The record-union., 1892-11-12
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 Christian Reg58te, Unity of Boston
says: Each of the so-called learned pro-
tessions makes exacting demands not
only for thoroughness of outfit, but for
continuous self-training and advances in
knowledge. But the minister, more easily
than the lawyer or tie physician, can get
into practice with very superficial quail
ncatlons, and can manage to slip along
and maintain some sort of standing, with
only moderate amount of study and
very slovenly personal or professional
standing. Especially may this be the
case II he has certain plausibility or So
briefly Of manner, faculty Of winning
sentimental regard, and a ready facility
of speech. And then the robe of clerical
ism may cover so much-or so little. But
when it comes to efficiency, there is no
substitute for genuine power. Thousands
and tens of thousands of congregations in
Chrlstendom are obliged to put up with
inadequate preaching and poor pastoral
care, SIMPLY because the supply OF we'll
qualified and thoroughly devoted minis
ters IS never equal to the demand. But
this Is matter in which a man may
make large advances, if he will. What
he learns i'll a theological school may be
OF lrSt-rate Importance as an introduce
ton to life of study; it is Of second-rate
importance as material for public instruc-
ton. The best sermon stuff must be
quarried from life itself-from the preach
er's own life and from sympathetic study
OF all human experience and need"
Discussing the future of Unitarianism,
the Christian Register (Unit.) Of Boston
says: ''When, even in New England, an
open-minded man of acknowledged
ability and great scholarship cannot have
an appointment in two-thirds OF the col
leges if it be known that he is Unita-
rian, when in the West and South heresy
in regard to the Biblical account OF crea-
ton or the Thirty Articles disquali-
ties for professOrship in the majority of
the colleges and most OF the State uni
versities, it is absolute folly to say that
liberty is established. So long as the
Episcopal Church refuses to recognize
any man as a Christian minister who has
not received ordination at the hands Of a
Bishop, so long as ninety-nine in hum
dred Congregational, Baptist, Presby-
terian. Methodist and other evangelical
ministers would not dare to exchange
with a Unitarian ii they wanted to, and
nine-tenths of them all do not want to, it
is folly to talk about the mission OF u nj
tarianism having been accomplished. 1t
| is true that few men, ten, fifteen,
| twenty, in denomination III Europe and
America, have in the other churches be-
come so liberal that, as scholars and
thinkers in matters of philosophy, ethics
and religion their works are welcome to
Unitarian readers; but, so long as these
scholars become less influential in their
own church, are even called to suffer the
penalties social and ecclesiastical, on ac-
count of their freedom, it seems almost
criminal for Unitarian to propose to de-
sert his post, haul down the flag of liberty
| rl,1g Ia tth
braveiy defended, and leave these brave
scholars to their lonely tasks"
With regard to the severance of rela-
tions between the Union Theological
Seminary and the Assembly, the Mud
Continent (Pres.) of st. Louis says: 'Even
supposing the compact should prove to
be without warrant i'll the character of
the institution, this summary action OF its
board would still he open to criticism
If in an agreement between two parties
either desires its annulment, there are
orderly ways of trying tor it. Assent by
the other should be patiently sought
Courtesy and loyalty to the Assembly
might have suggested, if need be, alonger
holding of the question. It's provision
for arbitration showed at least a readiness
to faithfully study and consider the sub
ject, and from the boards point of view
as well as from its own. Then further, if
y
being violated, was that condition in
superabie? What was to hinder appli-
cation to the New York Legislature for a
change in that instrument? Surely the
brethren of the board will not claim it
was impossible to readjust the charter
provisions. Also this action, while made
to turn on a legal aspect, is based, not on
any decree of court or decision authori-
tatively given, which the Seminary
singly or the Assembly and Seminary
together, as mutual parties to the COM
pact, might have sought as a peaceful So
luton, but simply on the personal opin-
ion of an advising lawyer. The church
will probably conclude, in the light of
events of the past two years. and in view
of the present situation, that there We're
other reasons inducing this cutting of the
tie besides the qualms of conscience over
supposed violations of legal and charter
provisions. We imagine the explanation
can be 'summarily cOmprehended' in the
Jewish proverb, The way man wishes
to 60 thither his feet will take him."
"The Sunday-school should not be a
school at ALL" observes the New York
Christian UHiOn; sit should be Bible
service. Some former Sunday-schooIs
have introduced this change of name;
and, despite Shakespeare's famous dues-
ton, there great deal in a name. In all
our Sunday-schools there is q great lack
of boys and young men; the word
'schooP excludes them they count them
selves too old to go to school. in all our
Sunday-schoolS are many, often a ma
jority, who attend no other public wor-
ship. Those who arrange the service
should recognize these fact. There should
be a definite service of worship. 1t should
occupy prominent place. Respectful,
if not reverent, attention should be re-
quired. There should be something
given worth attending to. The prayers
should be short and simple. Some simple
liturglcal elements are an advantage. If
there are responsive readings, they
should be selected with care, not picked
out by the Superintendent at the last
moment at haphazard. But the most inn
portant element is the music. In many
Sunday-schools the only motto recog-
niZed in the arrangement of the music is.
Make joyful noise unto the Lord'-and
the music is not always joyful, and fre-
quently not unto the Lord. Doggerel for
hymns and street melodies for tunes NAV
serve at once to display and to stimulate
mere boyish spirits, but they do not de-
velop the moral and spiritual nature.
( The end of the music should always be
the expression, and so the culture of
spiritual experience; and the best hymns
and tunes are not too good for children,
while the poorer ones repel the older and
more thoughtful"
"If Jesus Christ made alcoholic wine
at Cana" Bishop Fowler Of the Method
ist Church is reported to have said then
He was an impostor and fraud" Com
menting upon this, the Boston Watchnadn
I (Baptistl says: "Then Bishop Fowler be-
lieves in Christ because He does what He
thinks He ought to do. He is setting up
I his Christian consciousness as a test, not
only of Scripture, but OF the character Of
I prH RIEhnra arfu \