Morning journal and courier., 1891-11-23
s. GHFARD NELSON.
Notes.

The Rev. William $. Langford, D. D., missionary secretary of the Protestant Episcopal church, reminds the members of that communion that the Episcopal church in America, agreeing with the Church of England, has indicated the fes-i tival of St. Andrew as the time of united intercession in behalf of missions, and ur- gently requests that the designation be ob served by all Episcopal families and churches throughout the United States.
 As one of the features of missionary work to be undertaken by the board of missions of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States during the en- suing year, it is proposed to distribute the book of common prayer up and down the land, making copies of it as plentiful as those of the Bible itself. It is believed that the silent power of this work, by some considered 'the most wonderful pro duct of the reformation" cannot fail to influence advantageously the religious life of the nation.
 The good sense of many church mem bers is apparent in the revolt against sil ly and and sensational class of entertain ments, which of late years has been tole- rated in the churches on the pretext that the public must be amused and their curi- osity piqued to stimulate their generosity. We have thus been treated to ''pink teas" '1enon squeeze sociables, "'.broom drills" Ssc., until the sense of the incongruous has become heightened to disgust. Re gently a church near New York outshons all competitors by "a unique entertain ment consisting of 'Tableaus from Life,' the feature being costumed representations of pictures and scenes from the New York comic papers," New York church people can stand a good deal, but they declare that they are under the necessity of draw ing line at the comic papers
 Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, pastor emeritus of the Lafayette avenue Presbyterian church, Brooklyn, N. Y, since he quit the active duties of the psstOrate about year ago, has devoted himself largely by speech and pen to combating the supposition, firmly intrenched in many quarters, that brilliant pulpit work on Sundays is all that is needed to fill the churches and keep them full He declares, a corollary of almost forty years experience, that the chief power of a Christian minister is heart power, which can alone be effective ly manifested in individual contact with parishioners.
 Ample time for its consideration having cldDStO, luc Ol DlsuOp IOl- ter before his diocesan convention is pro- nounced by competent judges the weight jest utteIance of any American bishop during the past quarter of century. It states, in the opinions of candid minds, the consensus of the church, which is that her leading articles of faith and the order she has established must be maintained in violate, while, in matters of opinion which the church has not adjudicated, no mans liberty of independent thought is to be abridged, and much less is he to be pro scribed or excluded because of his exercise of that liberty.
 The most uncompromising opponent of Dr. Briggs throughout the heresy hunt that has been suspended was the conserva- tive Presbyterian organ, the New York Observer. One of its editors, Dr. Charles Augustus Stoddart, who is also one of the mildest hammered Calvinists around New York, was present at the recent proceed ings before the Presbytery, and when his name was called on the question of dis continuing the case, to the amazement of everybody, Dr. StOddart voted "Aye" Supposing there was some mistake, friend leaned over and whispered to him in astonishment, "What! Are you voting fer Professor Briggs!' "How could help it after listening to such paper ss hist" was the reply.