The record-union., 1895-03-01

that dlsturbs the young man. 1t is the
society that lawns upon him for the
church service and cuts him on the ay-
enue, that invites him to pew in church
but does not consider him sufficiently up
IN the world to be invited to the home,
that saturates piety with mammon in
stead OF 1noculating business with genu-
inc religion, that creates within him dis
taste for the church. 1t is the nearly
eHaced line that separates the church and
the world and makes wide border and
where all sorts of worldly schemes and
amusements flourish under the guise of
religion that drives the youth from the
sanctuary. 1t is the hard struggle of the
church for the money necessary for Its
work while Individual worshipers graf
lfy every taste and make lavish expendi-
lures Tor their own wants that drives the
youth from the starveling band. His
heart responds to the call of the pastor
and rebounds from the negligence of the
pew. lie does not stay away because the
pastor brings so much of the flavor of
heaven, but because the people bring SO
much of the scent of the world. He is in
contact with SO much that appears to
negative piety and relegate devotion to
the Lords day alone that he does not
care to be brought in touch with it where
inconsistency will make it doubly often
slve to him."
From the meager results so far re-
ported III our exchanges and otherwise.
as moving from the observance OF the
week of prayer, and from the paucity of
peWs IN regard To any uncommon religi-
Gus activity or general evangelistic move
ment IN New York or in Others" says
the New York Christian I]1teLItgence,.
lKet), the question will not down,
What is the trouble?' Frequently in the
past great religious revivals have fol-
lowed hard on the heels of disaster and
dlsCress. They seem often to have re-
suited from the travail of great financial
crises. Last winter the financial depres-
sion was seriously felt all over the land,
was extremely burdensome, and, in the
light of past history, many hopefully in
dulged in the prediction that the people,
chastened through suffering and hum
Dled IN spirit, would become especially
susceptible to religious impressions, and
realize great awakening. But the ex-
pectations of the prayerful and faithful of
Gods people were disappointed. There
was no widespread work of grace. And
though now we are we'll along in the last
month OF this winter, except in a few
spots, there seem to be no efforts other
than ordinary put forth, and no very
marked gracious work of the Holy Spirit
IN and among the churches. How is this
To be accounted for? Surely, the FAULT is
uoI OOo Sc II cannot be because lie Is
straltened in His resources that blessings
are Withheld. Nor can it be because the
Holy Ghost has lost His power that
churches are not revived and converts
greatly multiplied. The trouble must be
with ourselves, with Gods people, with
the church. In view of the spiritual
dearth which so widely prevails aud
which Is so deeply lamented, it is high
time for the church to arouse herself
wake up, turn on the search-lights, and
engage in the work Of rigid self-inspec-
tion."
The California Catholic says: "The ap-
pointment of a Catholic to the chair of
Regius Professor of Modern History in
the great Protestant University of Cam
bridge, England, is a most memorable
fact. 1t speaks volumes for the ability of
Lord Acton, for the confidence of the
Queens Ministers in his lordship's hon
est fairness in treating so delicate and
thorny a subject, as well as for the alb
sence of prejudice in the university
authorities. Another fact of similar i'm
port seems to have attracted but little
attention. In Presbyteria Scotland the
Marquis OF Butte, well known convert
to the Catholic Church, was elected and is
now Lord Rector of the Protestant Uni
verslty OF st. Andrews. Both of these
are men OF distinguished and ripe scholar
ship. Two such appointments ought to
do much to silence the stock-in-trade
argument Of third-rate anti Catholic con-
troversialists, that the church opposes
intellectual progress"