The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-06-25
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligiOus Newspapers

Hgl0uS newspapers
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed In the sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.
Suggestions have recently been made"
says the LTUiRg Church Up. e. of Chicago
touching the powers OF General Conven-
tons, Which call for some attention. 1t is
contended that on certain points con-
nected with the Prayer Book, the Con-
vention may legislate without the post
ponement provided for in the constitu-
ton III the case of alterations in the Book
OF Common Prayer The encouragement
OF The contents is the chief example given.
1t is proposed that the PsaIter be printed
Immediately after the Offices OF Daily
Morning and Evening Prayer and Lita-
ny. The use of the PSalter in these offices
makes the reasonableness of this appa-
rent. Things which belong together in
use are brought together in the book.
Then would follow the Collects, Epistles
and Gospels for the year, with the Com
whole order of ordinary public worship
A more daring proposal is TO relegate the
otner forms, namely, the Baptismal
Onces, Confirmation, Matrimony WISH
tation of the Sick. Burial of the Dead,
etc., TO separate volume, as being mere
ly occasional Offices OF course such a
grouping of subjects would be rational
and in accordance with historical prece-
dents. We should thus have first, the
simple 'Breviary' OF the Anglican Com
munlon, and next, clearly distinguishes
BILE from it, the 'Missal,' to use the an
Gent names, and, finally, a manual of
sacramental and other offices. We have
grave doubts, however, whether our can
onists would not hold that so wide de-
parture-though it be simply in the mat
ter OF sequence-trom an arrangement
some centuries old is equivalent to an
alteration within the meaning of the
constitution. AS to conSigning the latter
part Of the Prayer Book to a separate vol
uine, we feel quite sure that such a pro-
ceeding would be far too grave in its bear
lngs to be seriously contemplated by
many persons. To Danish such offices as
those of Baptism, Confirmation, Mar
riage, and the rest from the volume in
common use would be to make them
practically unknown to large number
of our people"
ue 4NoW 1OTh CITtSCGCJ2l Ofl1O2l, COM
menting on the resolution adopted by the
Presbyterian General Assembly urging
ministers to resign when they no longer
accept the Bible as the infallible word of
God, says: I'VE advise the Presbyterian
ministers to pay no attention to this reso-
luton; neither to attack it nor to obey it;
but to go on with their work as though it
had never been passed; to abide by their
own promise to try all questions, includ-
ing the question of the authority and in
errancy OF Scripture, by an examination
OF the Scripture itSelf-that is, by the use
OF what Is known as the Higher Criti-
cism, which is only a modern name for
the study Of the Bible. They may possi-
bly, be turned cut of their pulpit-with
the result of treer pulpit and a larger
audience somewhere else. \ man need
turn himself out. ON the contrary, it is
his duty to stay where he is-stand fast
for the liberty wherewith Christ has made
him free. Creed subscription is a har-
hess, not manacle; and the first duty of
the hour is TO resist the men who are try
ing to make Of it a manacle and of the
subscribing ministry serfs in chains"
Touching this same resolution, the New
York Observer pres declares: 1--WE have
no fear of a split in the PRESBYTERIAN
Church. OF course the overture adopted
clearly defines the only honorable posi-
ton to be taken by men whose views
have changed on the points laid down.
They who no longer regard the Script
ures as inspired and as an infallible rule
of faith aud practice have no legitimate
standing in the Presbyterian body either
as preachers or professors. They have
no right to continue in their positions
until they are dislodged by the slow pro-
cess of discipline. Nothing can be more
dishonorable than to hold aIoft the Pres
h9nnpr hot SC
discharging its shot and shell against the
fundamental doctrine of the Presbyterian
Church. But if such preachers and pro-
fessors continue in their course and have
not the honor 10 quit the church whose
faith they deny and seek to destroy, then
it is incumbent, as it surely has always
been, upon their preSbyteries to interpose
and deal with them for the violation of
their ordination vows. That is plain
English. That is constitutional Presby-
terianism. There the Presbyterian Church
stands to-day, and well may stand. All
its achievements have been made, all it's
successes have been secured, and all its
history has been written as d result Of
that position. By this it both holds and
is held. ANY departure therefrom can
only lead to the most unhappy compIca-
tons and disastrous results. Those who
will may call tits teaching blue but the
color is of heaven"
"We are told" says the New York Err
anli3ses (Baptist), "that institutions of
sound learning cannot be institutions of
theological doctrine, that scientific re-
search must be uutrammeled, that the
methods Of the prayer-meeting and the
SundayschOol do not suit an academy or
a college that aims to be abreast of the
times. All OF which is in sense perfect
ly true. 1t Is to the emphasis and tone
with xNybi hi ras. "A
demur, rather than to the things them
selves. Nothing, we believe, could be
more shallow and fallaciouS than the
idea, implied, If not expressed, in such
utterauceS, that there is an incongruity
between religion and scholarship. Not
so much in behalf of religion as in behalf
of scholarship, we would enter against q
notion like that our most serious protest
Instead of antagoniZing or cramping edu-
cation, religion exalts and completes it.
To leave out that element makes the
whole scheme of culture fragmentary
and iucoherent. There cannot be we'll
rounded, full-orbed scholarship in any
department without the royal acknowl-
edgment and fair estimate of the pres
ence and power of Him by whom all
things consist. No branch of study can
be pursued in its utmost reach and with
the candOr essential to thoroughness, if
entirely ASSOCIATED from religious truth.
We read in Scripture that the fear of the
Lord is the beginning not only Of wis
dom,' but of knowledge
Speaking of the distinction that some
Biblical critics are inclined to make be-
tween the words" and ''mind' of Jesus.
the FdtchmGa (Bapt.) of Boston observes
that the fatal objection to this doctrine
is that 1T supplies us with as many differ
ent pictures OF Jesus as there are critics