The record-union., 1893-10-21
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligious Newspapers.
Tho Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

Ministers and Laymen.
I'm this sense the Christian religion is
essentially intolerant," says the LiUiag
Cturch (P. E.) of Chicago. ''She cannot
grant that other religions have come from
God or that this has come from man.
When the time comes that those who
stand for the Christian cause assent to the
position that the religion which they pro-
Tess IS, IN origin and character, one with
the great world religious, only contend
ing that 1t is a later and more advanced
product OF human evolution, Christianity
Will have changed its essential character
1t will no longer be the cause which pro-
duced martyrs. It will no longer be the
religion of the Apostles and Fathers. 1t
was the intolerant aggressiveness of
Christianity which brought down upon
1t the hand of prosecution. Ifit had been
willing to live on terms of equality with
other systems, courteously conceding to
them legitimate place in the economy of
the universe, it would easily have be-
come a legalized system in the Roman
world. But it would engage in no such
compromise. 1t would not agree to live
and let live 1t could never be Kindred
from asserting that it alone was right and
ali the rest were wrong"
The New York Christian Enquirer says
OF the Parliament of Religions: "'W hat
concord hath Christ with Belial? or what
part hath he that believeth with an inf
delY So wrote Paul to the Christians of
Corinth; SO would he write to the Chris
Trans OF Chicago if he had been invited to
attend the Parliament of Religions on
the shores of Lake Michigan. For many
OF the gentlemen in that so-called Parlia-
lnent we have great respect. Some Bap-
tIst brethren, whom we highly esteem,
read papers and added greatly to the in
terest of the meetings. We were delighted
with the speech of DR.. Abbott Of the out
look, and with others of like stamp. TO
many Of the sentiments uttered we can
cheerfully respond, but for the thing
ITSELF a conglomeration of odds and ends,
oppOsites and antagonisms, an Onl7ai1tno
qttbe23tDe of clean things and foul, true
ideas and false, we have nothing but crit
lclSm and contempt. A noble sight, men
say it is, for all religions to meet on one
common platformi Yes. it would be if
all religions came together to fuse their
differences and unite to crown Christ
KING Of Kings. But they are met, each
10 blow his own trumpet, crack up his
own religion, and go away without the
AOcoS 1PpAOdCI w pbdCIlCdl udIluOIN "
First rule is made that there shall be no
discussion, no answering back, no reply
to false statements or false doctrines, and
and then Hindu and Mussulman. Papist
and pagan, each one declares his relig-
ion the true one and the only one. Chris
tianity seems to have been placed upon a
pedestal for pagans to poke fun at and
traduce."
''Is there any good reason,'' asks the
New York ChurchHJun (P. E., "Why this
church cannot have a special society of
preachers? We are not without experi-
ence of the benefits of a preaching order.
Father Hall of the Society of st. John the
Evangelist, Canon Knox Little and other
visitors from the cathedrals and univer-
sites OF England, have made US aware of
the peculiar power possessed by men
who nave vocation for preaching, and
who have had an opportunity for the de-
VelOpment Of their gifts unhindered by
the dlStractlng cares of a parish. The
setting apart of number of men who
are privileged to devote themselves ex-
cluSIvely to the preparation and delivery
OF sermons commendS itself to common
sense. Division of labor, and specialize
ing of its various departments, are notes
of the best material and intellectual
progress Of the times. We surely need
not attempt to specify all the many di-
rections in which the labors of special
lists IN the art OF preaching would be well
coined. We are sure that many an over
worked parish priest would oftentimes
be thankful Tor such a society, to which
he might go to get preacher for special
occasions, for Lenten lectures, for Good
Friday meditations, for vacation times,
or for such an awakening of spirituality
as may often attend the ministrationS OF
one who can speak the old truths OF the
Gospel with fresh voice and q peculiar
persuasiveness. Many a small parish or
mission might be lifted out of stagnation
into new life and vigor by the energizing
efforts OF one endowed with elOquence in
the cause of God"
1.-THE duty of the American Board at
the approaching meeting at Worcester is
in one respect absolutely clear" says the
New York Outlook. 'At the meeting
last fall the desire of the missionaries in
Japan to have Mr.. Noyes taken upon the
Japan mission was brought to the atten-
ton of the board, and the matter was re-
ferred to the Prudential Committee with
power. The committee opened a cOrre-
spondence with MIR. Moves, and finding.
as a result. that he had not retracted ana
was not willing to retract his theological
opinions previously expressed decided
that it had no authority to confer an ap-
pointment upon him. Neither the COM
mittee by Its minute, nor the President
in the open letter sustaining the commit
tees action, declares the appointment to
be expedient. They simply put the re-
sponsibility of a decision on the board.
1t is clearly the duty of the board to ac-
cept that responsibility; to evade it would
be neither just nor polite. The Pruden-
tial Committee has a right to know ex-
Dlicitly whether the board means to aU-
thorize Mr.. Noyes' appointment. The
churches have a right to know whether,
In the opinion of the board, Mr.. Moves
views are sufficient ground for refusing
an appointment recommended by a rep
reseh tative council and asked for by the
unanimous voice of his coworkers in Ja-
pan. Those who think that appointment
desirable and those who think it unde-
sirable should surely be able TO unite in
asking the board to relieve the Pruden-
tial Committee and the executive officers
of a responsibility which does not belong
TO them and does belong to the board, to
which The Prudential Committee has, by
its minute, practically referred 1t for ad-
judication."
1--WE are beginning to learn" remarks
the New York E-r00linel' (Bapt.), "how
much the so-called Lambeth Articles
are worth, as a basis of Christian unity.
from the strict churchman's point of view.
--------------------