The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-26
vival of the caste spirit of pagansm.
not the holy brotherhood of Christian


vival of the caste spirit of paganism.
not the holy brotherhood of Christian
ity."
We may welcome the papal encyoli
cal inviting the English people back to
the Roman Church." says the New York
! Outlook, the subsequent reply of the
Arch bishop of Canterbury declining The
invitation, and the later address of Cardi-
nal Vaughan explaining what would be
involved by the acceptance of the invi-
tation, although this discussion only
serves to make clear, if not TO empha-
| size, the radical difference between the
| Anglican and the Roman communiuns.
| W. may welcome such q discussion be-
cause It's mere existence shows that
| growing sense of unrest in the dismem-
! berment of Christendom, and the grow
Ing CONSCIOUSNESS in all communions that
Il is an evil to be cured. if not sin to be
repented OF. 1t is something also to
know definitely what are the causes OF
TINS division and what remedies are i'm
practicable. 1t is we'll that Ro-
manning clergy in the Church of Eng
land should have this issue clearly pre-
scented to them, and should ask them
selves the question and should answer
1t with frankness, whether they can con-
cede this claim or approach concession
TO 1t. " hatever icclination some Eng
| llsh clergy may have towards union
with Rome, We are very sure that the
people of England-the England OF
Henry H., Henry VIII, and Queen
Ellzabeth-will never consent to take
even one step back ward from the free
DOM which she has purchased, freedom
eccleslastlcal as we'll as civil, indeed, first
ecclesiastical and then civil"
"a constant endeavor OF pastors and
church officers is 10 promote greater in
tercOurse between the various classes in
the church, the object being to secure
through social fusion more complete
Christian brotherhood. The basal idea
OF this endeavor." says the New York
| Observer (Pres.), sis a kindly and thor
oughiy Christian one. and every one
must hope that it will bear good fruit.
Doubtless IL will in many cases, where
the classes are not TOO widely separate;
and III all II may be trusted TO diminish
preJudIces and lay u better foundation for
tralernal feeling. But the force of cue-
tom IS exceedingly strong, and social d.
visions have existed everywhere and in
all times, and SO may be natural rather
than artificial. Moreover, it Is not at all
certain that increased social intercourse
between the classes does tend to closer
union, or that. while il may lead TO mu-
tual esteem and affection, it NAV not in
1t has the latter effect IN tenement dis
tricts and on shipboard. Besides, the
effort 10 bring the classes together in
churches, unless made with exceeding
tact. must always TO the lower caste sa-
vor OF patronage, and SO be resented. So
ciaI custom, differences of education and
feeling tenu TO fix it in its own position,
and 10 render any change undesi "a bl 8
and uncomfortable. The present writer
remem bers church in which attempt at
social fusion was made by placing the
poorer families IN pews alternately with
the Weather ones. The experiment
rCmised well at Iirst but in less than
two months the poor families were back
by their own volitiOu in a corner by
themselves. No i'll feeling resulted, but
any further effort at III termi xture would
certainly have widened the tissure be-
tween the classes"
The truth of the matter appears to be"
says tho HdtchmaR (Bapt.j OF Boston,
that the churches have succeeded in
mole than keeping pace with the popula-
ton, but they do not hold quite the place
in American life that they did. liz the
village The church is only one among
many interests, and III the cities the cur
rents OF human activities have enCroached
ike rising tides upon the churches. The
average man is not skeptic or an agnos-
tic, and the average church member is
not less loyal to his faith than was his
father; but a thousand things appeal to
him 81 which the men OF forty years ago
were ignorant. The place of the church
in the circle Of the Interests of the aver
age man has somewhat changed. This IS
not wholly loss 10 religion. We have
all known people who gave too large a
place in their Interests to the externals Of
religion. They would have been better
men Tor more points OF contact with hu-
man affairs. II would have been wiser
Tor them TO go to church twice on Sun
Gays than three or four times; and at
tendance at three or four prayer meet
ings a week disqualified them for other
duties. Each man has a given supply of
vital force, and the best Christians do not
spend the greatest part of their energies
in thinking ana studying what to do;
they seek to carry the motives and
atmosphere OF religion into human az
1airs."
THAT TIRED FEELING should be over
come at once or it may end most serious
fF.i- lo nd