St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-21
The Roman Hierarchy.

nothing lett or It..
The Roman Hierarchy.
Bishop John F. Hurst, of Washing
ton. called the council to order this aft
ernoon for the last of the twenty-seven
sessions it has held during the past two
weeks. The business committee pre-
scented the following resolution, viii ch
was adopted:
That this conference views with deep con.
Germ the subtle and persistent efforts or the
Roman hierarchy to make its power felt out
side It's own proper sphere in many lands. to
the detriment and danger of the civil and re-
hglous liberties of the people. This confer
enees recognizes with satisfaction the fact
that the Roman Catholic laity have in nota-
pie instances had the courage and The wis
dom TO Withstand the unwarranted preten-
slonS OF their ecclesiastical superiors; and
the conference further disclaims any inien-
ton TO seek for itself, or the churches il rep
resents, single privilege which it would not
bound to remind the members OF these
churches of the sacred rights ana privileges
they enjoy, won for them by the sacrifice
and fidelity of their forefathers, and to call
ON them to unite with the members of other
Protestant churches in maintaining their
great inheritance of freedom and handing
down the same intact to the succeeding gen.
erations
The topic of the day. 1.-THE Outlook"
was then again taken up. The last
essay of the conference was read by
Kew. DIR. j. NJ. Buckley, editor OF the
New I DIRK Christian Advocate, on The
Church of the Future" He said the
Future of the Church
must be elucidated by an analysis of
what it is, with proper allowance for
what may be called the cataclysmic in
reference OF divine providence. This
requires Us to estimate the direction
and force of the issues now at work. OF
evil portions are noticed the fact that
business honesty is not maintained as it
should be among Christians; self
denial receives comparatively little
attention; extravaganza is noticeable
i'll most Christian denominations in
modes OF living and entertainments;
the church, with here and there an ex-
ception, has relinquished the Sabbath
In large part of the world; the power
OF discipline seems to have been almost
aodicated; less Importance seems to be
attached to secret prayer and family
worship: and the relation of children
to the church has undergone great
change. But this is only one side of
the shield. and there are numerous ten
denotes of a hopeful herea fter.
Concerning the immediate future, it
would seem that the church had en-
tered upon period of outward pros
perity. accompanied by the overthrow
OF false religions. The rise of new de-
nominations seeking after spiritual
piety may be expected, No union of
Professionalism and RomanlSm is posi-
bic. Turning from the immediate to
the ultimate future of the church, we
may at once dismiss all fear. The ulti-
mate church will enforce no theory of
inspiration: the church will then have
simple yet comprehensive creed, re-
In ffnI1 l., ~
Caste and cant will disappear; Chris
tian living will be midway ascetism and
luxury.
Democracy VIII Rule.
Rev. w. j. Dawson, of England. said
that the church OF the future must eS-
sentially be the church of the past.
The fundamentals could not be altered.
The first note of the church of the fut-
ure would be simp lifeation. Too long
the church had been keeping its eye OIL
Heaven and falling to see the injustice
oil earth. [Cries of "Oh. no."] Depend
upon it, if the people within the walls
did not believe that. a vast multitude
outside did so. Democracy i'm the state
meant democracy i'll the church, and
the most democratic church would win.
Autocracy i'll the church was doomed.
No church mlnstering to the intellec-
tual arlStocracy would be the church OF
the twentieth century The trend of
politics was toward social reconStruc-
ton. The toiers were Justly discon-
tented. Christians were followers of a
divine socialist. If men could not get
the socialism of Jesus they would get
the socialism of the devil. The church
should not ignore evolution. Any
church wilfully blind could not he the
church OF the future. With DR.. Buck
ley he differed OH one point. How much
was there in common between the Prot
estant and the. Catholic church? The
Roman Catholic was nearer to the
Methodist than was the Unitarian. Was
IL too wild dream that the Church of
Rome might yet be purified from cor
ruption?
f. W. Bourne, of London, said the
present trend of thought was in the di-
rection of a church whose main features
would be fearless love of truth, no.
bier cathOliclty of spirit, wider and
mere practical sympathy. and bolder
and more aggressive evangelism. Forms
were evanescent, principles only i'm
mutable, and therefore every develop
ment Of the church in the present day
should approximate toward the church
OF apostolic times.
At the conclusion of this, the last adj
dress, DR.. Stephenson, by request of the
business committee, voiced the thanks
of the conference in various directions
in general resolution.
Rev. DIR. A. Carman, of Canada, in
short but earnest address seconded the
motion for the adoption of the resoIu-
ton. which was unanimously adopted
by the entire audience rising and ap-
plauding. Bishop Hurst, of Washing
ton, briefly responded, and the second
ecumenical conference, after a half
hour spent IN prayer, adjourned sine
die.