The record-union., 1892-02-20
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligious Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

The Catholic Champion Up. e., pub
1Shed by the Guild of ST. Ignatius, has
tins to say about the higher criticism:
II is poison and nothing else in its claim
TO open questions which, as Bishop Sey-
ihonr mas said, are already closed. Ii IL
Is only busy about such questions as the
authorship of the epistle to the Hebrews,
IL may be pretty pursuit, but IN no way
that we can see does it help to knowl-
edge of the Scriptures. If any one enters
on II with view TO exposing the falIacles
OF the enemy, being certain of the Scrip
lures a priori, we wish him godspeed.
But as for so-called impartial inquiry,
treating the books as literature we Will
have none of it. 1t is not only heresy. 1t
is flying in the face of the GOd-glven
power of human reason. 1t is as II one
should say, Why am / so tamely depend
ent upon this particular kind OF atmos-
phere, humbly taking it for granted that
600 gave 1t to me, and that L can live in
no other gas? l will try carbonic acid,
which is so sparkling in water, or pure
oxygen, which is so delightfully."- stimu-
lating. When the critics accuse US of alb
dicating the use of reason, we shall
shortly and simply tell them that they
are untruthful. Let it be understood.
No argument is possible between those
who, with the church, believe the Bible
to be the Word of God, and those who
deny it,
"A contemporary, whose rationalistic
tendencies we deplore, suggests that
those who do not fancy the higher criti-
clSm should go TO the Church of Rome. -
remarks the Chicago LiUing Church (P.
e.. lhe invitation has familiar and
an ancient sound. 1t reminds US of an
Old pennsylvania story that away UP in
rotter and Mexican Counties, remote
from railroads and telegraphs. the Demo-
Gratis are still voting for Andrew Jackson
lor PRESIDENT. 1t is very sweeping sug-
geston, too. 1t includes our entire epis-
copate, nlne-tenths Of our other clergy,
ana larger proportion of our laity, who
90 not accept any criticism. high or low.
thin or thick, which endangers the Bible
as the Word of God. If all these needed
our contemporaries suggestion, a pretty
little sect of owls we would have left! Is
~ not queer suggestion to come from
the very source which score or more of
years since was loudly shouting its war
cry, The Bible only-the religion of Pro-
teStantS?' What changes? Now it is
the Protestant fad to berate orthodox
churchmen for holding fast by the oracles
OF God, and to suggest to them that their
only congenial home is the Church of
Rome. Thanks! But we do not see any
reason for the step. We propose to stay
at home and raise the banner, The Bible
only-the religion of Catholics y
"The Church is an evolution observes
the New DIRK Christian Union. SIT was
not organized by Christ, with constitu-
ton, laws, and appointed officers: it was
not let down from Heaven to man, like
the sheet which Peter saw descending
upon him; it has been gradual growth.
The principles which Christ inculcated
for the government of the Christian
brotherhood of the future became inter-
mingled with the principles of the Roman
Empire. Out of the conflict between
these two antagonistic sets of principles
the Church has been evolved, a Church
partly Christian, partly pagan, but grow
ing more and more Christian, and with
It's true glory lying not in the past, but in
the future. Theology has been an evolu-
ton. Out of the intermingling of the
practical and spiritual teaching of the
Hebrew prophets, the Christian apostles,
and, above all, of the Christ Himself.
with the mysticism of Alexandria, the
speculative philosophy of Greece, and
the legalism of Rome, theological systems
have been formed. In every school of
theology there is truth, but no school of
theology represents the truth. Our I'M
derstanding of Christianity is better in
this year OF grace 1892 than in any year of
the Christian Church since Christ gave
the commission to His apostles, and will
be better understood by our children
than it is by us. Therefore. neither
Westminster Confession, Thirty-nine
Articles, Greed of Plus ", Nicene Greed.
or Apostles Greed can be final standard
Creeds are crystals, but Christ's teaching
is seed. Crystals are dead; seeds grow"
In two or three respects our progress
i've orthodox friends fail to trust the logic
of facts, observes the Boston Christian
Leader (Unit.). lone is in respect to sin.
The old definitions of sin are extremely
unfortunate and misleading. No truth
full or consistent idea of humanity can be
entertained so long as they are held.
Modern orthodoxy empties the word of
much of its old meaning, but it is still
haunted by the vague shadow of Adam
and his fall in the Garden of Eden. In
stead of merely going back to Adam to
account for sin, we are obliged to-day TO
go back good deal further, and find it
In animal passions and propensitieS
which man has derived from a lower
state, and one which he will outgrow in
one that is higher. Theological sin, so
called, was largely matter of etiquette
between the Ruler of the Universe and His
subjects. Deep beneath it, of course.
there was the recognition of human
frailty and passion, the struggle of man
with himself to reach higher life But
now we are coming to see that. instead of
building so much on the supposed origin
of sin as the old theology did, 1t is better
to develop those motives and aspirations
which will lead men upward. With a
new conception of sin, such as orthodoxy
is logically compelled to take, the scheme
of redemption as once held by it has no
longer any meaning. Another and
higher scheme of redemption is not ex-
cluded. 1t is that conception of the life
and power of God which wells up in the
soul of man, purities him, and lifts him
on the tide of the spirit to higher level
of life and character"
The following is from the New York
Observer (Pres.): There is danger in
skepticism. Have our conservative read
ers ever thought OF the greater danger of
shams 2 asks contemporary. 1t then
exposes the danger of sham belief, which
is making believe to believe, and the
danger OF making inducements or penal
ties in order to compel belief. We agree
pntIrplU with all If COZ in ND TO in