The record-union., 1894-07-07

ion. COnfucius knows no God: primi-
tive Buddhism knew no God Brahmin-
ism knows God, indeed. but God that
is lar away, remote, dwelling in perpet-
ual Inconsistencies, Unmanlfested; Mo-
hammedaniSm knows nothing but lncar-
nate law. And although in pagan litera-
ture you will find sometimes the word
Father applied to God, it is always TO
God as the author of our being, not as the
the kindly guardian, the personal coun-
selor, the individual friend, the pro-
tector. No man cometh 10 the Father
except through Christ. 1t is as we see
the divine in Christ that we draw near to
the divine in nature, the divine in his
tory, the divine interpreted in our own
hearts. This is the glory of our Chris
tian faith. 1t brings the Divine Father
close TO us.
'There is universal religion of life,p
observes the Christian Register (Unit.) of
Boston, but that life manifests itself
through special forms of belief and char
acter, and II IS not misfortune or mis-
take, but Gods own order in the world,
that has established these different house
holds of faith for the benefit of all ranks
and classes of men. All of them have
been founded, as it were, through spe-
cial divine opportunity; and, no matter
how great may be the need Of it. no per-
manent bond OF fellowship and associa-
ton in religion is ever made by a set of
resolutions. Generally, it is the COM
manding influence OF some one great
man, the like OF whom is seen but once
IN many generations, which is the Begin
ming OF q new spiritual movement Every
name Of consequence in the religious
world may be traced back to personal
ity of quite unusual force, and it may be
safely assumed that, where no such
leader appears, no enduring brotherhood
of souls will be forned.n
''The growth which Episcopalianism
experienced in Massachusetts up to the
death of Bishop Brooks is commonly
traced by Episcopalians to the influence
of his personality and teaching" says the
Waterman (Bapt.) OF Boston. strangely
enough DIR. Brooks lines of power were
exactly those which are not Characters
tic of Epl6copacy, and the qualities OF his
spirit and doctrine which commended
him to the community, instead of being
those for which the Episcopal Church
stands were those which find their ex-
preston in the genius and teaching of
other communiOns. The Episcopal
Church in Massachusetts, during the last
year, has not Loyalty followed the lines
of Bishop Brooks example and teach
ing. There is federation for his spirit
and doctrine, but it is only liberation.
His mantle has fallen on no one, and
there is no commanding personality TO
assert his positions. AS religious body
the EplScopallans have distinctly lost the
note of leadership. They are returning
more and more to their exclusive secta-
rianism. Even their ableSt organ, the
Boston Herald, in its regular editorials
on Episcopal matters, speaks in a minor
key when il refers to the present outlook
and policy of the denomination"
On the subject of the new Presbyterian
League the Interior (Pres.) of Chicago
has this to say: 1.-THE brethren are clearly
TO the manor and the matter of their
seeking. But we are opposed TO leagues
for poleInic purposes. and regret the ex-
istence of this one. We want the new
short creed ourselves. and we are sure
that mixing this question up with others
which have no relation to it will be a
serious obstacle in the way of promoting
it. Let every question stand by itself
and strictly on its own merits. The brief
irenic creed is not party question, and
to make it such is to defeat it, or at least
to postpone it indefinitely. AS to re-
versing recent judicial decisions, that is
impossible. AS the facts now lie in the
minds of the people it would be regarded
as an abandonment of fundamental doc
trine, on which the whole superstructure
of revealed truth rests. The brethren
would not wish such an impression to be
given, even though they may believe that
the impression would not be correct. If
it should appear in the course Of further
light and thought that the suspended
brethren's position do not invalidate the
Scriptures, the rectif1catiOn will come
without observation, debate or formal
action. It will be an increase of growth