The record-union., 1894-10-06
In RELIGIONS REALM
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligiOus Newspapers
The Religious Thonght of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian Press
Some Matters Of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.


Scattered through recent American
history are many signs of an awakening
spirit OF freedom within the Church of
Rome" observes the New York Church
man (P. E.). "The formation and rapid
growth of the Young Mems Institute is
one OF these signs. We do not commit
ourselves to the statement that this or
ganiZation has been suggested by the
Young Mems Christian Association and
modelled in part after it; but we are will
ing to believe that the Young Mems
Christian Institute is kindred in its gem
eral purposes and methods TO the Young
Mems Christian Association. This is just
such departure from the old methods Of
the Roman Church as would naturally
result from an earnest intention to bring
her policy more into line with modern
American ways Of thinking and working.
Then, there is the widespread adoption
Oh the SunQay-schOOl system. The Amer
lean Sunday-school has its own peculiar
tiles py which II may be differentiated
from other means of religious instruc-
ton; and the Roman Sunday-school in
The UnIIed States does certainly bear d
close resemblance in all its features TO
other Sunday schools here; and il will
probably not be denied that there are
proporuonately more Sunday
- connected with Roman parishes in this
country than III any other land. This,
TOO, Is "a token OF the difference which Ro-
manIStS are beginning to show to Ameri-
can methods. AS for tho summer-scnooI
so recently adopted and approved by
bishops and priests OF the Roman
Church-N IS undoubtedly a unique
American product, and one which tends
10 broaden the Intelligence and arouse
the liberality OF the laity; another sign
that RomanistS are willing TO adopt and
profit by the useful institutions Of Amer
ica.'
Speaking of the mendicant sisters of
the Roman Catholic Church, the New
ork Christian Inquirer CBapI) declares:
This systematiZed religious mendicancy
is foreign TO our American habits, pal
pabie nuisance which ought to be
stopped. Ii RomanIsts have institutions
which they wish to support, they should
support them III proper and legitimate
way. Merchants and hOuSeholderS
should not be pestered by a religious or
der who follow them up year after year
with appeals for aid, but some other way
should be reSorted to by the priests for
the support OF their charities. We say
nothing OF the nuns. our contention is
not with them. They may be as white
as angels-though we suppose they are
OF the moral grade OF any other class of
women situated as they are-no better.
no worse. our contention is with the
system OF religious mendicancy which
ought not to prevail IN this country.
Ascrlbe whatever goodness you will TO
the sisters. they ought to be better en-
pioyed than they are in this vague sys-
tenn. NO class of persons should be
trained to beggary. Roman Catholic lay
Inf fN. gS+
be odious to them. They are its victims
however willingly. The priests should
be compelled to withdraw their begging
women from the public gaze and leave
the charities Of their church to be sup
ported IN legitimate way"
The New York I3dcDcadent has the fol-
lowing: I'VE reported the protest signed
by DR.. Morgan Dix and other Episcopa-
hans against the practice Of the celeDra-
ton OF the mass at which the priests
alone is permitted to take of the conse-
Grated elements. We are asiled by the
LDlSc0pIL L6ec0TdeF why we failed OF our
duty in telling these Protestants that
they could have found relief by going out
OF the Protestant Episcopal into the Re-
formed Episcopal Church. The reason
was that we aid not regard such advice
as wise. We believe thai they had better
make their contest within the church
persons who believe that Christ's sacri-
ice Of Himself can be repeated over and
over again in the blessed sacrament for
the benefit of men, are guilty, we be-
HeVe, OF serious error, more dangerous
than many others, but yet they believe
in God. in The i'll desert of sin, repent
ance, in salvation through Jesus Christ,
and disclpIeShlp TO Him as their Master.
Their errors should be com bated in the
same church, rather than from the out
SIDE"
"0ur church has been denounced of
late as a prosecuting church, and a more
damaging accusation could not be made,n
says the Interior (Pres.l of Chicago
he history OF religious persecution has
been SO dark and so terrible that the
moral sense of enlightened men rises up
against 1t as against no other form of op-
preston. 1t has in itself and in its his
tory peculiar aspects of hatefulness, such
as are not seen in civil or social tyranny.
There IS no necessity whatever, in the
maintenance of our doctrine or our disci-
pine, or Of subjecting ourselves to this
charge. We should seek to injure or
punish no man for his doctrinal views
and IL is not enough 10 profess that we do
not intend lit Is only enough not to do
IL Our organization has for its purpose
and object the preaching of the Gospel as
we hnd it IN the Scriptures. That is our
engage in this work, it is absurd to sup
pose that we are under obligations to en-
pioy him or to continue him in our en-
ployment, or that we persecute him by
refusing 20 support him in teaching what
we do not believe. But Christian disci-
pllne Is for salvation, never for destruc-
tion. With a brother who has, as we
may think, fallen into errors that antag-
Cnize the Gospel, we should exercise to-
wards him the tenderness and patience of
God. no effort of iorbearance and of
love should be left untried 10 set him
right and To save mis- talents and his con-
secration To the service OF our cause.
The world should see and take knowl-
edge Of US, in our dealing with him, that
we have been with Jesus. This is the
spirit OF genuine Christianity, which
never persecutes, but which goes out
with Christ Himself to seek and to save
that which is lost, and To restore the wan
deri ng and 10 help the weak, and which
is never actuated by any other motive
than divine and fraternal love-"
Speaking of the State Constitutional
Convention the New Nork Outlook says:
s"rbe amendment against sectarian con-
troll Is perhaps as important and lar
reaching as any which tile convention
has adopted, and it is so important that
we olive it here in full: Section /.
Neither the State nor any subdivision
thereof shall use its property or credit or
any public money, or authorize or per-
NIT either to be used, directly or lndi
rectlv. i'm aid or maintenance, other than
for examination or inspection, of any
school or institution of learning wholly
or in mart under control or direction 0.
any religious denomination, Ill which
any denominational tenet or doctrine is
taught AS our readers know, this sub
iect excited warm debate and developed
radical differences of opinion. 1t appears