The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-01

Scandalous behavior on the part OF Eng
hsh cleI gymon has been so frequent Of late
that bill to facilitate the expulsion Of
Immoral and dishonest parsons from the
Church has received the favor OF the ma
5ority of the House Of Commons.
The only opposition to the measure has
come from Radical members. who take the
ground that 1t is not the business of tho
State TO interfere in spiritual discipline:
but they are accused also, and perhaps not
unreasonaby. OF n desire to bring about
the disestabishment of the Church by let
ting the corrupt clergymen alone rs object
lessons servlccable to their cause. The
existence of the evil which tho bill
proposes to remedy by empowering the
Government to deal with it summarly. is
acknowledged on all hands. II is admitted
by both Church and lay Journals. and by
Radicals and Conservatives. and the sub
5ect has been under active discussion In
England for many months The agreement
IL general. also. that unless it is cured. 1t
may prove fatal to the Establishment.
To hold the respect of society. Church
must, first OF ALL be pure in it's morals. and
Its clergy must cxemplify in their lives tho
fundamental principles they teach. 1t may
not be expected of them that they shall
obey the plain letter of the Gospel rule in
all respects. by abandoning every worldly
, ambition for instance but they are
required by public opinion to live
clearly and avoid both the commits
sion and tho appearance Of evil. In
England, with an Established Church. this
opinion can 10 enforced by law. dcpriving
them OF their ecclesiastical Offices for any
gross infractlon of morality. With us. it
administers its own punishment without
the aid OF any enactment by tho State.
which here has nothing to do with tho spir-
ttual regulation OF the Church.
AS an institution which must rely on vol
untary support alone. the Church must take
care to deserve the public respect by jeal-
ously guarding the moral purity Of its
ministry and priesthood. Corruption in
its clergy. tolerated and not promptly
and severely punished by the expul-
sion OF the offenders. is sure to de-
stroy speedily the moral power OF any
Church In this republic. Tho harm done to |
1t by one unceanly member of it's ministry |
cannot ho overcome by the moral spotlcss- |
ness of all the rest. unless the black sheep |
Is driven from the flock without delay. Any |
attempts to extenuate his offence must be |
fatal to a Church whose very existence is
dependent on public confidence. 1t may
not die out at once. but 1t becomes moribund.
Tho Church was never before SO critically
examined to see whether it lives up to its
ethical teachings. Tho present tendency to
doubt theological dogma renders more ex-
acting the scrutiny Of the effect Of the
Church's moral teachings on both the teach
ara md tha Taught Teka awnv from N
religioGs .i'o its moral beauty and its whole |
como spotted by the world. the exemplars |
in their lives Of evil rather than good. and |
they will fall into utter public contempt.
Hence such conduct as DR.. PARKHuRsT's
Is peculiarly damaging to the Presbyterian
Church at this time. 1t has done a hundred
fold more harm to it than would be wrought
by legion Of clerical heretics in theology.
Ieresy Is general; but the moral standard
for the clergy Is higher than ever. Having
shocked the moral sense Of the whole COM
munity. DIR. PARKHURsT stands as moral
lepcr at the doors Of the sanctuary. driving
true and honest and decent men away from
the Church.
The theological controversy now pending
may DO survived by Presbyterianism.
but the liberation Of DR.. PARKHURsT and
his vile methods and helish principles OF
fighting OWL with evil will give it deadly
blow 1t is a communion which may have
been satirized because OF tho severity OF its
moral requirements. but at tho bottom it
has been respected for them. II it relaxcs
them. the reason for its existence is gone,
and with it the respect OF the public.