Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-01-04
SEWARD S. RoBsos.
Notes.

The Rev. Arthur Ritchie, rector of st.
Ignstius' Episcopal church, New York, has
long been distinguished even among his
rituslistic brethren by his high church
tendencies. He recently delighted his
sscerdotal soul by the purchase of a solid
gold pyx, fine specimen Of ecclesiastical
art, three inches in diameter, of eighteen
karat gold, and studded with eighty-four
precious stones, viz: sixty seven diamonds
of the finest quality, two pearls three
eighth inches in diameter, one large eme-
raid and fourteen smaller ones. There are
worker INTO the form of Maltese cross,
and the effect Is very beautiful. The price
was FIVE Thousand dollars. The pyI, in
the Catholic church, is the box OF vessel in
which ars preserved the cnnsecrated ele-
ments OF the Eucharist. It's use in an
Episcopal church is suggestive innoya-
tion.
A genuine Yankee bull, recently perpe-
trated by a no less distinguished person
than DIR. Il. NJ Field, editor of the New
York Evangelist, has caused n good deal of
merriment. The Messrs. Scribner pub
lished few weeks ago "a book entitled,
Across Russia" from tins pen of DIR.
Charles Augustus St0ddard, one of the
rulItIe bk Iht cbs-ENrE IN
book and complimenIing its author DR..
Field said: ''Dr. Stoddard comes TO his
skill in letter writing by inheritance. The
son-in-law of DR. Prime, and thus for
quarter or a century member of his fam
lily, he got much of the ease and grace of
style which made the letters of Iren@us'
the delight of tens of thousands of read
srs for more than one generation" 1t is
certainly new and hitherto unknown fact
of here6ity that man may derive his tai
-nts from his fath.r-in-law. DR.. Buckley
says the extraordinary circumstance is
alone paralleled in his experience by the
case of q man who was brought before
Judge Dowliug, in the old days, charged
with theft. The prisoner said he could
not remember stealing the goods; that if
he did SO no was certainly inssne at the
time, and that insanity was hereditary in
his family. Judge Dowling asked him to
name any member of his family from
whom his insanity might have been inner
tied, when he promptly instanced his step-
father and brother-in-law.
Speaking of DR.. Buckley reminds me of
one of the funniest things he has ever
said or written-sil the funnier because of
its intentional seriousness. 1t was called
forth by the letter of Russell Sage, thank
ing the thousand or more people who had
sent him congratulations On his escape
from death at the hands of the bomb
thrower The venerable dealer in puts
and calls concluded his epistle with the
pious reflection that I'VE should increase
our faith, our love, our hope, our trust, in
the God that created US, the God of our
salvation and redemption" The doctor,
in view of language go devout, and yet
with the reputation OF the well-known
fnsncier before him, was evidently puz-
zla1 IN rnaka bia ppmmauta nu fhia lam
guage just and consistent. He wanted to
be kind, bnt would not allow his kindness
to betray him into unmerited laudation,
so he wrote: "He Russell Ssge) is an &C.
centric old gentleman, a regular attendant
at church, full of nerve, and, from his
own point of view, undertakes to be q
Christian" ="
A remarkable instance of the disruptive
tendency of theology upon a church that
gives more attention to the 'isms" than
the ethics of Christianity is furnished by
the Mennonites, a sect that has had an ex-
istence in this country for two hundred
years. Their tenets are substantially in
accord with those of other evangelical
bodies; but they are split up into twelve
independent organizations differing in ex-
ternal practices. One body believes in i'm
mersion and close communion; another
baptizes as the candidate wishes; another
does not believe In Sunnsy schools and
separates from those who do; others have
peculiar views of church discipline, and
so on Nc withstanding their labors of
two hund ed years. and their twslve or
ganizations, these fractions brethren num-
Der now only 4l.54l communicants. The
decisive power OF doctriue is very pisiuly
manifest in their care; hut the unifyiug
power that proceeds from the ~i.irit nf
Christianity, miEus its eIisrnals, would
seem to he uUrlhisT aud more profitable
attainment.
TIL new theology men are not going 10
suffer themselves 10 bc read OFT If the or
thodox fold, and hence it Is no longer THE
| new theology" but "the new orthodoxy"
"a jest's prosperity lies in the ear" says
the Bard of Avon. Perhaps 'tis with
| trnth's diffusion also. LET'S see, however,
If by another name the rev Theology will
smell SO ravenras in orthodox nostrils.
General ragp't il expressed that DIR.
Meredith should have given up his Tues
day evening Bible class, which be has
taught in Brooklyn since soon after his ar
rival in that city. At first the class wss
very large, filling the edifce and occasion
ing seats to BE- placed in the aisl-s. Lat
terly the attendance diminished from vAri-
ous causes. The newspapers took to pub
| fishing the doctors talks, and people could
read them without attending. other Bible
classes were formed in various parts OF the
city, and the funds necessary TO sustAin
the work were not cheerfully contributed.
break down. Dr. Meredith did not fancy
the dual role of Biblical teacher and beg
gar. 5. GTFFARD NELSON.