The record-union., 1891-05-30
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions from the Various
Religious Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed In the Sectarfan Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Iaymen.

The Central Vest (Pres.) says: "a
childish and absurd custom is thus struck
at by secular paper: Senator Allison
was right In keeping his seat when the
pastor OF his church requested all who
We're IN favor of closing the Worlds Fair
Sunday to rise. There is no reason why
1uil-grown people should pay heed to
ldlotlc appeals from the pulpit, which are
on par with Sam Jones' famous call:
stand up?" If Senator Allison's action
calls attention to. the absurdity of this
kindergarten system in churches, it may
accomplish much This 'jumping-up'
and 'iumping-down' business ought to
be severely sat upon in all self-respecting
churches. 1t is a modern practice, and is
the merest clap-trap."
The Christian C1tion saws: sit is not
Tor us to enter into the ecclesiastical con-
troverSieS and party strifes of the differ
ent denominations. But, looking at this
question wholly from without tho Episco-
pal Church, we cannot refrain from saw
ing that, as the election of DIR. Brooks
was triumph for the no-party element,
to refusal TO confirm it would be dis
tlnctly partisan triumph 1t would be,
In our Judgment, u serious hindrance,
not only to Christian union, but also to
the growth of the Episcopal Church.
There is much in that church which COM
mends IT TO public esteem. It's rich spir-
ltual liturgy, the antique flavor of which
no modern inventor is able to initiate; its
appeal to the esthetic nature, which the
too severely simple service OF the Puri-
tan churches in the past mistakenly ig-
nored; It's history, reaching back into
period which antedates the Reforma-
ton; its freedom of thought, due to the
fact that its center is a liturgy, not
nrpa6. ire com hi atinf, n i,,I
and order in an organization which Sc
cures to the diocese almost the liberty of
lndependency, with a supervision exer-
cised by bishops, whose office is imi-
tated, though the name is disowned, by
missionary superintendent and presid-
ing elders in other denominations
combine to make the Episcopal Church
attractive to Christians of other demon
nations; SO attractive that, if the broad
and catholic spirit pervaded it which is
represented by DR.. Brooks it would not
be unreasonable to anticipate that, in
time, that church might become in truth
what some of its members now desire to
call 1t, the American Church,
The Christian A dUocate (Meth.) saws:
"It is reported that Phillips Brooks.
BIshop-elect, is annoyed at the way GER
tain persons and papers are trying to be-
little the Protestant Episcopal Church in
order to glorify him. This has certainly
been attempted when it commends him
for stepping over boundaries One
paper says: This stalwart man, head and
shoulders above his brethren, easily steps
over the little fences constructed in the
spirit of arrogance Phillips Brooks has
probably done nothing that he regards as
inconsistent with the canons of that
church. Much praise and blame is with
out analysis of character, and therefore
without HiSorirninatin A
so many praiseworthy elements needs no
comparison with other men or with any
institution. a positive exhibition of his
qualities, presence and personality,unioue
and admirable, whose highest claim
to consideration is that he recognizes that
the church is greater than any man. is
all that is necessary to the exaltation of
Phillips Brooks"
The Evangelist Pres.) says: Before
acting, let the assembly take a long look
ahead. The tide is Just now setting very
strongly against Professor Briggs. But
soon it may turn. If he has multitude
OF foes, he has also many able defenders,
as our readers have seen by the letters
published last week and others published
this week. Whereunto will all this
grow? We do not believe in being gov
erned by outsiders, yet we canfess that it
is not pleasant to hear them recall the
suicidal madness of fifty yeors ago, the
Excluding Act, the shadow of which
rested upon US for a whole generation,
and predicting that we shall commit a
similar folly, saying that the Presbyte-
rians will probably stone Professor
Briggs, and that the next generation will
build his sepulcher.' May we not learn
something from our enemies?
eve have the greatest confidence in
the wisdom of the assembly, if it waits
Till If has n itS
thought The only thing we fear is I'M
due precipitation, which win make in
creased trouble for the future. 1t is said
of those who make foolish matrimonial
alliances that they marry in haste, to re-
pent at leisure There are good MANY
other things in life that are done in haste,
to be repented of at leisure Such follies.
if done by individuals, may be hidden
from public notice by personal insignifi-
canoe. But this cannot be so in the case
of the Presbyterian Church, nor of a great
representative body like the General As
sembly. Wherefore, we trust that our
ecclesiastical legislators may learn wis
dom from bitter experience. One such
piece of legislation as the Excluding Act
ought to be enough. at least for this CEN
fury. God forbid that the assembly to
which is committed the sacred interests
of our beloved church, should, in mo-
ment of excitement, commit another act,
for which it will have to pay by years of
repentance"
The Examiner (Bapt.) says: "There are
signs, however slight, yet significant
that unity of belief among Baptfsts may
not long continue. The trumpet already
gives an uncertain sound in some parts
of the Baptist hosts. Our strength in the
past has been loyalty to the Scriptures;
our weakness in the future threatens to
be denial of the authority of the Script
ures. There ara those among us whose
teachings have q marked tendency to
break down mems reverence for the
Bible, by treating it as compilation of
documents made by an uncertain author
lty, documents IN some cases of uncertain
authorship, and in others certainly of
authorship other than that protested in
the writings themselves. The 'inspira-
ton of these writings Is not directly at
tackled, but it is indirectly undermined
by these views. The divine authority of
forged writings, and of writings that are
the composite product of score of I'M
known persons, is not likely to be long
credited by persons of good sense Let
certain theories regarding the compost
ton of the Bible prevail, and loyalty to
the Scriptures Will be one of the super
stitions of the past.
las BaptiStS, we are at the parting of
the ways. Shall we remain loyal to the
"oiu VI Uou, OF SHaIl we pronounce IL 10
be the word OF man and unworthy of our
allegiance? We must choose. This is
the question of the day that confronts
every. denomination, and it must be an
swered. Compromise is impossible, even
delay will soon be impracticable The
decision will determine what Baptists
will be in the next generation. Loyalty
to the Bible has been our strength in the
past, and is the bond that unites us to-
day. What can we expect as the fruit
of disloyalty except disunion and de-
crease?"