The record-union., 1894-09-01
IN RELIGIONS REALM
Expressions From the Various Re-
IigiOus Newspapers
The Religions Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest TO Both
Ministers and Laymen.


ton, the LiUiaeg Church (P. E. of Chicago
says: IF the parallel between State and
Church were completely valid, III the
churches as in the State, everything which
people. officers or others, are called upon
10 accept or conform to as existing facts
amply, while tiley may think what they
please Of their nature or necessity, must
be open to change by a constitutional
process. If episcopacy is one of these, it
comes under same rule. AT any rate, the
promises of conformity and obedience
viii be no warrant for it's perpetuity.
That promise relates to fact which may
cease to be. This was clearly seen by
one of the contributors to the Indepe7ad-
e7lt, Congregational minister, on whose
remarks We commented not long since.
lie said, in substance, that If the Episco-
pal Church should admit into its minis
try large number of persons from other
Christian bodies. without requiring any
particular belief in episcopacy as part of
divine deposit. it would be perfectly
Legitimate for this element as it gained
In power, so to influence legislation as to
transform the church, by taking away
from the Bishops the exclusive power of
ordination. This, il seems 10 US, is the
all that goes with it is to be regarded
simply as an existing fact, without refer
ence TO any theory or principle. 1t
may be said that there is no danger of
radical changes; that tradition, custom,
preference, and, above all, the settled
conservative spirit of the church would
render them Impossible. True as that
may be, it remains that the question of
episcopacy would be question of ma
JorIues: 1t would not be matter finally
and irreyocably settled upon inviolable
principle autedating all special constitu-
tions, all conciliar action of every kind,
and therefore incapable of being affected
by them.n
Apostolic succession is described and
enjoined in the writings of the apostles in
language so clear that there ought not to
be any mistake about what it is" re-
marks the New \ ork Independent. "The
chief Of the apostles gives an abundant
illustration and description Of what it is.
1t begins from Christ. Paul tells his
Corinthian disciples. Be ye therefore
lmltators or me, even as l am of Christ
Paul was in the true succession from
Christ. he was first called by JESUS
Christ Oh the road to Damascus. He re-
celved his doctrine, be tells the Gala
hans, not by man, but directly from the
revelation OF Christ. This which he had
received directly he gave to others Just
as he had received it. Among those that
were next IA the succession from him was
another apostle. Timothy. What he had
from the Lord no gave TO Timothy, and
ne bade Timothy hand it down to others.
First, he showed Timothy how to Go it,
he took Timothy into partnership with
him IN teaching and letters. He and
Timothy and Silas wrote to the Thessalo-
mans that the latter church became itni-
tators of US and Of the Lord, so that they,
IN turn, became an ensample to all that
9Eraa atNao
rled on-hrst, Jesus; second, Paul; third,
Timothy; fourth, Thessalonians; and
nfth, other believers. Theap
toIlc succession continues. 1t is the inher-
ltance OF the whole church. 1t is priyil-
egs and q duty resting upon US all. If
we are, like the Thessalonians an ex-
ample TO all that believe then we are in
the true succession. II, following Christ.
we keep "a pure heart and good consci-
ence, with love unfeigned,' and teach it
TO others, we are as really in the true sue
ceSsion as was Timothy or Paul before
nlm. This privilege and this honor have
all His saints"
Speaking on the subject of st. Paups
cathoiicity, the New York Examiner.
tBapt.) says: Broad as were his SYM
pathles, glad as he was that Christ should
be preached, even when it was done only
IN manner to add to his already heavy
weight Of att1iction, his catholicity did not
extend to those who proclaimed another
gospel than that he preached-not be-
cause 1t was his gospel, but because it
was the gospel he had received from
Christ. If any man., he writes to the
Catalan Church, preacheih unto you
any gospel other than that We received
let him be anathema.' Yes, even though
he himself, or an angel from heaven,
preached another gospel, still his sent
ence ie the same. This was not narrow
ness; 1t was simple fidelity to the truth.
BY all means let Christ be preached. bur
there uberality must end. That was
PauPs Impregnable position. He was
tolerant of methods; he could not be toll
Grant OF peryersion of the Gospel. He
could rejoice in the proclamation of the
truth, even from the lips of faction and
lnsincerlty; but it must be the truth, not
error, that was preached. That was a
safe position-it is the only safe position.
II Is easy TO mistake ilk-and-Water
suferance Of all beliefs, true and false
alike, for genuine catholicity. But that
was not PauPs way. His cathOlicity was
broad minded, but 1t was not indifferent
TO vital distinctions"
The greatest foe to the church is dry
rot, says the ChrlSt5d7l Register Until
oil Boston. Indifference is more to be
feared than opposition, sceptieism or IA
matte zeal. These often act as spurs to
stimulate TO activity, but lack of interest
brings paralysis and death. Nothing is
10 be dreaded as this enemy to ali growth
and prosperity. Our activity is always
70 be measured by the interest which we
nave IN any given object. Where YOUR
0eart is there will be your treasure also
II our religious convictions are feeble
Then we Will dc little. Hence, in all mis-
slonary activity, the first aim should be
TO awaken religious interest in the indi-
Vldual. When the soul is all alive, then
Will 1t be on fire. There is no need to go
far 10 multiply words. The case can be
put INTO q nutshell. What we are really
interested IN we work for. If we do not
work for the church and what it stands
1or, II is because we are Indifferent. What
we do Tor cause, and other things being
equal, IS the exact measure of real devo-
ton. Hence, would we stimulate mis-.
sionary spirit, we must first awaken in
others more vital personal religious con-
victions."
Education says the New York
Caurchmaa Up. E., els many-sidad. II
is, of course, largely an intellectual mat
ter. Yet it is question whether a col
lege which has huge classes is as great a
teaching power as g college whose classes
are small enough for the Professor to
make personal acquaintance with every
individual under his care. Colleges. as
the name imports, are gatherings of men
for personal intercourse and mutual ac-
qualntanee and friendship. The circle of
pupils who surrounded Socrates. the
sixth form of DR.. Arnold, the pupils of
DR.. Jewett, were st any one time, COM
paraiively few in number. The Uniyer-
sities of Oxford and Cambridge, in Eng
iand, are cited as the true model for
American institutions. Groups of small
cottages on the banks of Isis and Cam
have sent forth the man who have haan