The record-union., 1893-10-14

precious ana IS auke regarded as the only
Savior. Leaving out minor differences,
which history has yet shown to be I'M
portant and which Protestants cannot
give up, it has been made evident that no
better or abler defenders of the Christian
faith in some Of its most essential princi-
pies can be found than are to be found IN
the Roman and the Greek Church. There
are platforms on which all Christians can
stand and work together. This Is true,
also, as respects orthodox and liberal
Christians, especially in social reforms.
The Parliament has indeed shown that
lIberality and breadth of view are no
more characteristic Of their professed dis
ciples than of those who are spoken OF as
narrow and bigoted, but it has also shown
that tolerance and charity are by no
means inconsistent with a love for the
sterner doctrines of Calvin or the mllder
teachings Of Arminius, that the evangel-
ism which seeks the salvation of mems
souls through the preaching of a gospel
of repentance and forgiveness and by
faith alone is no less interested in the
well-being of men here and in all the
problems of poverty and human need
than those who affirm that they care less
about a heaven hereafter than for a
heaven on earth"
Point is given to the current discus
sion of the relation Of Church and State"
says the New y York Observer pres. }, sin
the efforts now being made in this coun-
try TO bring them into essential union
through sectarian appropriations by in
diVidual States or the Federal Govern
ment. These efforts are in direct viola
ton of the genius Of our institutions and
and the theory of our Government, which
is that Church and State shall be separate,
the one advancing the spiritual and the
other the secular interests of the people,
and each having it's own revenues. I'm
der the Constitution no official test as a
qualification for official position or public
trust is required, and the passage by Con-
gress of any law abridging the freedom of
speech or of the press is expressly pro-
hibited. These provisions are tanta-
mount to declaration OF the separation
Of Church and State, a condition further
emphasized by the first amendment to
the Constitution, which prohibits Con-
gresS from making any law respecting an
establishment of religion or forbidding
the free exercise thereof. 1t is unfortu-
nate that the principle thus enunciated
had not been given complete and definite
expression in the constitutions of all the
States. Many of them provide no ade-
quate safeguard against the violation of
religious freedom, and impose no express
prohibition against the making of secta-
ing such appropriations. and through
them the violation OF religious freedom,
is being constantly introduced into State
Legislatures, many of which can and do
grant them by a mere majority vote of
the Assembly. Such legislation is a clear
violation Of the letter and spirit of the
Constitution, ana constitutes a serious
menace to American institutions in that
it not only stimulates sectarian greed, but
nj "a of Mt to q
grave peril OF both Church and State"
''The union of Church and State is the
most natural thing in the world" says
the National Baptist OF Philadelphia. ''It
is natural that the church, that is, the
professors of religion, should want to
have the expenses of worship paid by
somebody beside themselves; it is not
unnatural that the State should be very
willing to sustain the church for the sake
of the return that the church gives; for, of
course, If the State sustainS the church
it expects the church in turn to sustain it.
Napoleon wen understood human nature
when he assumed the support of the
bishops and the Romish clergy; he un-
dersiood that they would not turn upon
the hand that ted them. And yet, nat
ural as 1t is, all history shows that con-
nection between the Church and the
to the church. 1t IS benum bing to the
spirituality of the church, and to its en-
terprise and vigor. DR.. Charming has
said that an establishment is fatal to the
highest ability in the church. 1t is ac-
cording to all precedent that ability
should be called out by the necessity for
its exercise; but in State Church men
rise, not in proportion to their piety or
their ability, but in proportion to the in
- fkaOrr ,I
the services which they can render to the
dispensers of patronage. There are few
more degrading documents in history
than the letter Of Edward Young cNight
IhoughtS) to the mistress Of the King,
imploring her to use her influence to Sc
cure his promotion to higher place in
the church."
''It is becoming clear to all observing
minds" says the AdVa1tce (Cong.) of Chi
cago, "that such proposed remedies for
the troubles of the Amerlcanl Board as
ignore the real issue forced upon the board
through the unrelenting purpose Of the
new theology to gain admission, are
mere makeshifts, worthless or worse.
But the point to which we wish
particularly to call attention is that the
feeling that something ought to be done
is most probably the parent of the propo-
sition to enlarge the Prudential Commit
tee. There is trouble in the board, say
the projectors of this scheme, and some
thing must be done, and hence the pro-
posed enlargement. In this view of the
matter this blundering proposition may
be credited to a good intention, but
wisely avoided as bad expedient. AS
means of peace it will be acceptable to
those who are making all the trouble only
because they see in it an increased ad-
vantage for pushing the new theology.
Unless the enlarged committee includes
real and sufficient representation of the
denomination,' says the AndoUer ReUieW,
chosen from those who are satisfactory
to the liberals themselves, not one step
will have been taken TO create harmony.
On the contrary, dissatisfaction amount
ing to indignation would be the inevita-
bic result if a committee strong on the
conservative side and weak on the liberal
side should be elected Here then is
distinct declaration of war made before
it has even been decided to enlarge the
committee, unless Andover, and its fol-
lowing are permitted to dictate the selec-
ton of its own specified part OF the COM
mittee.n