The record-union., 1893-09-30
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligious Newspapers
The Religious Thought of the Day -
Expressed In the sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest 20 Both
Ministers and Laymen.


IN books of recent date from the pens of
churcbmen, who would seem never to
have mastered the first principles OF the
theology they represent or the funda-
mental differences between Catholicism
and Professionalism" says the LiUdng
Church (P. E. of Chicago. "They have
not discovered that from the first and for
many ages Christianity was embodied
In an organized society embracing body
of officers, institutions and usages every
where the same. and preserving the rec
ord of its Founder and His teachings in
certain documents considered to be in
spired. No one dreamed that this world
wide body could be set aside by any COM
pany of men, however good their motives
might be, and that the historical institu-
tien might be ignored and new church
be constructed. 1t would naturally oc-
cur to impartial observers that if the tes
tlmony of the ancient Catholic Church Is
to be received when she says: These
books, written under the influence Of the
holy Ghost, were delivered to US by
y postles and Apostolic men, that testi
mOny must be equally trustW worthy,
which, as early and as uniformly, asserts
that our ministry and our great sacra-
ments were part OF the original constl-
tuition from the hands of the same great
men, and these, together with the Script
ures, are Of the essence Of that organized
Christianity which IS the only Chris
tianity we know When people talk of
accepting Christ alone, without the
church, they are separating what He
himself has Joined together. 1t is mar
riage In which there can be no divorce.
We shall do we'll to read and ponder in
this connection the latter part OF the fifth
chapter Of the Epistle TO the Ephesians."
although there is undoubtedly a
comic side to the Parliament of Relig-
ions, it would be preposterous," says the
New y Ork CytlTch2Ru71 n. E., Ito regard
such an assemblage with contempt, or
even with Indifference Its very bigneSs
Will be a power. The variety of subjects
to be presented is simply bewildering
The meetings are to be held from Septem-
Der lIth to September 9th, inclusive.
What does it all mean? How is it to be
Interpreted as one OF the signs OF the
timeSY To begin with, it indicates pro-
digious interest in Notwithstanding
sgGostcism, and systems of thought or
philosophy which seem to exclude relig-
ion. 1t is evidently expected that, in the
midst OF the other innumerable attrac-
tions of the Worlds Fair large numbers
OF people viii be willing to devote seven
teen days TO the consideration of the re-
ugions Of the world as factors in the pro-
motion OF human happiness. We think
that this expectation will be justified.
They are certainly factors in the promo
ton either OF human happiness or human
misery; and though there may be grow
ing disregard for those comparatively
minute differences which are the essen
tIals OF sects, as such there Is, we believe
q profound and widespread conviction
that religion is inseparable from human
nature, and that religion truly catholic,
adapted in its essentials for every race
and every age, may by due diligence be
discovered Hence men are searching in
every direction. and trying experiments
of every kind. Even twenty years ago
who would have cared 10 listen to an
Oriental Buddhist or to Professor L. ".
khys-D Davids, eXpounding, without bias
or prejudice, the very religion that Chris
tian missionaries are doing their best to
destroy?"
Referring to DIR. r. S. Storrs' open let
ter in the Noyes case, the New ork ont
took says; "There are but three things
left for the liberals to do: First, to call Tor
direct and explicit vote at Worcester
directing the appointment of Mr.. Noyes
to the Japanese mission. Second, to call
1or such changes in the personnel Of the
committee at Boston, and of the execu-
tive officers, as will give in both places
men who are in sympathy with the spirit
which now controls the administration of
the board, to send their gifts directly to
the field, or POSSIBLY through such COM
mittee, to take charge of such gifts and
forward them to the field, for the contin-
nance and enlargement of that work
which the present policy of the Pruden-
tial Committee is gradually but surely
and fatally constructing. What has been
done in one instance, by the creation of
the NCyes commission, should be done
10y concerted action, provided the appeal
at Worcester for a reversal of the policy
of the present committee fails of success.
Such an organization should be provis-
ionsl, not permanent, and there is good
reason to believe that it would not need to
be long maintained"
On the same subject the Conqreqation-
oLiSt of Boston says: "Dr. StOrrs urges
that the question OF enlargement should
he decided by considerations wholly
apart from any involved in recent con-
troversieS.' This, we think, will be diff
fcult, since the proposal plan Will GER
talnly command attention chiefly as an
eXpedient for removing the occasions for
these controversies so telicItousIy men
toned by DR.. Storrs as widely and inju-
riouSly prevalent. The most imDortant
question will be, Who are the men to be
selected for the vacancies to be created
by enlargement? But if the plan be
adopted, with the increase of the corpor-
: ate membership to $50, and nominations
OF of these members by or
ganiZationS representing the churches, as
unanimously recommended by the COM
0littee of eleven, it may be that the way
out of these troubles at last appears.
J hat were q consummation deVoutlY
10 be wished for as the result of the Wor-
cester meeting. We feel it TO be impera-
live that whatever is to be done should be
done at once, and that a decision upon
points vitality at issue, so far as methods
OF relief are concerned, should not be
postponed TO another year. Our desire Is
simply that there may be found some
platform Of administration which shall
give no party victory and allow no fac
), ton at any extreme 10 trlfle with the
great missionary cause so dear to our
churches"
1T is suggested . says the New York
Independent, that the Prudential Com
mittee Of the American Board should be
: enlarged, as a peace offering,' to the lib
erals and future probationists.' We be-
Heve that large majority of the eorpor-
ate members of the board are most de-
cidedly opposed to any such enlargement
for business and other good and salts
factory reasons. That committee now
numbers, say, a dozen members in all,
besides hali-a-dozen Secretaries-a body
ofable, reliable and efficient men, having
experience III all matters relating TO the
2 practical work OF that benehcent insJitu-
ton. No society or corporation, secular
or religious, IN the country has been bet
ter qualified, in every way, TO perform
their duty. The Prudential Committee
have been loyal and obedient servants OF
the board-Gnder circumstances in which
many others have been less loyal and less
obedient. The American Board, as a
II