The record-union., 1893-10-21

Bishop Seymour makes bitter accusa-
tiOns against his fellOw-Ep Episcopalans OF
sophisjry, craft and deceit, andt crowns
his attack by saying that a fellow -blshop
has actually proposed 'tothrow overheard
the Thirty-nine Articles IN the interest
Of so-called Christian unity This IS in
deed Surprising. Most OF us had sup
posed that a churchman who really be-
lieves the Thirty Articles IS so rare
that be might well be put in a glass case
and exhibited in a museum. For our
selves we do not credit that Bishop Sey-
mOur himself really believes them. Their
Calvinism IS as explicit as tnat OF the
Westminster Confession, and their doc
trine Of the church and sacramerts is to-
t2lly irreconcilable with churchmanship
of the Seymour type. Subscription to
the articles is no longer required. we be-
lieve, even Of the clergy; and they are al
most universally regarded at the present
time as obsolete and binding on nobody.
The Bishops of England and America 50
regarded them when they issued the
Lambeth Article but Bishop Seymour
now proposes to make them test by
which the church must stand or fall. We
snail be interested to note whether EplS-
copaliaus take him seriously"
"There is a seeming liberality about the
public school policy of Archbishop Ire
land of Minnesota" remarks the New
York Observer (Pres.1, that has won for
him the sympathy of numbers OF Protest
ants, especially where his policy has
brougEC MIN into conflict with other pre-
lates OF the Roman Catholic Church. But
we are not prepared TO credit him with
unmingled ingenuOus1ess in the promul-
cation OF his Earlbault plan. In view of
his claim that it is not a dead issue, but,
though no longer in existence in tari-
bault, it has been introduced very sue
ceSsfuily in other places in Minnesota,
and IS fully in operation i'll hundreds Of
places in other States, we may well re-
vert TO it. The Archbishop claims that
his plan is an honest effort at reconcilia-
ton between parish and State schools, a
thing 10 be desired by all fair-minded
and patriotic citizens. He denies en-
phatically the rumor that be advised the
abandonment OF the plan in Faribault in
obedience TO instructions from Rome.
lie claims to know well the mind OF
Rome on the school question, says he has
never misrepresented it and never will
misrepresent it to his fell0w-citizens Of
America and adds: And so, whatever
happens in the one locality of Faribault,
the "Faribault plan" survives, and mas
much as it Is an augury of an era OF gem
eral peace and Cancellation, its march
shall ever be forward. 1t is but one part
III the decided and official policy of the
Catholic Church in America to go on
ward, bearing in one hand the book Of
Christian truth. and in the other the Con-
stitutiOn OF the United States."' This is
most dramatic, but there will yet lurh in
the minds OF many Protestants shadow
OF conviction, to say the least, that the
FariDaulU plan is a shrewd device to aid
in reaching the goal of Romish desire,
State-suppOrted parochial schools. AT
the same time it must be admitted that if
it We're accepted as the Ultima Thule, it
would be less obnoxious than the parO-
chial schools sustained from the public
treasury"
The New York Christian AdUocate
Meth takes a very serious view Of the
moral condition Of the age: "Unless
from this watch-tower we are incOmpe-
tent to observe the religious signs OF the
times, it will be a grievous error for peo-
pie and pastors to delay q day to enter
upon earnest revival efforts. A wave Of
decentralization sweeps over the nation.
sunday travelling was never so common.
Devotion to amusement was never so IN
tense; absorption OF the people in general
questions never more complete; political
activity never greater in a nOn-Presiden-
tIal election. Gambling pervades the
land. Pool-selling is common through
out the country. HOrse-racing gains in
popularity and strength; its promoters
are more arrogant, and traps for the
young in every direction are set with un-
usual skill and OpenneSs. In various
States Legislatures are corrupt, pander-
ing to the liquor and other base interests.
The fiberS that bind the church together
are relaxed, and its energies, such as are
available, absorbed in enterprises and
causes while growth in grace and the
conversion of souls receive only the Xem-
nantS Of attention. The general report is
that prayer meetings are dull and slimly
attended, and signs of spirituality few
and occasional. ct many people are idle,
many working on short time, and most
financially embarrassed or anxious.
Both in the need ana the opportunity the
evidence exists that now is the day for
effort, the best tilne-perhaps the only
available time. 1t is high time to
awake"
The Interior (Pres.) of Chicago says:
The United Presbyterian General AS
sembly, in view Of the growing dissatis-
faction in many quarters with hymns of
human composition. devised means for
bringing Bible songs more prominently
to the attention OF those who are unac-
quainted with them, and securing their
adoption. This Is gOOd movement
from the right quarter. The United
Presbyterian Assembly spoke truly both
in saying that there is dissatisfaction with
irresponsible hymnologists and desire
for more of the Scripture psalmody-at
least by those who know It's adaptation
for public and private worship, and those
who do not know this will desire them
when they do know. The real difficulty
is that considerable portion of the book
Of Psalms was never intended for praise
service, and there is no trace Of their ever
having been employed for that use either
under the old or the new dispensation.
The consequence of metrilying them and
offering them for use to which they are
not adapted, leads to the improper con-
clusion that the Psalm book was intended
only for the ancient church. That is the
obstacle which the United Presbyterian
Committee will meet. II they will pre-
pare a volume of the pra;se-psalms and
bring them 30 the attention Of the hymn
singing churches they can scarcely fail to
create a sentiment in favor Of the use Of
the Bible hymns"
Willing to 60 His Best.
It has been said that scribblers are not
much given to enterprise, but certainly
g. =