The record-union., 1891-10-03

A correspondent of the Christian Ad-
VocGte sends to that journal the following
inquiry: "Our Lord upon the Sabbath
day healed the woman who had been
Z bowed together eighteen years and re-
stored the 'withered hand Do these
precedents justify a surgeon in selecting
the Lords Day for the performance of an
operation designed to cure some disease
Of long standing, the conditions being
such that a short delay could do no harm?"
To this the -AdU0cdte replies that it thinks
the SaviOpS example would justify
him in performing it," provided that
reasonable doubt should exist whether
delay would not be injurious to the pa
tient.
The COngregdtiOn0IiSt says: The
American Board closed its financial year
September lst, with an increase in dona-
tions of nearly 49, per cent. over the pre-
ylous year, and slight increase in the
iegacies. The figures are as follows:
Donations. .,s412 1922 S51 - s4sS546a 7s9lf 7s
Legacies L...,.s 100, SOP IL ao6,45S IL
''The gain has been a steady one, the re-
eeipts in donations for August being
SOB, ,5ll II, as against S4S,S7l II in August
of last year. With this expression of re-
newed confidence and enlarging interest
on the part of the churches the annual
meeting next month promises to mark a
tory Of the board.'
The Boston Christian 4 dUOcate (Unita-
rian), in discussing the future of the U41i-
tartan ReUielC, says: Zone ofthe first du-
ties of the Unitarian body in this country
is to encourage the growth of liberal
thought and sentiment in other churches.
If 1t has any distinctive mission, the Uni
tartan Church is charged with the pro-
mitigation, in the form of literature, of
the great ideas of Liberal Christianity.
While these ideas are coming to perVade
the atmosphere OF our country, and while
we are behOIding on every side almost
startling manifestations of the advance of
liberal feeling in religion, there is yet
great work to do in enlightening this
feeling and directing it into substantial
and logical expression. The Unitarian
believer of the present day who can do
anything to help the brave men in the
Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational
and other so-called evangelical churches
TO more light in theology, viii be dere-
llGt II he neglectS the weighty assistance
which periodical of the first rank would
bring to these forward-looking men,"
The LjUiBg CI,atrch of Chicago, in dis
cussing 'Sacerdotalism" and the late Can
on LiddOn'S sermon on the subject SAYS:
1.-The word 'sacerdotalism', therefore, has
true and rightful sense, and the thing
slgnitied by it, being of the very essence
of the church as a corporate BODY, must
needs be always defended and main
tained. 1t can only be justly used as a
term of opprObrium when it is taken as
referring TO certain eXaggeratiOns and
abuses which have become associated
with it in mems minds: claims which
have been made to dispense with the Di-
vine law, to interfere with the proper
sphere of civil governments; or again, the
temper or bearing of some of those who
represent the church, the love Of spiritual
power, as power, for its own sake the
special faults to which a clerical order is
prone, turning heavenly gifts to selfish
ends. Such corruptionS and exaggera-
tons deserve all the reprOach the world
has heaped upon them. But If we are
10 give up all truths that have been ex-
aggerated into errors, all institutions
that have swerved from their original
purpose to become the instruments of
ambition or worldIiness, it is very easy to
see that much Will not be left of the best
blessings which God has given u.s. By
all means let us condemn whatever of
abuse or wrong has sheltered itself uu-
der the name of 'sacerdotalism': but let
us beware of Surrendering the truth
which this word designates when it is
taken in its only original and proper
meaning, the truth that in the church. as
In the government of the world at large.
Cod works, through human agency, His
blessings to mankind"
The Examiner (Bapt.) says: GA friend
coming from morning service q few SIM
days since said: The minister gave a
good homely talk on everyday duties, put
he made a mistake and put it into his
prayer instead Of his sermon He told
the Lord now people ought to bring up
their children and how they ought to be-
have generally-just as though the Lord
fErraG Nal H. l,,ts
anon than the one he preached atterward,
but 1t was mighty queer prayer
'IheIe are too many Of these queer
prayers, reminding US anew Of the re-
porter's often quoted eulogy on the most
eloquent prayer ever addressed to Bos-
ton audience. 4 minister when he LAYS
himself open to this sort of comment
must taIl to realize his true func-
ton in public prayer, which is sim
ply to lead the minds of his feIlow-wor-
shippers. If he keeps that aim before him.
together with benefiting reverence for
the Deity ne addresses, his task is a sim
pie one. Oratory, hOmiletics, doctrinal
olsqulsitions, personalities, will then be
easily avoided. So also will be escaped
the snares of undue length, dispropor-
ton, repetition, and that most distasteiul,
perhaps, Of all blemishes, colloquial IA
mlliarity towards God"
The Christian Leader saws: cit has
been pointed out before, and NAV, with
proprcty, be remarked again, that long
paStorateS are, as rule, better for both
minister and church, than short ones
Frequent breaks of the pastoral relation
interrupt the continuity of church life
afford opportunities for the restless TO
roam, beget the belief that the institution
= not permanent, besides furnishing s
preteXt TO class which exists in every
parish for assuming an attitude of indif-
ference or hostility. On the minister's
side frequent changes give him a reputa-
ton for instability or incompetency. A
gentleman whose experience in this par
Jlcular had not affected him pleasantly,
said: Our church policy reminds me OF
what used TO be the method in our ''dees-
Trlct" school. Every season we had a
new teacher who put Us back to addition
again.
I'VE read, after period of suspense in
q parish, that the new pastor has taken
hold with marvellous energy. and has
organized the Sunday-school and the
Ladies' Circle and the Young People.
and possibly the parish and the church.
1t IS strange state OF things that re-
qulres so much organization after every
interval between pastorates. II each
now pastor must organize eyerythinC
anew, is IL not plain that the former or
ganizings We're futile and that the pres
Ont are probably worthless? Continuity
OF life Is what is required. A parish
should begin and hold steadily on
through the years, adding new instru-
ments Of service from time TO time, but
never suSpcnding the old. Continuous
paStorates are, for the small churches
and the country churches, the necessary
condition OF continuous life"
The Rev. Or. A. s. Twombly, at the re-
quest of the editor OF the Wdtc5man