The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-12-17
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligiOus Newspapers.
The Religious Thoughts of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarlan Press
Some Matters OF Interest 10 Both
Ministers and Laymen.

Some Matters or interest 70 Both /
Ministers and Laymen.
"The new canons of ordination are not
radically different from the old, but are
in many respects more clear" remarks
the Living Church (P. E.. of Chicago. 1T
will be easier for the postulant or candi-
date to find out the Tarious formal steps
which he must take in order to obtain the
Holy Orders. In so far as this is the case
the canons are worthy of communication.
But nothing could be more tailacious
than to suppose that these, or any pro-
visions however stringent, which can be
expressed in canons, constitute a real
safeguard against the admission of un-
worthy persons to the priesthood. IN
these days the man must be indeed badly
off who cannot get any required number
of certificates signed by the most unex-
cepuonal names and these again attested
by others equally uneXceptionable. The
utmost that can be said is that one who
cannot obtain the necessary testimonials
must have SO bad a record as to be unfit
Tor any place of responsibility however
humble, not to speak of the ministry. No
amount of official red tape can secure
much more than the poor assurance that
the candidate has never been guilty of
notorious and glaring sins. But as pos
tive assurance that he has such a char-
acter and such qualifications as to render
him useful minister OF the things OF
God, nothing can take the place OF that
direct personal knowledge which it is a
Bishops duty TO possess Of each of his
candidates, and Of the tests of a proper
training in theology which it is the duty
OF the eXaming chaplalns to apply. If
these fail to exercise that vigilance and
care which their responsibilities demand,
no formal or official exactions can in the
least degree make up for it."
Referring to the trials of Professors
Briggs and Smith, the Coagrega5i0n0jiyt
of Boston says: Undoubtedly it is right
and wise TO maintain limits OF ecclesias-
teal fellowship. Without deep and de-
cided convictions of truth, and without
agreement in essential truths, Christians
cannot work together in peace either for
their own growth in grace or for the sal
walton of the world. What those limits
should be the whole denomination should
have q voice in deciding, and the whole
Christian church is interested in the de-
clslon. In the cases now pending the
chief question to be decided is what the
DRY of the inspiration OF the Bible man
must hold III order to be continued in
fellowship as a minister or teacher in the
Presbyterian denomination. 1t is not
likely to be decided soon. 1t is not
likely TO be settled by the decision in
these trials. They are but incidental to
the larger questions whether or not Pres
byterian ministers to-day must hold the
opinions of leaders in the Christian
church 200 years ago as embodied in the
W estminster standards. That, also is
the same question which the Presbyte-
rian Church is trying TO decide in the
oYertures to revise those standards. The
good to come from these hereSy trialS-if
good there be-wilI issue from the eX-
tended discussion of the limits Of Chris
tian liberty in denominational fellowship
and of the restraints to be placed on the
study OF the Scriptures to find the viii of
GOD. These trials stimulate such discus
sion. 1t is TO be welcomed in the secular
ana religious press, in public gatherings
and III private conversation. And it is TO
be welcomed while these trials and 9TH
ers " hich are to follow them are going
on; otherwise we fear that we shall not
live to take part in it,
''In matters of faith the question some
times arises, Is this or that doctrine essen
tial p says the BatchHdH (BaDt.j OF Bos-
ton. And this also demands definition
Essential to what? To salvation? There
are those whose answer would ne aiiirma-
tive. The Roman Church Identifies saw
ing faith with the belief of the creed, ana
denounces heresy as damnable. And
there are Protestant churches, churches at
least nominalIy Protestant, in which the
same conception is common. 1t is inn
piled that a certain number and descriD-
ton of theological propositions must be
believed, if we would escape final con
domination. whatsoever viii be saved
says the sO-called creed of St. Athanasius,
before all things it is necessary that he
hold the catholic faith, which faith except
every one do keep whole and undetiled,
without doubt ne shall perish everlast-
lngly. And the catholic faith is this: that
we worship one God in Trinity and the
Trinity i'll Unity, neither confounding the
persons nor dividing the substance The
creed further defines other necessary doe
Urines, and repeats in conclusion: This is
the catholic faith, which, except a man
believe faithfully, he cannot be saved
But we have not so learned Christ In
our view, saving faith is not an intellect
ual operation, but a spiritual act OF self
surrender, in which the soul is united to
Christ, receiving Him as Savior and
Lord. That one cannot do this without
adOring views Of the Savior, which re-
quire belief as to His character and per-
son, such as finds expression in the cur
rent church doctrines, is obvious enough
making 1t quite supeThuous to fence
these doctrines with 'damnatory
clauses"
The New York EcaaqeZist pres ). COM
mentlng upon the retirement OF Rev.
Robert Il. Proudtit from the Presbyterian
Church, says: at is by no means certain
that others may not follow his example
The most deVOUt men among us become
weary Of the controversy that is all the
time thrust upon them, and had rather 90
out into the desert, or into some solitary
place. where they could be alone with the
Master, than TO have to listen to this end
less strife of tongues. The Church of
Christ Is not all cOmprehended in one
great communion. As there are diyersi-
ties of gifts, so there are diyersities of
faith and forms OF worship all of which
are comprehended in the one Fold under
the One Shepherd. Although we bear
different names, we all walk by the same
rule and mind the same thing AS we
have no desire to proselyte from other
denominations. neither should we be Of
Tended If now and then one among us
should feel that he would be more at
home over the border, being immersed
with Baptism, shouting glory with the
MethOdists, or putting on the surDlice OF
the EpiscOpalian. We count it an auspi-
cious thing that minister of the GOSPEL
in good and regular standing in The
Presbyterian body can change his rela-
lions without provoking offensive in
curry as to whether he has not fallen
away from some particular feature of Cal
vanism, or, what is still worse, have some
cruel reproach upon his character. We
would think kindly and generously of
all who bear the name of our Master and
if in minor things some find themselves
not in complete accord with US, we would
not hold them in enforced restraint sin
gle hour. II any man, troubled in con-
science or even from simple preference
for another form of worship, would de-
l I l..