The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-08
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
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.

There are many indications of change
in the policy of Rome" remarks the Lie
ing Church (P. E. of Chicago. 1.-THE
Bourbon movement reached its climax
in the decree of infallibility, which was
Immediately followed by the detection of
large bodies of the most intelligent and
learned disciples of Catholicism Great
historical movements rapidly followed;
the utilization of the German Empire;
the establishment of the French Republic
and the occupation of Rome by the King
OF Italy, with the downfall of the tenn
poral sovereignty. ON the death of Pope
Plus new Pope was elevated to his place
who had been chiefly known for his lib
erl sentiments. This, in itself, was the
sign Of new era. The event has con-
tirmed expectation. The reconciliation
with Germany, the recognition Of the
french Republic, the elevation of Car
dlnals ike Newman who had opposed
the policy of Pope Plus, and, perhaps,
more than anything else, the attitude Of
the Papacy towards the United States,
are indications of wonderful change in
the methods and aims of the oldest sover-
eighty IN the world. And now we begin
10 witness as one Of the fruits OF all this
the growth OF a certain intelligent indie
pendence OF thought and action extend
ing even to the laity. Men who insist
upon remaining deVout and LOYAL sons of
the church, ana unmoVed i'll their adher-
ence to the Papacy, ARE beginning to draw
lines between matters of faith and mat
ters Of opinion, all OF which gives a very
novel aspect to the Romanism of the
present day. They even presume to crit
lclse without reserve to the Papal policy
Itself SO far as it is political. With all
this the Old attitude of silence which gave
the appearance Of peace even where there
was none has been so far broken through
that internal differences are publicly dis
cussed without scruple, and prelates of
high rank attack each other in the secu-
lar press"
In this latter part Of the nineteenth
century" says the New York Christian
! enron, ali our philosOphic thought is
taking on a new form. The clue which
scientists everywhere are following in
their endeANOr 10 read the phcuOlnenn Of
lie IS evolution. Life, in other words.
Is seen TO be, mot series OF manufactures,
put regular and normal growth. The
forces which are operating 10 make phe-
nomena arc operating from within not
from without. Each stage in develop
ment IS preparation for the next stage
Each phenomenon is an effect OF the pre-
cedlIg phenomenon, and is in turn a
cause OF phenomenon to follow. Not
only geology, astronomy, chemistry, ZOO
ology, are, in their modern forms, inter-
pretatlons Of this universal law OF growth
but not less antnropology, phllology,
psychology, history, sociology. And the
transition IN theology from the old to the
new Is simply this same transition in one
other department OF human thought
Life IS not really divided into two hetnis-
| pheres-Ihe natural and the supernatural
or the divine and the secular. All life is
/ divine, for all life is the manifestation of
God. If life is a growth then religion is O
growth, for religion is life. And the
mouern minister OF religion must be able
to nourish the religious lite-that is, the
life OF faith and hope and love, of consci-
once and reverence and loyalty-by a
science Of this life not inconsistent with
the scientific thought of his age. This is
what the New Theology is trying, more
or less consistently and intelligeutly, to
| 90. The preacher will still be the bearer
OF the old message-CiOd the All Father
man the immortal son of God, Christ the
revelation OF God to man, the Bible an in
splred and inspiring guide, Law an au-
thoritatiVe and certain-to- be-eniOrced
mandate, Grace true forgiveness of and
succor from sin, Eternal Lille a real and
ever-preSent reality. But this message
VIII be expressed in terms OF growth, not
OF perpetual interVentiOns and interfer-
enceS. Inc preacher will see God in ma
ture, not as an engineer first constructing
and then managing it from without; will
disown the old distinction between the
natural and supernatural. which deemed,
OF seem to deem, the ordinary and regu-
lar as nature acting somehow apart from
God, and the extraordinary ana unusual
as the supernatural, due to Gods direct
but only occasional interference; will see
and teach that all the natural is supernat-
ural, and God the All and in all.V