The record-union., 1891-08-01

The CO11gregdtiOndliSt says: GA Con-
nectlcut pastor, on a recent Sunday, after
telling God in his long prayer the grim
story of theological defections that signal
ize our time, finally found what seemed
to hlm place of rest in the feeling that
took exactly this form of expression:
But, . Lord we thank Thee that Thou
artorthodoX.'
Tho Christian Leader (Universalist,
Bostonl says: 'Our jealous and ever
faithful Episcopalian contemporary-it is
needless to add that we refer to the Bos-
ton Herdtd-is jubilant over the final
success of its candidate for Bishop OF the
Diocese of Massachusetts, DIR. Phillips
Brooks. 1t is curious to note how the
we OF its editorial columns tells what
the we foresaw, predicted, labored to
secure, and now reioices in. Well, the
we Of the Christian Leader is happy to
concur with the HerGLd'S we in regard
to DR.. Brooks fitness for the office upon
which he will confer honor; from which
the honor received will be but nominal,
such man as Phillips Brooks being alto
gether greater than any ecclesiastical sta
ton. Whether or not the Herald'S
championship has been as great factor
in the battle for success as the we fancies,
may be an open question. We have had
q suspicion that DIR. Brooks was quite as
much annoyed thereby as he was helped
Such a man prefers praise in moder-
ation.o
The Examiner (Bapt.) says: "The char
acter OF the opposition to the confirma-
ton of Dr.. Brooks was extraordinary.
That he should have been regarded by
manyin in the church as not altogether a
satisfactory candidate for bishop is not to
be wondered at, since his doctrinal and
ecclesiastical views are decidedly more
liberal than those of the average Episco-
pallan. And those who honestly dis
agree with his views had perfect right
to oppose his confirmation in all proper
ways. But IN this case the opposition
has taken a form of circulating irrespon-
sible and slanderous charges through So
called confidential letters. A clergy
man ofthis city, of hitherto unblemished
repute, and bishop OF the church, have
not been above this kind of opposition.
Without any reference to the merits or
dement's of DR.. Brooks, or his fitness or
untitness for the bishopric, there is a gem
eral opinion among the Christian people
that this sort of opposition is conduct un-
becoming any Christian gentleman, and
particularly unbecoming presbyters and
bishops. lnasmuch as the Episcopal
Church avoWedly rests on a theory Of in
clusiveness or catholicity, and men of
widely different views may honorably
remain in its ministry, il would certainly
seem reasonable that the Broad Church
should have its representation among the
bishops as well as the High Church and
the Low Church. From this point of view
there is a fitness in the election of Dr.
Brooks, without reference to his other
eminent qualifications, such as his elo-
quence as preacher, his high repute as
a man and his recognized prominence as
a leader Of thought"
The Churchmon says: stIf the all but
unanimous choice of the diocese of Mas
sachusetts had been set aside on the
grounds alleged, that diocese would have
been deprived of it's clear constitutional
right, and in time to come every other
diocese must have held its right to elect
its own bishop subject to the arbitrary
interference of an accidental and some
times short-liVed majority beyond its
borders. How long the dioceses of the
church could have held together under a
system of constitutional tyranny is not
now worth considering; but it is well
worth while TO emphasize the fact that
the government of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church is a constitutional and catho-
lie government. Its constitution was not
intended to create an arbitrary govern
ment OF accidental and temporary ma
jorities; still less does it contemplate the
prescription of minoritieS, which would
be tyranny under constitutional forms,
and fidelity to the purpose of the consti-
tuition Will not allow misuse of powers.
which may be somewhat too vaguely de-
fined, to nullify or destroy catholic
rights which the constitution expressly
recognizes. No government in church or
State is safe or stable in which large and
respectable minority believes itself to be
oppressed. Oppression attracts sympa-
thy, sympathy brings support; the mi
nority of one day becomes the majority
n IN I'm ~ ic,x
apt to be as tyrannous as it's old opponent
How much better it is TO have no tyran-
MES In the conSecration of DR.. Brooks
the church has renewed pledge that her
peace is not TO be endangered by the ty-
rannous prescription Of minorities under
the form of canonical obligation"
The Evangelist pres says: ''Our con-
tempoTaries of the daily press are Just
now taking very warm interest in the
endowment funds of the Union Theolog-
lcal Seminary, on the supposition that
they may be affected by pending ques-
tions. 1t is well, perhaps, to remind
them that the seminary received large
part of its funds and won goodly record
for itself throughout the church, while
yet entirely independent Of the General
Assembly. 1t is probable that every
dollar 1t has since received, or nearly So
would have come to it had it never
changed its original status, or attempted
to change it. 1t is sufficient TO say now.
that no anxiety IS felt on the subject, in
view of present or possible complica-
tons. The endowments, almost without
exception, are without conditions Only
one or two specify adherence To the Pres
byteTian polity and the Westminster
Confession, for substance of doctrine
And certainly no one connected with the
institution wishes or cCntemplates any,
thing other than such adherence The
terms of neither the Brown nor the Nor
gan endowments contain a word of dis
trust. These large benefactions were
made in view of the entire history of the
seminary, it having done noble work
for the church and the advancement of
Biblical learning from the start. Gov
ernor Morgan was especially interested
in what he termed the great work the
seminary was doing and destined to ac-
complish, and James Brown was his
equal IN breath of view and Of sympathy"
In the London Christian World Pro-
fesSor Bruce of Edinburgh accounts for
the tremendous animus" against DIR.
Briggs in part by the conservatism of
the American Presbyterian Church, we'll
known TO all who have visited America.
AT the PAM Presbyterian Council held in
Philadelphia in $780," continues Professor
Bruce, "a respected minister of the
SnuiCb VI pCOlidIlOl, Ouc Vi InS UCpuJleS,
remarked, L am Conservative in Scot
land, but | feel myself Liberal by COM
parison here 1t is even SO. The Ameri-
can Presbyterian Church is predomi-
nantly conservative. 1t holds on the
Westminster Confession as many Ameri-
cans hold on to the often ill-grounded be-
lief in their descent from noble British
families, and partly for the same reason,
because it gives them link of connection
with venerable pasta natural and ex-
cusable feeling in community with a
very short history.
Another feature of the American Pres
hyterian Church. helping to eNnlain the