The record-union., 1894-02-10

Bishop Hennessy proclaims the same
doctrine when he says: The religious
conscience of our people is regarded and
respected III every matter of public con-
Germ with the single exception of educa-
tion.'"
There has been abundant occasion for
protest against undue Roman Catholic
influence in the affairs of our Govern
ment" says the Northeastern Christian
Ad0ocdte (Meth.) of Chicago. at is in
tolerabIe that any church as such should
have paramount weight in political
issues. The Protestant or Romanist citi-
zen is a citizen as we'll as churchman.
Both are entitled to full citizen privi-
leges, and each in turn should be rebuk ed
when he presses his claims as citizen on
ecclesiastical grounds. The history of
American politics shows that we have
had periodical outbreaks from both sides.
As rule. the outbreaks have been man
ipulated by designing leaders. There is
no room for doubt that RomanistS have
sought TO promote each other because
they are Romanists, and it is as certain
that the church question has been pushed
from the Protestant side on selfish
grounds. We confine this suggestion TO
the leaders. The mass of the people are
sincere. 1t is not wonderful that great
bodies of ROmaniSts respond houly when
it is asserted that the holy church is be-
ing prescribed by Protestants. 1t is nat
ural that Professionalism should object and
resist with all its heart when it appears
that Romanism aims TO control the re-
public. By and by the people of this
country Will clearly ordain that no church
OF whatever name shall dare TO NEEDLE in
political issues. That will be happy
day in which all the people willingly con-
sent to this sensible and indispensable
platform"
1.-THE school to which we belong" says
the New Y YOrk Outlook, believes that un-
religious teaching is not only undesirable
but impossible; that to teach without re-
ligion is to teach irreligion; that the only
justification for public school system is
that free state possesses the right and
is under the duty TO do whatever be nee
essary to lit its boys and girls for citizen
ship; and that the education of the con-
science and the affections Is quite as nee
eSsary tor this purpose as education III
reading. writing ana arithmetic; that 10
the three RS fourth Il must be added
Righteousness. Professor Huxley will
not be suspected by orthodox readers o.
prejudices in favor of religion, and we
therefore quote Professor Huxley on this
point: But my belief is that no human
being, and no society composed of hui
man beings, ever did, or ever will, come
to much unless their conduct was gov
erned and guided by the love OF some
ethical ideal. Undoubtedly your gutter
child may be converted by mere intellect
ual drill into 1.-THE subtlest of all the beasts
of the field" but we know what has be-
come Of the original of that description,
and there is no need TO increase the num-
Der of those who initiate him success
fully without being aided by the rates.
And if / was compelled TO choose for one
of my own children between school
in which real religious instruction is
given, and one withOut 1t. l should pre-
fer the former, even though the child
might have to take good deal of theol-
ogy with it. The real problem before
the people Of the United States is very
profound and somewhat perplexing one.
1t is, how can a nation which possesse es
no official theology inculcate pure and
heathful spirit of religion? This is q
difficult problem, but we do not believe
that it is all insoluble one"
1--WE wonder in what wilderness OF
what monastic retirement the Rev. q.
Munroe Boyce, the author of an article III
the January Forum on 'The Decline o1
the American Pulpit has lived" re-
marks the Boston Christian Register
(Unit.). "Otherwise, we hardly see how
any one who has kept in living touch
with the American pulpit to-day could
come to the conclusion expressed in the
title OF his article. Certainly, no ade-
quate proofs in the article itself are
brought forward to sustain it. The fact
that not so large a proportion of college
students as formerly choose the ministry
does not establish the decline of the pull
pit; and the fact that some of the most
successful and influential preachers O.,