The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-15
Church Matters.


The Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
has adopted the EpwOrth League as It's de-
n0minational young peoples society. The
Young people of the Methodist Episcopal
Church the Methodist Church Of Canada, and
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South are
now enlisted under one UNCONVENTIONAL ban
ncr.
There are now 10000 Protestant Christians
in Mexico. Criticism has been made that the
American Board is not keeping pace with
other denominations on the field. The rea-
son for this may perhaps be seen IN tins list
of annual appropriations to tins 1eld: Presby-
tcriaus. $50 600. Southern McthOdists, sl05,-
600 American Board. $4,000.
The new mracls on which Christianity de
ponds are genuine conversions. When SIN
n.rs oive up their sins and break of their
iuiquities 10y turning To the Lord, and are
made new creatures in Christ Jesus, they af-
ford living demonstration Of the truth of the
Gospel. The Cuched One becomes the risen
Lord in the midst of them. These are the
signs lnfaiilble."
I'm every age there have been men who have
been inid about submitting beliefs o. tradi-
SONS 10 the .est Of truth. There is n true
form Of conservatism, but ibis T. conservatism
i'm lis weakest aspect Ii j. 50 much easier 10
defend the traditions upon which We were
reared than TO examine the grounds upon
which they rest u Is so much easier for some
70 sit encpshiOnad in easy seli-complacency
than TO trouble their brains 20 examine, inves-
tgaie, aud see if these things be so.
The returns Of the vote Of the presbyteries
in answer TO the overture from the General
Assembly, establishing the Office of deaconess
in the churches come IN slowly. AT present
the majority Of the presbNteries voting have
declared in favor Of the deaconess. But i'm
portant presbyteries have voted very de-
cid,dly in the negative. The presbytery of
New York at its last meeting went into an ear
nest discussion OF the subject and was unable
10 close IL before the hour OF adjournment
came. The question will be decided At the
next meeting in February.
Buddhism finds il necessary TO use the
press TO maintain ~ existence IN Japan.
Once il was enough 10 RELY simply upon Its
rites. but the power Of enlightening thought
through Gospel agencies and Western itera-
ture and intercourse cOmpels il to employ new
methods for retaining its hold upon the pOpu-
lar mind and heart II has caught the I'M
petus of the times in that interesting land,
and now employs fOrty-three periodicals. with
which TO champion its cause. Christianity
evidently shows progress where Buddhists
priests and leaders are forced 10 resort to the
pen 10 withstand its pressure upon their
stronghold. On both sides the contention j.
sharp. vigorous and determined.
ArchdeacOn Farrarha accepted the position
of .haplaIn of the House Of Commons. made
vacant bv the death of Henry White. The
duties are not burdensOme. The chaplain
daily opens the session with prayer which
has been used for many decades, and which
exists only in manuscript form, never having
been printed. Only members OF Parliament
have ever heard this prayer, since visitors are
NOT admitted until prayer Is over. At official
church services. held IN St. Marsaret's church
the chaplain accompanies the speaker and
wears his gala robes. Such a service occurs
but rarely, the last one having been held al
the Queens semi-centennial jubilee, SOme
three years ago. on which occasion the whole
Parliament appeared in corpore. The pay OF
the chaplain is E4OO year.
Professor Briggs. the recently installed pro-
fessor of Biblical theology at the Union Iheo-
LOGICAL Seminary. a Presbyterian institution
osye Protestants food for thought in his inali-
gursl address. Filst, he attacked what he
calls Bbholatly, the cornerstone OF Prote..
tsntism. The rule of faith was not 10 he
found in the Bible alone, he declared. The
Church and reason should be considered also
In so much rs this recognizes the validity OF
tradition. il IS a decided approach 10 the
teaching of the Catholic Church. The pro-
fessor argued also Tor what he called pro
cressive sanctincatiOn after death" He based
his belief IN this sanctihcatiOn on the impos.
sibility of the hell or heaven teaching OF Pro
testant theology. As against that teaching
the Professors arguments were irrcfutable
But they would lose all point had the sects
not rejected the Catholic doctrine in purga
tory.