The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-09
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions from the Various
Religious Newspapers.
Expressed in the Sectarian Press
Ministers and Laymen.

'Tn a time like this" remarks the Chi
cago Il dUdTce Congo, when a certain
class of scholars are making large claims
OF superiority as religious teachers, one
important fact of the Reformation should
not be overlooked. That great event was
a dellyerance from speculative philoso-
ply and the dry rot of scholasticism, as
well as from the corruptions, uSurpations
and false teachings of Romanism. The
schools We're as much given to worthless
philosophy as the Pope was to the sale of
indulgences, or as the people were to the
wretched mummery of formal and super
stitious worship. In connec-
ton with these facts it is not little in
significant that the work of disparaoing
the Reformation should be SO actively
encouraged by the scholars of some Of
these institutions. History does some
times al least move in a circle. Hence
we may well aSk-Are we again to see
schOlasticism and papaey standing shout
der to shoulder? Are they about to agree
that Luther was a Philistine?' that the
! reformation arrested human progress
and upset the ages? Are they about to
strike hands again in the effort to take the
Bible from the common people, the one
on the ground that they cannot know
what is Scripture, and the other on the
ground that they cannot understand
Scripture? Are they going to impose
upon us double doctrine of infallibility?
On the one hand intallibility of criticism.
on the other infallibility Of Interpretation.
Is religion again to have all the life blood
squeezed out of it between the upper and
| neither millstone?"
1.-THE recent address of the Bishop of
Albany seems to have been partly in
tended to reassure the minds of people in
connection with recent events and exist
ing circumstances in the church. We
/ fear, however, says the Chicago LiCiug
/ Church tP. Ed, that it will miss the de-
| sired effect through failure to appreciate
/ the position of those who have been dis
turbed and anxious in view OF the sitUa-
/ ton. The Bishop seems to deprecate the
! discussions of the past months as uncalled
/ for, and, apparently, as somewhat pre-
/ SumptuouS. The systematic violation of
/ ecclesiastical order in certain quarters,
and the increasing evidence Of deStruct-
! i've rationalistic influence in high places
/ have made the year a memorable one.
! Discussion was inevitable. 1t was i'm
possible that men with strong convic-
! tiOnS should remain passive. .
| Those who make appeals against religi-
Gus differences, and call to peace without
regard to the principles involved, are
! pretty sure that they viii have the un-
/ thinking world on their side. But we
are convinced that it is a great mistake
! to suppose that the cause of healthful
| Christian unity is hindered by earnest
contention for the faith. Believing as we
do that no unity worthy of the name can
| come about except upon q basis of truth
! recognized as necessary TO salvation, it
! seems to us certain that that communion
or that church will in the long run most
attract sincere seekers after God in which
! truth held to be revealed from heaven is
! seen to be esteemed as the most precious
of all things, and in which men are seen
| 10 be watchful against all assaults upon
! it and sensitive to any and every at
tempt, from without or from within, to
subvert or corrupt it,"
The Boston CoHgregataOndlist concludes
a long article on the New Orthodoxy
as follows: THE wide interest in this
! discussion is one Of many signs that the
attsntion of the church, absorbed of late
in great practical problems which the
| condition OF society has summoned it to
! face, is being turned anew, and more in
| tensely than ever before, to theology.
| We believe it will bring effectively to
bear on theological questions its new ex-
| perience in saving men and its new
knowledge of men inseparably united
throughout the world by social ties. We
believe that the new orthodoxy 1t is to
teach will not defy man, but viii exalt
| Jesus Christ to the position which he
claims as the original source of life, and
] SiS UdN1LS udO SIOIN Will Lis TdtB6T De-
fore the world existed. Sin, which is
willful separation from God, will be
shown as the one awful and supreme
danger. Through Christ as the only be-
gotten Son viii be interpreted the mission
of the church newly-conceived to redeem
mankind by proclaiming God as in
Christ reeonciling the world to himself
Neither is there salvation in any other.
We hope and trust the discussion will be
carried on by the disciples of Christ in
the consciousness of his presence, with
out bitterness, but with the mutual re-
spect and love which will lead the
church to new revelations of his truth
through the teaching of the Holy Spirit
There is a deal Of sentimental squeam-
ishness," the New York Examiner
tBapt) thinks, sin the criticisms often
made on the imprecatory psalms. Luz
| Their was New Testament Christian, but
he did not hesitate to denounce evii-doers
in terms as energetic as those of the
rugged old Hebrew saints. Only the
other day, in reading his Table Talk, ,
| we came upon the following frank out
burst of moral Indignation: Three rich
farmers have lately, God be praised,
hanged themselves, These wretches that
rob the country deserve such punish
ments: for dearth at this time is willful
deaTtb God has gwen rs enough, hut