The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-02-02
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From tie Various Re-
ligiouS Newspapers

Expressed in the Soctarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.
"The liberal and statesmanlike paper of
the Bishop of New York, in which he
advocated the opening of the Worlds
Fair at Chicago after u o'clock every
Sunday, seems likely to effect the practi
cal settlement of tie question:" says the
New York ChuTcltm0a (P. E.. Con
troyersy, with all its attendant excite
ment, has run high upon this subject,
which, indeed, affects one OF the most
important of Christian institutions. Bish-
op Potter took the ground which has been
taken by English legislators and English
churchmen. 1t is, indeed, the English
Sunday which he would have observed
| during the great celebration at Chicago.
1t is not the Scottish Sabbath, with its
more than Jewish strictness, nor its con-
tlnental Fete-Dieu, with its crowded
| boulevards, its morning concerts and its
Dull nights. By closing the fair in tue
/ forenoon, the hours OF worship and quiet,
I
| served inviolate. AS in England, the
trade and railway traffic, which keep
! thousands from the opportunities of re-
| llgIous observance, and disturb the de-
| VotlonS OF those who are neither traders
nor travellers, are suspended until noon.
In the afternoon Sunday in England is a
time of relaxation and sightseeing. That
the English Sunday is in harmony with
American Ideas is proved by the wide
favor with which Bishop Potter's propo
sition has been received"
OF the action of the New York Presby-
terry IN the Briggs case the Presbyterian
! tanner OF Plttsburg says: The advice
the Presbytery gives its members, in
view of the present disquietuue in the
Presbyterian Church. is fine specimen
OF evasive writing. 1t 'counsels its mem
bers to avoid, on the one hand, hasty
or over-contident statements of private
opinion on points concerning which pro-
| found anu reVerenJ students of Gods
! Word are not yet agreed, and, on the other
| hand, suspicious and charges of false
teaching which are not clearly capable of
proof The latter admoniCion is directed
against all who disagree with DR.. Briggs
and oppose his views. Against whom Is
the first admonition directed? Certainly
not against DR.. Briggs. He will not con-
sent that he Is indicated by it. lie will
not admit for a moment that his state
ments' are hasty or over-conlident.'
Therefore the only ones really admon-
ished are those who stand up for the alb
solute truthtulneSS and inIallbility OF
the Word OF God, and they constitute the
great body of Christian people. If any
thing more than this was meant, why is
it that not one word of counsel, advice or
admonition was given directly to DR..
Briggs HIMSELF"
Touching the appeal to the General AS
sembly decided upon by the Committee
of Prosecution i'll the Briggs case, the
New York EUdRgcLiSt (Pres) observes:
The history of the case, as it has dragged
its slow length along for the last TWO
years, is familiar to all. At length, after
a trial lasting five weeks, it ends in a
verdict of complete acquittal. one such
trial is enough 10 exhaust any court eX-
cept an ecclesiastical court. The COM
monest criminal cannot be tried for his
life on the same otfense but once. If he
Is acquitted by jury Of his peers he
goes tree. But an eminent Biblical scholar
can be tried for his professional life three
times. If the jury will not convict him,
p Ish on the case, till some court be found
mat will convict him. Such procedure
is caricature of justice. If such a farce
! as this is to be enacted before our Cen
| eral Assembly we submit that that body
should assume its proper title, not of
Z IL
of Injustice, since it takes upon itself to
perpetuate hideous act of injustice
that would not be permitted in a civil
court, or even criminal court, in any
civilized country on earth"
The New York Illdegendent is of SINH
lar opinion, and says: when a verdict
OF acqui:tal has been reached in regular
court and in "A regular way, it ought to be
the end of an indictment, so far as the ac-
cused is concerned. This is well-rec-
ognized principle in all our criminal
courts. A man cannot be placed in jeop-
ardy twice for crime. If acquitted the
State has no power to try him again. We
are aware that the Presbyterian system is
different in this respect. The General
Assembly could constitutionally reverse
the verdict OF the New York Presbytery
and suspend the accused, but it would be
| obnoxious to the general sense of Justice.
The General Assembly might very prop
erly censure the Presbytery for asserting
| such wide limits OF liberty. This much
/ it may be its duty to do, but we hope
there will be no attempt to reverse the
verdict. Ii the case had been much worse
! than it was, a reversal would be- in our
| judgment, unwise. When man has
stood his trial and been acquitted, he
ought not to be subjected to u second
! trial for the same oftense. Our criminal
! law always allows an appeal from con-
| victiOn, but never from IN acquittal, We
may disagree with the verdict of the
| Presbytery, as we have occasion often to
| do with verdicts reached in our courts.
! but since it has been given it ought to
! stand. The only remedy for wrong ver-
| diets is to discourage them by severe and
! wholesome criticism. We do not doubt
I that the next General Assembly will be
called upon to deal with the New DIRK
! Presbytery."
Concerning the need of a chair of
American church history, the New York
! E!cdHJine.' (Bapt.) says: I'VE have not
| the least sympathy with those who decry
as useless any department of Christian
! learning or any section of any depart
ment. Still, it does seem tolerably evil
dent that a seminary course should not
| leave graduate totally igIorant-or very
nearly so-of things that he most needs
| to know. 1t is no disparagenent of
sound learning to say that minister of
! the United States will find Just as much
mental discipline, just as much exercise
in historical research, and as much prac-
| tical value, in an investigation OF the rise
and history let US say OF the Disciples as
in delving into the much-dIsputed his
! tory and doctrines of the Donatists. Why
should student spend weeks in the
study of the Lutheran Reformation, and
ignore completely the second English
Reformation of the Wesleys, with its vast
consequences to the history OF American
Christianity? What justification can
there be for learning all about the religi-
! Gus history of Europe and learning moth
ing of the religious history OF our own
country? Many 4 seminary graduate
who is Drimed with pat answers to every