The record-union., 1894-03-24
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligiOus Newspapers
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed In the Sectariau Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

"Tbe attempt is often made of late"
says the LtViag Church (P. E.) of Chi
cago, ito make it appear that the Ordinal.
as contained in the Prayer Book, falls
short of expressing the doctrine of Apos-
tolic Succession. or that episcopacy is of
divine origin and essential to the perpet-
uity of the Catholic Church and the va
Iidity of the sacraments. We do not
think it necessary TO admit that anything
absolutely depends upon the views OF
Cranmer or the other reformers. 1t is
not what they thought but what they did
which chiefly interests US. If they left
the continuity of the church unimpaired
in its constitution and in its faith and
worship, in other words, if they left it a
part OF the Catholic Church, we need not
concern ourselves too anxiously with
their individual ideas and interpreta-
tions. If the Anglican Church has re-
tanned its solidarity with the ancient
Catholic Church of Christ, then the only
legitimate Interpretation of its formula
ries is that which takes them in catholic
sense. To deny this is TO deny the
catholicity of the church. To contend
that the English Church gave up the
Catholic theory Of the episcopate-to use
language which has become only too fa-
millar OF late years-is to say that she
ceased to consecrate Bishops with the
Catholic intention, and this is to yield
the whole ground to the Roman claim
against Anglican orders"
"Baptists," says the New York Eran1i-
neT (Bapt.), ''stand for two things pre-
eminently: IA church composed only
Of those who give credible evidence of
having been regenerated by the Holy
Spirit. 2-The immersion OF such into
the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost That is to say,
the irreduciple minimum may be stated
in just two words, believers baptism.
The acceptance of this principle by other
Christian churches would do away with
the other thing commonly associated
with BaDtists, namely, close commu-
nion.' AS to theological differences,
there is now practically none between
Baptists and other evangelical churches.
Questions of liturgy and polity would
doubtless be regarded as important by
some Baptists, but others would consider
them of tritiing moment compared to the
unity of all Christians. Compromises
and concessions in such matters would
be possible. The one thing that Baptists
could not minimize is believers bap-
tism."
Church union is not, of course, COM
pulsory," remarks the New Y ork hide
pendent. at cannot be accomplished by
force. If it were to be, after the example
of some of the attempts of the early and
middle ages, it would be worthless. 1t
must be voluntary and unconstrained.
The negotiations leading to it must,
therefore, if success is the great object, be
conducted on a basis OF equality. If
England had never recognized the United
States and wanted now to form a fedora
tion with this country, ii would have to
approach our Government on basis of
equality. 1t would not DO for it to say,
ours is monarchy. We believe in the
divine right OF Kings. We do not be-
ieve in Republics. We recognize in
America only an order of provinces. 1t
is not nation. but an aggregation of in
dividual, incomplete States. We cannot