Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-02-08


heritage and trust.
While it was, as already stated largely
owing to political considerations that we
were without the episcopatc for two centur-
les, yet during the whole of this period the
Roman church was free from any such en-
barrasSments. Why did she not avail her
self Of this inviting opportunity? We may
interest ourselves in wondering what might
have been the effect if she had done so. The
fact. however, remains that it was not until
the year 100 that the first Roman bishop
las to whose validity of conservation there
are grave doubts arrived in this country,
and that prior to his coming we had no less
than three validity Consecrated bishops at
work.
Thus ready answer is furnished to all
questions concerning ecclesiastical intrusion
SO far as our own country is concerned; and,
further, u deeper sense of responsibility is
bcgotten within us as to the trust so prOvi-
dentiallv committed to our charge: a trust,
which as we have seen, has to do with the
moulding of the spiritual life of this whole
nation.
Such claim may provoke some to smile
who belong to other religious bodies, which
at pro. ent outnumber us as to professed or
supposed adhcrcnts But this disparity of
numbers which may easily be explained
and which is fast disappearing-lo not in
any way derogate from the character of the
| trust nor from our responsibilities concern
| ing it.
But some, fear. do not appreciate its
real magnitude and significance There are
those who are seeking, although it may he
| quite msconsciously to Themselves to
revive in the Christianity for which
the church stands the very spirit
of Paganism. Among the attractions which
| the Pagans recognized in Christianity
was the claim which it made to sovereignty.
| 1t was the one only religion which men We're
| to believe. 1t was not simply one ont of n
number. any one of which might be with
equal safety and profit embraced. But it
was absolutely supreme, and therefore could
| not compromise with. or even tolerate, any
other religion. TO many the advent of
| system of morals which assured authority
over all mankind and for all times brought
such confidence and helpfulnesS as had been
lacking in the various conflicting codes hth-
erto claiming their allegiance
But what do we now see among some who
! call themselves Christians \ more than
readiness to account their religion rs but
! little. if anything. more than one among the
| many and Christ. its Divine founder. as one
| only among the founders of other religions
| do not know but that some would go even
as far as the Emperor Alexander Severus,
and place the image of Christ by the side of
Orpheus and Apollonius.
Only lately in the so-caled parliament of
| religions n wcll-dirccted effort was made-if
reports of its proceedings that have reached
me are Correct-to show the representatives
of oriental religions that there was but little
difference between themselves and what is
! termed liberal Christianity: and not with
out success if again reports are correct that
have come to us from some of these repre-
sentatives since their return home.
Such as protest against this lowering of
| Christianity are accused of narrow-mindetl-
ness and want of culture. If if he narrow
mindedness not to know Buddha and Con
fucu- and Mahomot because of spending
ones time in learning the moro of Christ if
| it he biCotrv to claim for Him supreme
| and undivided sovereignty in the soul:
| if it be proof of ones want of culture to
| leave unstuded the Koran that one may
study the Bible more-then write me down
narrow minded and bigot ed and uncultured:
but never will |. God helping me- SO far
betrav the trust committed to me as to lower
Christ and His religion To the plane of those
who practically adopt the language which
Tennyson puts in the mouths of such: "All
very we'll but the good Lord Jesus has had
His day" There are some who say that this
age needs less dogma and more religion.
This appears tome to be avery contradiction
of terms. if by the term religion is meant
as mean Christianity. which in its early DAYS
was. with Judaism, excluded from an other
wise universal liberation of the religions of
the world by Plagiarism because of its re.
fusal TO make concessions Thus il is again
that alleged that restiyeness under dogma
was practically an attempt to pervert Christi
anitv to Paganism.
These same people would. because of tn,
dogmatic character of the Holy Scripturas
because of their doglnatic Thou shalt and
Thou shalt not = seek to lessen our
sense of their Divine authority bv ranking
them simply with other writings speciousy
acknowledged to be also inspired
If it be old fashioned to believe that tbes,
sacred testaments are by the hands of mer
who. especially chosen by God. were in
spred by Him as no other men ever werc
to sneak as His very oracIes vhether the,