Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-23

state in so many words that nobody possessing
scientific culture of mind can ever accent the
DEGREES Of the Vatican Council. Having de-
voted During the last nine years my time prir.
eipally to the renewed study of ali The ones
| tions connected with the history of the Pones
ana tne councils and ! may say, gone again
| over the whole ground of ecclesiastical history
the result is that the proofs of the falsehoed Of
| the Vatican DEGREES amount to ademor strstion
When am told that must swear to the truth
OF those doctrines, my feeling is just as if were
| asked to swear that two and two make FIVE
and not four. Pray, my dear Nevin let me
have some news of what is going on at Rome
Perhaps You can also obtain the reception of a
similar notice IN one OF the American papers.
Zotls Tfks ]. DoLIISGER
Munich, May 4, 1879.
The Stcassard (Bapt) of Chicago says:
~ would seem, from what is reported of
the debate in New York among the Pres
| byterians upon revision of the Westminster
Concession, that the disputants do not all
of them keep to The main question: DIR.
John Halls forcible picture of current
! tendencies in what is termed free thought
cuts two. ways, while in fact it does not
touch the matter really at issue. 1t is a
fair question whether extreme forms
of statement for doctrines which all mod
ern Calvinists hold have not had much to
do in creating that sort of public senti-
ment to which DR.. Hall refers. Mean
time, the real question is, does the Con-
| fession teach. what the Bible teaches? We
shall always be safe in risking Bible
truth even amid the carPiitsS criticism of
skeptics and atheists, OvidG we do not
| place it at a disadvantage by making it
say what it does not say. We should like
to know, BESIDES, whether Dr. John Hall
or any other of the eminent men on his
side of the question would be willing, in
presence of congregation of thoughtful
and discerning men. not members, to quote
| from the Confession. on certain points its
] language, as stating what he himself actu-
ally believes-for example, as to what is
termed 'reprobation, or as to the salvation
of infants"
Of the vote on revision in the New
York Presbytery, the Observer fPres.) saws:
"When the report was first presented, it
was generally considered moderate and
conciliatory. 1t made favorable i'm
preston upon many who had no personal
desire for an amended or remodeled Con-
fession. Days of able and honest discussion
developed so much actual opposition to an
estrangement from what have ever been
considered Presbyterian views that some
who would have voted for the report came
to regard it with less favor. So many diff
ferent influences, however, constrained
members of different views to unite on the
report that it will receive the vote of a
considerable majority. The vote does not,
by any means, indicate the number of
those who reject the old views and ex-
pressions. 1t includes all who are willing
to modify the Confession, so that others
with different views may accept it as the
expression of their faith. From the very
dawn of this controversy we have main
tanned that we wish all confessions Of faith
to be honest at all hazards. If the clergy
have ceased to believe any portion of their
creed, it is well for them to revise their
creed, or themselves or their position.
One Of these three things is essential to
their usefulness. Professionalism loses its
moral supremacy when it is toIerable for
its ministry to profess belief in what they
are more willing to attack than. to defend. p
On the question Of Sunday observance,
the Rev. r. S. .Sanderson says, in the Church
Eclectic: Man is double-sided. He has
his physical and psychical appetites and
desires. From the weekday round of toll
and labor, the level Of the physical, the
truest and most perfect rest is the change
to the things which pertaiuite he higher
and more spiritual qualities of ~ man.
1t is obviously the duty of the church to
provide the things herself (se far rs she
mayl and do all that she can to securee the
media which will bring this rest ands
freshment to man. This, thought can be
carried out in two directions. In the first
direction (as it is related to, the ritual in
our church seryices) do not care to 90
now, not because it is unimpertant, but be-
cause its necessity is being realized, as evil
denced by the general leveling up Of serv-
ices conducted by all schools of the church.
But as it bears upon the other question, /
do desire to commend it TO your thoughts
and attention. | say it is the duty of the
church to provide this psychical refresh
ment to man. To this end museums, pub
lie libraries, picture galleries, ETC., should
be opened for certain hours on Sunday
(say for a part or the whole of the after
noon). l don't imagine for moment
that everybody among wage-workers will
rush to these places. | do not suppose
that the opening of public library will
necessarily mean the closing up or loss Of
trade for the saloon. But l do believe
that many who are apart from it now will
come in contact with that subtle, sensitive
aroma attaching to the higher, loftier
world of art and beauty, those material
Suggestions of refinement and culture,
which for more fortunate section OF So
cietv is the atmosphere of the home and
the daily life. In our dwellings we have
pictures and books; we are familiar with
bric-a-brac; the artistic taste is cultivated
in us by our surroundings to greater or
less degree. But the great mass Of the
wage-workers have no such influence at
home; they must go out of their homes
for them. Because they have to work
hard all day, and at night are physically
too tired to appreciate or enjoy these
things, the chance should be given to
them on Sunday. To many a soul long
ing for something higher such opportuni-
ties might prove the John, Baptist prepar-
ing the way for the Son of God. A great
part of the accomplishment of this result :
rests with the clergy. By what they say,
or leave unsaid, the doors, to these places,
now fast closed on Sundays, will be thrown
open or remain shut. ] do not believe at
all thatthe church's work is either wholly
or chiefly philanthropic. Her message is
to bring the world to the Lamb oil God,
who taketh away the sin of the world
But do believe that no better
way to do her work was ever
shown to the church than
the example Of Christ Himself He healed
and forgave. He relieved the bodily or
mental ailment and made that relief the
channel of conveying spiritual peace and
comfort. And to the Church He hasspoken
| the words, Go thou. and do likewise, /
| frnhlv believe that the surest way TO bring
/ the Gospel of Christ to.bear upon theworld
is through wise and earnest philan-
| threpy. Nor have l. any desire tosecular-
ns Sunday. In many ways l consider the
reaction from Puritanism too great, if any
thing. But do long for the time when
Church people can, face all the questions
connected with this Sunday observance in
a wise, consistent and earnest fashion.
And what attitude Church people
take will depend almost entirely upon the
teaching which. the Church, through the
ministry, gives them. Above all, long
for the time when the Church everywhere
is doing everything she can to make Sun
day for the. people the queen Of days,
a real festival and holv day a season