The record-union., 1891-12-12
m RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligious Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed In the sectarian Press
Matters of Interest.

Matters Of Interest.
The New York CHasrctna5sP P. E.) notes
q growing spirit of righteousness IN the
people. 1t says: THAT there has been
gradual but strong development during
the last decade is clear from the demands
upon the secular as well as relglous press.
The editors Of one Of the foremost dally
papers say that they must now have three
or four editorials week on rellglouS
topics. Ten years ago a religious edltofiai
could rarely be found in the columns OF
the secular press. The denominatlonal
movements and the position and pro-
ccedings of the church on questions OF
social life are minutely reported. The
individual sentiments of church leaders
and workers are diligently sought Tor.
Sermons or synopses OF religious ad-
dresses occupy several kcOlumns IN ooth
daily and weekly papers. These are
usually on themes pertaining to the prac-
tical religious life. If there are DIVISIONS,
or progrcssions, or prosecutions, or con-
1licts on creed, or dogma, or discipline,
the secular press gives its opinion as the
expression OF popular judgments All
church and religious movements and
measures have now friendly criticism.
Even the Sunday paper furnishes Its
editorial sermon. Al this comes OF the
demand among all classes of people to
know what is going on IN the religious
world. They have a vital interest III the
spread of Christian truth. The public
sincerely desires that the church shall
commend herself in her mission for the
world to the common sense"
The Chicago Interior (Pres.), in revert
ing to the Briggs case, deprecates the at
lacks that have been made in the PreSby-
terian press upon the position of the New
York Synod, and asks whether their
course is mot giving coutenance 20 the
agnostic clamor that the foundations of
Christian doctrine have been broken
down in a large and influential section of
the church. If it were true" it continues,
lit would be tremendous and tar-reach-
ing disaster. But there is absolutely no
evidence of it whatever. AS we have
shown, the presbytery of New York de-
cided an issue of fact, not an issue of
doctrine. If the presbytery had found
that any such attack was being made, it
would have promptly silenced the man
who was doing it from teaching or preach
ing as Presbyterian minister. And so
would the synod of New York, and SO
would any presbytery, synod or assem-
bly, in the whole church. There is no
breach in the walls Of Zion. We have no
1nfidel preSbyteries, or Synods, or ses-
sions. The confessional doctrine of the
holy scriptures will be maintained in
every session, presbytery, synod and as
sembly in the Presbyterian Church. We
must expect the clamor of the agnostic
daily press, but we should be careful not
TO allow ourselves to be misunderstood
as sanctioning it."
Considering the influences that are
predominant in the Presbytery of New
York it is not at all strange that its Com
mittee on Revision had no desire to rein
force the conservative sentiment in the
revision work. says the New York Oh
Se7Ueg (Pres.). "It has thrown its weight
into the scale of a revision radical enough
TO rid the confession Of preterition and to
nullify its teaching in regard to the ma
ture of effectual calling. 1t has done this
In accordance with convictions that are
not in harmony with the confession as it
is, and that are believed to be in the in
terest of greater evangelical power and
wider blessing. This action requires no
explanation under the circumstances. 1t
does, however, require some explanation
to account for the fact that the majority
of the Presbytery accomplished this work
OF theological evolution almost without
effort or opposition. 1t is true that a few
voices were heard in defense of the char
acter and truthfulneSs Of confessional
statements, but they were extremely
brief and chiefly general, and were put
hope that they would influence the deci-
sion. Many were absent whose opinions
on any religious question would be heard
with interest and received with warm
consideration. This apathy on the part
of the more conservative portion Of the
Presbytery was the result Of their con-
viction that the report of the committee
was acceptable to the majority, and that
the discussion of topics that had been
controverted in every possible light for
several centuries, was at this crisis en-
tirely useless. 1t NAV be de-
pressing to some to see what appears to
be falling away from the old and tried
foundations. But how much better is
this than open or secret hostility to the
ideas and sentiments which are charac-
teristic of the faith that is professed! No
church can tolerate this kind Of infidelity
without losing its power to elevate, spir-
ltually or morally, the world by which it
is surrounded"
The Chicago Interior (Pres.l suggests
the publication of Rainbow Bibie.' in
which different passages should be
printed IN different colorS, to show their
authorship and the critical authority de-
termining it. There will be difficulties,
1t admits, i'll the way of the editors. 'For
instance, Kuenen has some claims to be
considered a critic; but if Kuenen's views
OF the Bible are to be accepted. we might
dispense with the Bible itself Professor
Green has some claims to be considered
Hebraist; but if his view be accepted,
We may dispense with the revision. How
can we arrive at any consensus of men
dramatically opposed? Wellhausen can
not be ignored, nor Robertson Smith. nor
Professor Harper; and yet not one of
these would consent to be represented by
the others views. We see no way out OF
tt but for the editors to give each critic
dash with the brush and let the result
ant color, whatever it prove to be, stand
for the aggregate Judgment OF the learned
upon the makeup of the book, chapter
or verse. The result, it is TO be supposed.
would be curious. 1t might make each
page look like rain-chart in a census
report. For variety of hue and conlbina-
ton of tint Brazilian parrot would be
nothing beside it, and a crazv-uuilt. in
comparison, tit for Quaker shawl. Now
that we think of it, it seems strange that
the idea has never been worked out be-
fore. Rival publishers can issue rival
editions of the Rainbow Bible, toned up
or softened down to suit the times.
Churches can choose between editions
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