New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-08
CHEPCHES AND THEIR WORK.

Tour events have attracted some attention
durinp the last week which may nave more
connection than at first appears. Onc Is 'he
earnest and thoughtful consideration by Pres
bvterian and other Protestant clergymen re-
oa,dine the decadence Of churches III the lower
ua,t of the city. and the difficulty Of reaching
tho great multitude who live there. Ahother
is the decision of the Prc,bytery IN the case
of Dr. Briggs. in effect that bis teachings
though not by the majority entirely approved,
did not appear to the majority to Justify ex-
Guiding him from the pale of Presbyterian min
;stcrs and pleachcrs Whether the ease Is 10
ho appcalcd or not. it would seem that it can
hardly fail 10 engage the attention Of the Cen
cral Assembly in some form. since an opposite
decision has been rendered at Cincinnati IN
a somewhat similar case.
The thought which probably occurred to
many thousand minds at once, when the re-
srlt Of this prolonged controversy was reached,
was whether the intense zeal, the prolonged
and patient laborS, the nnwcarylng energy,
which have been expended therein, would nave
been more efficient in saving churches from
dcradcncc if entirely devoted to the work OF
reaching those who never enter 4 churrh SIN
cerc and earnest men, Of learning ana power
spent in aSsailing and defending each other
more time and moro vital force than would have
.ur ccl If otherwise directed, 10 make many
missionary meetings interesting. No one doubts
that the devoted missionary spirit i there
the intense desire to do. good ut any personal
sacrifice Nor j. there any one who doubts
that there are fields within the city OF New
r -.
devotion rs any that can be found IN distant
lands. But if those who are set apart 10 preach
tho glad tidings 10 all mankind have first 10
expcnd some years in controversy about points
If faith and doctrine. il may be questioned
whether tho spectacle tends 10 gam for them
tho ears or the sympathy of those who need
tho Gospel most.
The spectacle. whether helpful or not, does
not appear to be entirely confined II any de-
nomination or Church. Perhaps no other
Church has been more FREQ from internal dis
ptites. which have attracted public attention,
than the Catholic. But within the same last
week one serious difference in New-JerSey
which had excited strong feeling within that
Church was brodght 10 an end while reports
have been published of much broader and more
far-rcachlng differences, between some of the
highest dignitaricS AT the West and at the
Eat. in which the immediate representative
of the Head Of the Church has taken some part.
These events all suggest one thought. Those
whose mission it is 10 save the lost and hit
the fallen do not strengthen their influence by
clntroverscs with each ether, whether about
modes of procedure or precedence in authority,
or about beliefs and dogmaS. When every
purpose and every thought are subordinnted 10
the uplifting of mankind by means of religious
teaching. Church has power. II Is only too
evident that its power is not increased by dis
pute, between those who are teaching the same
irn,h and serving the same Master.