelist Pres. J: Toward the close
of the Conference two very bright and
original papers were read, which seemed
to sum up the whole matter from the two
extreme positions, and which, if printed
side by side and distributed, would be suf-
feient, much more effective than a larger
pamphlet. The mistake of printing all
the papers, instead of .judicious selection.
simply perpetuates the one defect in ali
Conferences, which is repetition. The
papers of the Rev. DIR. Ward and the Rev.
Mr.. Beller, with the address of Mr.. VIII
liam Allen Butler as sort of iury charge
would tell all that the Conference really
had to say on the subject in hand and
would probably do more service by BEING
read and studied together. Mr.. Buffers
argument is cogent, and to our Christian
sentiment, entirely convincing. But DR..