The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-02
In RELIGIONS REALlI.
Expressions From the Various Re
ligious Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian Press
Ministers and Lavmen.

| "We are sometimes assured says the
J Living Church y. E. of Chicago, that if
the great body OF churchmen would only
! be content with the ApoStoHcal Success
sion as fact, and would not insist upon
/ 1t as doctrine or 4 ne esSlty; II they
would allow that other ordinations are rs
good as those performed by Bishops; If
they would give up exclusive pretensions,
! etc., a great hindrance to the progress of
the church would be removed, and she
would commend herself much more 10
1 the great Protestant world around her.
Inc TACT Is. however, that there Is q
cnlrch which corresponds exactly TO this
IDEAL. 1t claims TO have y poStOllcal Sue
cession as fact but does notinSist upon
| IT as Il doctrine and is tar from pressing
| il as furnishing ministry of exclusive
validity or as possessing any grace of or
| GERS " hIch other ministries do not have;
ana yet, strange as ii may seem, this atti-
tude, liberal and conciliatory as it is,
uoes not seem TO have led to any rapid or
noticeable progress; and ii it has com
mended her to the Protestant world il
! Goes not draw that world into her lold 10
any remarkable extent
hold certain things to be essential 10
church." says the New York Na.toadL
! Enquirer CBapt.), land Baptists, also
holding views OF truth which they regard
as essential cannot surrender them Tor
unity. Such being the case, to our view,
1t Is little better than 'buncombe' Tor
| Eplscopalians or BaptistS To plead for
| church unity. We have no reason to
doubt that Episcopalians, in general, sim
cerely believe that theirs is the church.
and that the historic episcopate' IS indiS-
pensable to it. Baptists as sincerely hold
that the only churches rightly constituted
are those composed of immersed believ-
9n IlTI a. /, al,
cumstances is to say: Grace be with all
them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in
sincerity While we cherish hope that If
they or we are III anything in error, we
may be led by the Spirit to learn more
ana more OF the truth as in Jesus.'''
The New York E,ccminey Pres COM
mentIng upon the criticism excited by
Jay Gould'S religious gifts, remarks:
There is strong presumption against
the validity of moral principle whose
general application would convict the en-
tire Christian Church OF wrong-doing
and, besides, land us in a practical cat dc
sac. Men OF good sense at once conclude
that the statement of principle must be
taliacious. In this case the fallacY an
pears to lie in attributing moral charac-
ter to money. One dollar in the treasury
IS just like any other dollar so far as its
character goes, or the good it will accom-
rllsh. The gdts of men need not be de-
ciined because OF the way III which their
money has been obtained. unless the ac-
ceptance OF the gift is plainly to be con-
strued as conformation OF the otfense
Here is precisely the point of danger for
the church and religion. There may he
such an anxiety to cultivate the good Will
OF the rich Tor the sake OF their gifts as
will make the church less faithful in
bearing its testimony against dishonesty.
If, however, that danger is constantly
recognized and guarded against, the ac-
ceptance of gifts from the rich does not
subject the church to just criticism nor
violate any moral law. Such has been
the conviction o. Christians of all ages. as
shown by their universal practice"
shall minister preach philosopher
asks the Christian Register Omit OF BOs-
ton. This is the question discussed by Il
contemporary. 1t depends much upon
what is meant by the question. Ii we are
ask ed whether the minister should be ex-
pected To carry his Hegel, Kant or even
such plain matter OF fact philosophers as
some OF the Scotch thinkers into the put
pit with him, and served carve dialec-
ties to his people, or confusesthem with
the technical Technology of metaphysics,
we should say decidedly, no. There is
no reason why minister should bring
the technicalities of his profession into
the pulpit To do that is like the cook
omy instead OF a good sirloin OF beef or
the painter who exhibits his brushes and
the raw material OF his paints instead of
the picture which might be wrought
from them. Every welI-1itted minister
should have training in the art of think
ing. The study OF philosophy is IL iegiti-
mate part OF his preparation, but the pull
pit is not the place for mere abstract
thought-it is rather for thought applied
TO human life. The preachers studies in
philosophy are but Of partial value to
him if they have only taught him the his
tory of the worlds thinking, il they have
not given him some hints as to the mean
ing OF existence, and furnished him with
inspiration by which the humblest life
may be made noble and significant"
In discussing the American Sunday the
ChrlStia39 Register Unit of Boston SAYS:
The question Of opening the Column bian
Exposition on Sunday has caused good
deal OF debate. In deciding it the subject
must be viewed IN its broadest aspects.
We cannot revive the Puritan Sunday
and enforce it in Chicago. Thousands of
visitors from abroad, and even vast
number IN cur own country, are aCcuS-
toned to a certain freedom on that day
IN the enjoyment of nature, the study of
works of art, not to speak OF less inno-
cent convivial habits. The opening of
the Exposition would minister to the
higher form OF Sunday liberty without
ministering to the lower. If the Exposi-
ton is closet on Sunday it will not in
sure TO the city of Chicago any more or
der or quietude. On the contrary. both
would be endangered by the tenn ptation
to spend sunday IN conyivial enjoyment
instead of more probably keeping por-
ton OF the day. at least, In visiting the
Exposition. We believe the question
can be fairly settled by opening portion
OF the Exposition for religious services in
the morning, and the rest of it for general
visitors in the afternoon"
sour brethren in Boston and New
York have begun TO feel that the reti eat
of the churches 10 the suburbs has too
nearly resembled a rout," observes the
Interior tfres.) of Chicago. There
seemed to be more of prudence than of
yalor IN the disposition OF the forces. and
worldly wisdom appeared to dictate
church policy more than celestial cour-
age. However, the stand taken by the
old First Church iii New York. and the
Marble Church on Fifth Avenue. together
with the resolve OF Park-Street Church
in Boston not to abandon the Common
and OF Shawmut not to desert fremont
street, shows the rising spirit Of Gods
people. Strategically considered the
poorest place on which to make a stand
for liberty was Lexington Green: but
when in the providence of God that was
the place which the foe attacked, Captain
Parker was right in his instant decision,
If there's going TO be war it might as
well begin here 1t was the impractical
BILE courage of Lexington which made
possible the substantial victory of York
town. Especially do we admire the de-
termination not to divide the property of
these churches between business and
worship. Situated as the old First i'm
New \ ork is, and as Park street is in
Boston, the temptation is peculiarly
"a. ar.cntn -caI.ts. -