The record-union., 1894-12-29
In RELIGIONS REALM
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligiOus Newspapers
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed ia the Sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

in the midst of so much intellectual rest
lessness," observes the New York out
took, ''that, while many of the dogmatic
statements of Christian philosophy are
being modified, the great facts of Chris
tianity shine with an undimmed light.
One may deny that they are facts, as
many do deny that there is any divine
side to life, but to those who accept the
facts and believe in the divine side of life,
these great historical events remain un-
changed from age to age. The centuries
as they pass do notwear out their
meaning nor exhaust their interest.
On the contrary, with every recur-
renee of the great festivals of the Chris
tan year, these events gain in depth and
beauty. Christmas never meant so much
10 the world as it means at the end of the
nineteenth century. There never was a
time when its significance was SO deep
aud Of such vital importance, nor time
when, to the spiritually minded, 1t mad
so many meanings. At this end OF rest
less and revolutionary age, when so
many are inclined to take pessimistic
views of human life, Christmas has a
double revelation. 1t not only brings
the disclosure of the divine purpose and
The divine nature, but it holds a light
within human nature as well, and shows
its divine possibilities"
Every household of faith has its own
spiritual fathers and heroes" says the
Christian Register (Unit.) of Boston.
whom il holds in special honor, and
who stand to it in quite a peculiar rela-
tion. The members of other households
may reverence, respect and even love
these great men, but not quite in the same
way as those who are called by their
name, and who, so TO speak, have inher-
lied the old ancestral house. 1t is some-
what as 1t was when each home had its
own household deity. The god who
watched over one hearthstone might be
no greater and no better than another,
but for those who gathered at that place
he was the one who could minister heal
Ing and help. So the saints and prophets
about whom we particularly know, be-
cause they stand within the circle of our
spiritual fellowship, are apt TO touch our
hearts with warnings and incentives such
as none other can bring. The question
IS whether, when we arrive, or suppose
we have arrived, at some knowledge Of
universal truth, and conceive of spirit
ual life that is common to all mankind,
we are called upon to surrender the sa-
cred and helpful conditions which we
have gathered as we were journeying to
this higher place. On the contrary, NAV
we not carry them with US TO the service
of broadest aims, aud are we not robbed
OF some of our best tools if we try to give
them up.''
when the Bishop of Wakefield was
about to address a congregation of mi
ners, one OF them stepped up TO him and
said: Don't preach-iust talk to u.s.
Probably" sayS the New York Church-
man (P. E.), this laboring man was
afraid of being inflicted with tedious
essay or a theological thesis. Or more
probably be meant 10 imply that talk
comes from the heart.-a sermon only
from the head. The question of sermons
and preaching is always being discussed,
and 1t is evident that either on the part OF
the preacher or Of his hearers there is
danger of misconception with regard to
the use and object of a sermon. We feel
iqulte sure that the merest conversation,
The merest talk which a preacher, wheth-
er Bishop or not, holds with one or more
persons, If what is said comes from prep
aration, if it be the result OF prayer and
study, If 1t be accompanied with sympa
thy and acquaintance with the life of
those addressed has all the essential ele-
ments OF such sermon or Grafton as st.
Paul might have delivered"
"There is a good deal of ignorance con-
corning the Bible, and one need not go
lar to find 1t" remarks the New York
Observer (Pres.). "a recent examina-
tion of class of thirty-four young men
III one OF our colleges revealed large de-
posit of this commodity. Twenty-Five
poetlcaI illusions to passages of Holy
Scripture from the works of Tennyson
were given to these young students with
demand tor an explanation of the refer
erence IN each case. The intention was
to test the young mems knowledge OF
biblical history, character and literature.
The result was painful disclosure.
Thirty-two of the thirty -four had not
heard of King Hezeki iah's prayer for
longer life. Twenty-tour knew nothing
of Jephthah's VOW. Figurative illusions
to Pharoah's darkness, to Jonah's gourd,
to Lots wife, to wrestling Jacob and to
the mark of Cain were meaningless to
most OF these young men. Only 32S an
swers out of 74S were correct 1t is easy
to believe that snch ignorance of the
literature of the Bible is likely to be ac-
companied by ignorance of its moral
requirements. Nor, we fear, is it very
likely that the general college training
of the day will add largely to the young
mems knowledge in either direction.
But no young man ought TO reach college
age without a pretty thorough acquaint-
ance with BOTH"
1--WE respect the sentiment that refuses
TO make changes in the mode of observ-
ing the Lords SUPPER" says the New
i 4
the institutions that tampering with
seems a proclamation. But we would not
turn away from any change in the old
usage simply because it is an innovation.
The idea of individual communion cups
disturbed US when it was first broached.
But a careful look at it dismissed our
fears, and we shall be glad 10 see the SAN
itary communion outfit in our churc ches.
We see nothing In the arrangement that
is unScriptural or improper, while we
can see much to recommend it to our
churches. The Bedford Avenue Church,
I'm Brooklyn. has paid much attention to
this subject, and has made improve
ments in the general style Of the cup and
the manner OF It's use. so as to avoid all
loss of time, all indecorum in the distri-
button, and the regathering of the ves-
sells, so that any church wishing to see
the experiment tried can do so, and the
mem bers of that body affirm that the
serious effect of the whole service is in
creased rather than diminished by the
use of the sanitary outfit. We hope the
individual cup will come into use so far
as to test its convenience and utility.
Some churches now have six cups: sixty
would not be any greater departure from
the original single cup. Then, did not
each disciple at the table have his cup
in the upper chamber? 1t was not a bit
OF bread and a sip of wine on that holy
night 1t was paschal least, supper
of the Lamb"
"Whether we decide for spiritual or
personal coming of the Son of Man as
the premillennial one" says the Stand
ard (Bapt.l of Chicago, "a careful study
OF the words of j esus in the three gospels,
as arranged and compared by Professor
Briggs, leaves, upon one MIND at least, a
strong impression that the closing events
oi the dispensation now in progress can