The record-union., 1892-09-17
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligiOus Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian Press
Ministers and Laymen.

The New York ChWTchm1aqe (P. Ed is
fatty opposed to the adoption of the re-
port Of the Commission on the Hymnal.
and closes long article on the subject as
follows: ''The commission has shown that
1t disapproves of nearly one-half (26D of
the present hymns. AS to 200 of these it
IS undoubtedly right. Without them the
Hymnal would unquestionably be a bet
ter as well as more convenient collec-
ton. To this remainder one-quarter of
the hymns proposed by the commission
might well be added, making collection
OF about 400 hymns. But this work can
hardly be done in general convention.
The conclusion seems to be, that the
American church must learn a lesson
from the Church of England, and leave it
to individuals, or to societies, to publish
hymnodies which shall commend them
selves TO the church's worshipers. The
three great English hymnals may at least
be allowed place, for the present in the
American church. Meanwhile, perhaps,
the commission might withhold their re-
port, simply report progress, and ask to
De continued to the convention of 1857
On the subject OF the Thirty eight Arti-
cleS, the New York Ch1trch8JdI Up. e.
has this to say: "Times are changed.
There are needed to-day not subtle dis
tlnctlons eXasperating men to conflict,
but fundamental statements on which
all cody men must agree. Elaborate
confessions OF faith subtle, intellectual,
scholastic, legal, are alien from the spirit
OF the Church Catholic. She rests on
facts and primary differences from those
facts. She longs not to exclude men
fn1 KEycloi I,,f (,
her divine net not the good only, but
also. for their amendment and perfection.
the bad. one may well believe that
the Wlsest and best of the Re-
formers would have thanked God could
they have been born into an age of con-
citation and mutual understanding, and
love and united work for God and man.
Why not follow the Bishops of the
church IN their return 10 the primitive
posiuylsm OF religion, and their ardent
desire TO break down every wall of parti-
uon? by the repeal or removal Of the
IhIrty-eIght Articles the church would
lose nothing positive; she would not even
lose the record OF great controversy and
It's results; but she would restore discin-
line to its primitive condition. She would
leave men at liberty to forget, and allow
them lnnocently to be ignorant of the
controversies of the sixteenth century.
She would open the gates for Christian
unity as wide as the love of God would
open them, and build Christian fellow
ship on everlasting foundations. This is
what the Bishops have seen and urged
upon the church with all the authority of
their high office"
The New York Catholic Champion Up.
Ed, speaking of the proposed admission
OF dlvlneS OF other denominations to the
diaconate and priesthood without the
usual term of waiting, says: 1T seems
clear to us that under any view of holy
orders possible in this church, such re-
laXations are unwise. If it be trne that
from the Apostles time there have been
these three orders of ministers in Christ's
church, and that they were evermore
held In such reverend estimation that no
man might presume 20 execute any of
them except he were first called, tried,
examined, and known to have such
qualities as are requisite for the same,'
then persons whose lives have been
passed IN believing and intoxicating the
error that they have not from the
Apostles time been any such orders,
and that it is of no consequence
nor even desirable that episcopal
ordination by imposition of hands
should be had or continued in the church.
certainly ought not suddenly or rashly to
be ordained. Admitting. for the argu-
ments sake, that such person has,
WhllG III LIS lOI IuSI COuu6CIlO1, D60n IN
wardly called by the Holy Ghost to
preach the Gospel, that he has been
mighty in the Scriptures and has called
many souls to repentance and holiness
yet, having been converted to our view
of the ministry, and desiring the ancient
orders, ne is a novice in this doctrine.
Such the Holy Scriptures tell US should
not be ordained, because there is danger
that they may be elated by the thought
that the church needs them. The church
has received into her ministry multi
tude of faithful and efficient converts:
but, without the least undertaking their
characters and services, we may remem-
Der that human nature is what it is, and
that good degree ought not to be too
easily won. A man ought to be tried by
time as well as by examination"
cit is passing strange" says the Liar4r5
Chug CHI (P. e. of Chicago, ''that il does
not occur to those who claim to be most
anxious for church reunion that the way
to it is to reverse the process by m es ms of
which disunion was brought about. Let