The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-14

''It is a serious question" observes
the New York Outlook, how much Of
the religious activity in any age is re-
ally an indication of spiritual life, and
how much of it is mere momentum
from the past. In our own time how
much of the religious activity of the
churches is really due to vital forces
within the church, and how much to a
momentum derived from a past life?
In ali cases both elements are cooper
ating, and absolute discrimination is
impossible; but it is only the vital ele-
ment which is permanent; the other is
dangerously deceptive In the Congre-
gational and Presbyterian Churches
how much of the activity is due to a
present life, how much to a momentum
derived from the past? How much OF
the creed is actually believed, and how
much abides simply for want of intel
lectual and spiritual force to question
it? How much of Sabbath-keeping is
due to a past habit, which is gradually
losing its power, how much to real,
vital, living attachment to SABBATH
privilege or recognition of Sabbath
duty? How much of church-goi is
due TO the fact that church going is
identified in the mind with propriety,
and how much TO real inspiration de-
rived from the church service for pres
tions. How much of Methodist fervor
is a dying wave upon the shore, sur
Viving the Methodist enthuSiaSmS of
the last century? How much of the
vitality in the Episcopal Churches is a
survival Of the spiritual life in the OK
ford movement? And, turning from the
church to the individual, how much of
the apparent devotion, conservation and
beneficence is due to the momentum of
enthusiasms now passed wholly away,
and how much to a real, vital and ever
fresh spirit of reverence, loyalty and
love?"
1.-THE difficulty Of drawing a line at
any particular age is apparent" says
the New York Churchman CP. Ed.
Some clergy are old at fifty, while
others enter upon the youth of old age
at sixty. Bishop Durnford of Chi
chester, Eng, who died last month, was
not consecrated Bishop until he was
sixty-eight years of age; and he ex-
ercised a vigorous eplscopate Tor
twenty-five years, and died quite sud
denly and Unexpectedly, at the mature
age of SO. With the lives of many
great men before us, it is very difficult
to draw the line of age. Mr.. Gladstone
is not old yet, and almost any church in
the country would be glad to have MIN
as its rector, and the thought OF max
ing him rector emeritus would scarcely
occur to any vestry in existence. 1t
would sem, however, best to droW the
line of age at 60, and the period OF ser
vice at 80 or 40. That is to say, man
who has been ordained at the age OF 70,
and has reached the age of sixty
five, should be able to avail himself OF
retiring allowance. Under special cir
cumstanceS, certain provision may be
made whereby the rector of parish
who has attained the age of 90 or ~
may be compelled to retire. It is most
unfortunate phase of modern church
life that in the ministry the old man is
not wanted. In apostolic times it was
the elders who ruled. And in the great
Oriental world they are 'graybeards'
who are the men of affairs. If the laity
of the church are determined to change
the order of nature and make elders
out of young men, they must be pre-
pared with some scheme whereby aged
ministers shall be treated honorably.