The record-union., 1892-12-03
IN RELIGIONS REALM
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligiOuS Newspapers.

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.
Concerning the amendments TO the
constitution proposed at the recent Gen
eral Convention by the Rev. DR.. Hunt
ington, The LjgtHg Church of Chicago
(P. E.) observes: at may well be asked
why propositions which at first sight
seem SO much in accordance with action
previously taken by our own House Of
Bishops and by the assembled wisdom of
the Anglican Episcop6te, should have
met with so much opposition as to make
their withdrawal necessary. 1t was urged
that some step Of a more positive charac-
ter than mere declarations was called for
in order to assure tho world that the
Church has been sincere in the Oyertures
hitherto made. People might be inclined
to accept those overtures, but it would
be found that our own constitution
and canons interpoSed iusurmountable
obstacles To any practical result. 1t
might be said that we invite our sepa-
rated brethren by our declarations, but
when they are inclined To respond we
wave our constitution and canOns in their
-
a comparatively simple basis OF unity,
but when the matter takes practical shape
all progress is barred by the rules Of our
organization. The canGns of Ordination
loom up, The Prayer Book and the Arti-
cles OF Religion claim acceptance. 1t ap-
pears at once that the 'Quadrilateral,'
taken by itself and in an exclusive sense,
Is far from being all that our position
compels us TO impose upon those who
may desire to come to US. Therefore it
was insisted that our tormularIes must be
slmplihed, that everything outside the
four points must be rclegated to the realm
of things indifferent, at least so far as
congregations OF Christian people COM
ing to us from the denominations are con-
cerned. We think we have stated the po-
sitiOn fairly, and ii is only necessary TO
state il in order TO make it evident that
the course Of action proposed was little
short of revolutionary"
The Chicago UnjUersalist, commenting
upon the case OF the Rev. DR.. Heber
Newton, says: 1.-The Episcopal Church
has been called the broad church hereto
fore and it has borne this title amid
sentiment OF the narrOwest possible de-
scrlption. 1t may now become known as
the Church OF the Moods Here is some
thing that many an erratic and unstable
soul in all cOmmuniOnS has been longing
for. heretofore there have been aspira-
tions after the American Church, the
American Catholic Church. the Church
OF the Republic,' the Peoples Church.
with ever so many more variations on the
same line, but thore now appears on the
ecclesiastical horizon Il church in which
all the moods Of the most Wayward and
variable faiths can find representation
What an opportunity is here presented
Here is new Cave of Adullam in which
may be gathered the refugees and come
cutters Of all denOmlnatlOnS-the painters
after soul liberty and the agonizers for
freedom who have not beon able to tit
themselves into any ecclesiastical organ
iZatiOn in this country or tie world. In
this Episcopal Church of the Moods all
such may find refuge and enjoy their
tergiversations of opinion. Hereafter,
when ministers desire to preach accord
ing to their moods untrammeled by
creed or history or tradition, they well
know where to go. When troublad with
spiritual biliousness or ecclesiastical
dyspepsia, or any form Of churchly dis
order, refuge is afforded them i'll this
church, which Will open wide its doors
and give them welcome"
"The real issue before the church in
the case Of DR.. Briggs is whether he be-
lieves the Bible to be the infallible word
OF God or no." says the New York o.
SerUer (Pres). Ills inaugural address,
and his writings before and since, would
seem to indicate that he regarded the
Bible as divinely revealed. but not neces-
sarily infallible; as perfect and true in its
IDEAS but erroneous and sometimes I'M
reliable in its form. A student of meta
physics may be able to reconcile such
apparent contradictions, and sincerely
hold that a fallible vehicle may contain
an infallible element; but the common
people, who heard Christ gladly, and
who love plain and simple truth, cannot
grasp such subtleties. Their opinion
journal Of this city upon the subject
If the Bible is not true altogether, it is
not true at all, according to the popular
understanding. If is the word of man, |
it is not the word of God, the people say. |
If Moses and Daniel knew no more ofthe |
ways of heaven than DR.. Briggs knows, |
nobody knows anything about the sub
ject, they say. The mystery of life and
death is unexplained. Unless the chart
comes from above, men must sail with
out pilot to such port as chance and fate |
direct them. If there is not a SUPER
natural foundation for religious truth, it |
has no basis at all. Only God can tell |
men Of his ways and intentions. 1t is |
impossible for men to find them out by |
their own reasoning"
'Who shall decide when doctors disa- |