The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-10
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 always some points" says
the New York ChurcbBldn (P. e., (which
are lneXplicable to the theorist who
wishes to explain the history Of human
experience on the basis of evolution.
Darwin admitted the higher law of di-
rection and control in his theory of a
gradual ascent of the lichen into the oak,
and OF the diatom into a Caesar or a
Shakespeare. But a far more crucial
mystery is that pointed out by the late
Canon Liddon, and that is the great
epochal changes which occur in this hy-
pothetical ascent. Such, for instance, is
the sudden leap into life and volition
which separates the merest brute or in
sect by SO vast an interval from plants or
aIgte. Even wider is the gulf be-
tween the reasoning and creative
mind of man and the highest type
OF brute intelligence. Mems thoughts
are compelled, III confronting these
questions, to take refuge in the notion of
lnterposltion, and to acknowledge that at
these points in the so-called ascent
really new departure has been made. 1t
IS fashionable nowadays for certain scien-
tllc men TO stretch all accounts and phe-
nomena OF human progress on this same
rack OF evolution. They must, however
admit that they have not yet abridged
the chasm that lies between pagan and
Christian life and aspirations. They
nave not explained how the character of
Jesus Christ became to the world the type
OF perfection, instead of the character of
Socrates or Epictetus; how speculative
doubt was supplanted by faith. They
cannot explain how the 'magnanimous
man. Aristotle's model of human per-
lection, with all his selfishness, AFRO
gance and scorn, was discarded for the
humility, long-sutfering and love of the
Christian ideal"
Among the many propositions look
ing toward Christian unity there is not
one which is acceptable to any church but
the one making it," remarks the Chris
tam ReglSteT (Unit) of Boston. 1.-The
Catholic Church offers an easy way. Plus
l&. held the doors of the Ecumenical
Council wide open for the return Of
Christians alienRted and wandering from
the fold. The Church of England offers
to confer the grace Of ordination on min
listers in other churches. But there has
been no response. One easy way which
has not yet been suggested occurs to us.
Any 'schismatlc' or dissenting church
might be saved by the introduction of a
little OF the true leaven. Only a speck Of
the yeast plant is needed to set up the
process and generate yeast in any guam
tity. Now, instead or asking the Con-
gregatlonal and other churches to humil-
late themselves by calling i'll a Bishop
who shall lay hands on candidates for
ordination and then go away, why not
extend the grace of ordination by max
ing Bishops in the Episcopal Church of
England or America, and then giving
them permission, without 'unfrocking'
themselves. to join other communions
a md with rhan, n orviD -
One such man would be quite sufficient
to carry the sacred contagion to thou
sands who, now lacking it, may be use
full administrators of religion, but have
no right to call themselves clergymen.
We offer the suggestion for what it is
worth to our Congregational, Presby-
terrain, and other brethren. AS Uni
tarians we have no need OF such assist
ance. 1t is not probably known to every
body that we have in the Unitarian
Church of Hungary an historic episco-
pate, for three hvndred years Unitarian,
recognized by the Catholic Government
Of the Austro- hungarian Empire, and
having as good claims to apostolic sue
cession' as the Church of England. If we
wanted episcopal sanction, we do not
need to import the leaven from another
church. If Bishop Ference of Buda-
Pesth should attend the Congress of Re
hgiOns at Chicago, it would be easy
enough lOf any one OF us 10 accept Ordl-
nation at his hands; and then, being
elected bishop we should have the Uni
tartan Church with the apostolic sue
cessiOn' established on American soil"
'Men who have grown gray in the
ministry of the Presbyterian Church, who
have stood face to face for years with the
sore problems of individual life, and
have seen the power of Gods Word to
bless and comfort and save men, and who
have also seen the deteriOrating and with
ering effect of doubt, cannot but feel
deeply concerned when they see a new
order Of teaching which has tendency to
undermine rather than to build up,"
says the 1dUdHce Congo of Chicago.
while they may be fully persuaded that
the Bible cannot be overthrown. yet they
know full well that a generation of
can be filled with doubts and their faith
in the Word that they preach so weak
ened that they will be powerless to
accomplish their proper mission. They
know also that a denomination can be
hopelessly divided, those who desire to
believe rather than to doubt and deny
quietly passing into other churches which
emphasize faith. and those who have be-
come unsettled either falling away to the
world or dropping into the organizations
which keep up form of religion even ii
they do not have much faith in it. Men
who desire to see this great missionary
century in the history of the churches
close with vigorous and aggress-
i've work all along the line with al