The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-02
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
liglous Newspapers.


Expressed in the SecGarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymeu.
"There are now before the churches"
says the New ork Outlook, 'three plans
of Christian union-the papal, the Epis-
copal and the Congregational. 3
The Congregationalists propose four arti-
Giles as basis of Christian union. These
are the acceptance of the Scriptures ss
the only authoritative revelation of God
to man, of Jesus Christ az the divine Sa-
vior ana teacher, OF the Church OF Christ
as the body commissioned TO preach his
Gospel, and of liberty of conscience in
the Interpretation of the Bible and the
administration of the church; and on this
basis is proposed confederation of all
Christian churches to aid in establishing
the kingdom of God in the world. The
plan of the Congregationalists differs
from that of the Episcopal Church in that
it does not ask for any surrender of re-
llgiOus convictions or any abandonment
of religious traditions. The liberal
Christian, if he accepts Christ as the di-
vine Savior and teacher OF the world,
may still refuse 10 accept the Nicene
definitions of theology. The Episcopal
lians may still continue to enjoy the
oversight of Bishops, the Presbyterians
that of the General Assembly, while the
Congrega.ionallStS may enjoy their free
dom from sIl supervision. The Baptist
may baptize by immersion and receive
only the baptized TO the communion
table; the Episcopalian may baptize in
FAINT children by sprinkling and receive
all who are IN love and charity with
mankind to the communion table; and
the Quaker may maintain neither bap-
tlSm nor communion table. III is
hardly necessary to say that OF these
plans that Of the Congregatioualists APP
pears TO US more hopeful of results, more
Immediately practicable and more in ac-
cordance with the spirit of the New Tes-
lament"
"a very competent committee reported
to the Congregational Triennial Council
one OF the best plans TO secure Christian
unity which we have knowledge of,
says the New York Christian Intelligent
Ger (ReG). "Fery unfortunately, as 1t
seems TO US, the section which would
give effect to the plan was voted down.
That the vote puts an END TO the PROPOSE
tons is not probable. hawever. There is
SO much good sense in the report, ana
such an admirable spirit i'll almost every
word, that Christian men and women
will not willingly let it die. Circum-
stances may easily occur in a not distant
time when a pressure from without may
make q federation of evangelical churches
a necessity. Papers like this report and
other tendencies towards union may be
preparatory TO an approaching period"
"While the Congregationalists have
been in council in Syracuse two other
great bodies OF Christians have been in
similar conference" says the New Y ork
independent, and both have had before
them this greatest of all subjects, except
the evangelization of the world-Chris-
tian unity. w hat the Episcopalians will
DO with the communication of the Pres
byterians asking for definite statement
in reference TO recognition OF orders is
not yet published to the world, but is
perfectly well known. 1t will be refused.
The Lutheran General Council has
reached a very important conclusion III
coming into traternal relations with the
Lutheran Synod. The committees OF the
two bodies have agreed, and the former
body has this last week approved the ac-
ton, to enter upon policy of comfy in
all mission work. Neither body is to in
tertere with the mission work of the
other at home or abroad, and fraternal
delegates are to be sent from one body TO
the other. This IS the beginning OF the
end OF long and bitter strife 1t pre-
parGs the way TOR Lutheran contedera-
ton of churches, and, we may say, final
consideration. The spirit of union is III
ali the churches. 1t is Of no use for any
to fight against it. Those who oppose it
will be left behind. Each body has it's
jealousies, its suspicious ami its selfish
interests; but these will have to be sac
rificed to the larger interest of the Church
Of Christ. The action OF the Congrega-
tional Council offers platform which
will be presented to other denominations,
and which will deserve serious consider
atlon."
''The Episcopal Church has been over
weighted with the Athanasian Creed"
observes the Christian Register (Unit.) of
Boston. Its thirty-nine articles do not
present the belief of majority OF its COM
municants. They teach the doctrine of
baptismal regeneration, and pronounce
curse upon those that presume TO say
that every man shall be saved by the law
or sect whlch he professeth. 80 that he be
dligent 10 frame his life according to that
law and the light OF nature There are
many good churchmen who would like
to get rid of all these anomalous excres
canCeS on their own confession of faith.
erts of London, who refuse to road the
Athanasian Creed in their pulpits, and
who put the stamp of their individual
reproDation upon creeds and confess
sions which are but the cInderS of old
theological discussion, and cannot be
made to burn upon the affairs OF religion
to-day. However grotesque it may seem
to the Bishops who wrote the pastoral
letter that Page Canon Roberts should
remain in the church, and undertake to
revise it's creeds and confessions on his
own account, or that the Rev. Mr. OK
ford of London should prepare hymn
book and a service book tor the use of
his people, it seems far more grotesque
TO continue to teach under conciliar au
thority doctrines which are parody on
the teachings of Jesus and the faith once
delivered to the saints"
SIS the Churchman haukering after
Pope?" asks the New York Observer
(Pres.). at tells US that Division is not
life, but death. Hence the widespread
craving for unity. Now the testimony of
history teaches that unity has been, and
can only be, maintained by the mainten-
ance of a church organization working
under the guidance of single and undi-
vided authority The logical conclu
sion of that doctrine is the chair OF st.
Peter"
The ministry of women in the church
has always been potent factor in tho
York Churchman (P. E.). "a great inn
pulse was given to tho somewhat desult-
Dry and in some ways Irregular work of
woman tha field of decentralization nv