The record-union., 1895-08-10
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re
liglous Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian Press
Ministers and Laymen.

Us, at this present moment TO have al
most narrowed itself to one single ISSUE"
8ays the New York ChurcInGn (P. E.).
christians of different denominations
are already at one upon many radical
points of the faith. Those who are con-
templated as likely to enter into the
great Catholic Zollverein. already agree
in their acceptance of the Scriptures, CT
the two sacraments and probably of the
two creeds; the heart of all Christendom
beats together in harmony with the
church's truth on these points. But
when 1t comes to e practical question OF
polity and organization, there seems TO
be at present but slight traces of unanim-
ity, excepting among some leading minds
in all denominations. The question of
pOlity brings US at once TO the question Of
the ministry. The ministry Is the ex-
ecutive Of the church in teaching, IN rul-
ing and in the ministration Of the sacra-
ments Each denomination has at pres
ent separate ministry. YeE the union.
say, OF the Presbyterian, the Methodist
and the church ministries, would be the
practical realization of church unity
between these bodies. What is ii that
has so far prevented this union between
the different ministries from being con-
summated? It is idle 10 talk of any union
among the separate bodies of protesting
Christians, unless there be a unity estab-
lished by which the authority Of the
church shall be made one and undi-
vided."
Perhaps as near approach TO basis of
agreement for Christians of all names as
has yet been proposed" says the Stand
ard (Bapt.) OF Chicago, sis in what are
o1 a a m "a rt Oil n q r.
ing with clergymeu of the Church of
England. These articles were announced,
much In the form of a proposition 10 other
bodies Of Christians, several years ago,
but were found lame in one very import
ant particular. They were as follows:
The Bible, the Apostles and Nicene
Creeds, the two Sacraments. Baptism and
the Lords Supper, and the Historic
Episcopate. This last SO Overweighted
the whole that only failure with a sus-
picion OF absurdity could follow. We
have often tried to imagine proposition
oflike effect, made by some one denomi-
nation of Christians, or attempted by two
or more IN com binatiOn, in which the
same vice Of denOminational remnant
should not appear. W hat might be
effected in practice, after multitude Of
trials, one cannot of course say; in idea
and in theory the thing is lnconceivable.
Ii denominationalism be an evil-what
LAS uGN6I y6k De6u pIOh0L-lL Is 30 liIl-
bedded In the structure of our modern
Christianity, is so much due to those
tendencies in human nature which revolt
at all attempts to constraln opinion, and
SO enters into this W hole immense scheme
Of Christian activity which to-day has
the whole world for it's field, that it is
surely an evil which permission Of Divine
Providence have overruled for immeas-
urable good"
''In the recent discussions of the ques-
ton of church unity adequate recogui-
ton has not been giyen,' says the New
\ Ork OUttOOk, TO a fact worthy OF note.
The Episcopal Church, in proposing the
Chicago Lambeth quadrllateral as basis
Of unity, has elected much criticism, but
not the cOmmendatiOn it deserves. The
fact ought to be fairly admitted that the
Episcopal propositions eYince q spirit of
large concession. For basis OF unity
they put forward nothing already held in
common with themselves by the greater
number Of professed Christians. In their
lrenic spirit they have put aside their
own articles of religion, canons, OrdinaI
and liturgy, and have retained in their
four propositions nothing strictly de-
nominational. Their Historic Episco-
pate'-the thing chiefly objected to-is
held by the MethOdists also. Moreover,
1t is proposed apart from any distinctive
theory about 1t, and in very elastic con-
ception Of it as capable Of being locally
adapted to varying needs Further
more it should not be forgotten that
these liberal propositions o. the House of
Bishops have had 10 Withstand the vigOr
Gus protests OF SacerdOtalists, declaring
shat such liberalism, if carried through,
would only breed new schism in the
Episcopal Church itself, And, SO far
from the ultimate effect being the absOrp-
tion of other churches by the Episcopal,
Bishop Coke is reported as saying in 4
sermon: We have proposed course
which, if carried out by any of the greater
denominations Of Christians, would COM
pei US to join them In our judgment,
the other churches have not accorded due
appreciation to this largeness OF spirit
We think that Episcopalians may now
fairly say to the other denominations:
We have proposed to you undenomina-
tional basis OF church unity. II unaccept-
able to you, please propose substitute
equally undenominational."
at is the bliss of belief" observes the
New ork ECUnqeiiSt pres. ,, THAT it has
no terrible tussle with reasons. AND so
through all the delightful credo which
spans the whole realm Of revelation you
pass without telling why or minutely
tracing out the processes. All these
things are afterthOughts and attempts
20 eXpound the uueXpialnable. Creeds
have their uses and their place. They
defend the castle against any assaults; the
canons OF the church are missiles or de-
fense, ana sometimes of1euse against
marauders-a wire fence with barbs for
trespassers. But faith does not stand on
them. nor by reason of them. They are
subordinate. To say that there is no
fixed belief without dogma is TO declare
that the sun could not shine without a
prism to split up its rays. 10 be forever
saying that a positive belief Is impossible
withouta 4 ed creed is TO deny ihat any
have believed before your creed was for
mulated. and that nobody believes who
does not accept g statement OF grounds
and processes. You can believe that God
created the world. And you need not
tell now or why. 1t may be to you six
sun days, and TO your brother SIX secula
of days. y our belief is equal and your
safety is equal. \ on believe III the Bible
and in heaven, and 10 theory of inspira-
tion is necessary, nor any survey Of the
starry spans needful."
lone of the encouraging signs of the
times" says the Lt0ing Church I. e. oi
Chicago, lis the way IN which secular
papers rebuke disloyalEy IN religious
teachers. It has been too much the Gus
tom OF such journals. in commenting
upon dissensions in the fold. to take the
part OF the man who was stirring up
trouble, viewing him as a martyr and
crying against his persecution OF late,
however. we have seen many editorial
expressions which indicate a change OF
the point of view. if not change OF
heart 1t is coming to be seen by men
of the world that for a man 10 hold office
and reap benefits ana enjoy distinction,
as the accredited officer Of society whose
fundamental principles he denies, is in
consistent, dishonest, disloyal, intolera-
L.
cially for the discipline of the church. we
may trust that public opinion will moi