The record-union., 1895-02-08
Tn RELIGIONS REALM
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligious Newspapers
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed In the Sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.


Ministers and Laymen.
On the subject of the pastoral letter OF
the Protestant Episcopal Bishops Inc
Boston CongregationotiSt says: Ihls
letter. we believe will stand as one OF
the memorable religious documents OF
this time. 1t is notable sign of renewed
interest in doctrine pointing to a new
era of theological discussion. 1t makes
assumptions which will be promptly
challenged outside Of the Episcopal
Church, and which we find it difficult
to believe will be altogether accepta-
BILE within it. 1t affirms the inspiration
of the creeds as voices of God as really as
Scriptures themselves. 1t declares that
their Interpretation is fixed and final,
and that they can be honestly accepted
only in their plain historic sense. The
doctrine that the church is the inspired
authority in Interpreting the Scriptures.
and that the deliverances of its officers
are to be received without question, ap-
pears in the spirit as plainly as In the as
serUions of this document. 1nferentially,
not only doctrines of the person OF Christ
and the inspiration of the Scriptures are
held by the church to be dependent on
them, and the doctrine of the inspiration
and dogmatic authority of the church,
moved by the Holy Ghost, speaking
through its appointed leaders. What
ever reception given to this letter, its
simplicity, directness and spiritual i'm
pressiveness will excite profound inter-
est, and bring comfort and reinsurance to
many who have feared that the Eplsco-
pal Church has been relaxing its hold on
the faith once for all delivered TO the
saints. :"
ga committee of the Bishops of the
Protestant Episcopal Church has issued
a pastoral letter." says the New York
Outlook. I'VE should not have sup
posed that there was any considerable
number OF clergymen anywhere III the
evangelical ministry who denied orques-
toned the doctrines of the incarnation
and the Inspiration of the Scriptures.
At all events, we may take the occasion
to ret1irm our faith In historical Chris
uanlty as 1t IS represented IN the ApOs-
ties Creed; in Jesus Christ as God mani
fest in the flesh; in his supernatural birth;
in his real and visible resurrection; and
in the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments as record OF true revela-
ton of God to man through holy men
who wrote under the brooding and in
spring Influences of the Holy Spirit.
make clearer, stronger and more intelli-
gible the faith of the church in the divine
quality OF the Scriptures; and We believe
that the tendency of our age is not to
minimize but rather to eXalt the doc
trine OF the incarnation. AS reatfirma-
ton OF these two vital articles of Chris
tlan faith, we may welcome the pastoral
letter OF the Bishops, though we are not
conscious OF any occasion for 1t as letter
OF admonition or warning"
''We cannot doubt" says the L5uing
Church (P. E. of Chicago, "that the
effect of this document the Bishops
PASTORAL will be the most wholesome
throughout the church. 1t will reassure
the troubled minds of thousands, and
many who were inclined to despair of the
future OF the American church will take
courage and 60 on with renewed hope
and confidence. AS contribution to
unity under the standard of the Catholic
Church, such a declaration as this is
worth tons OF ambiguous compromising
overtures, the only effect of which is to
make men feel that they are well enough
OH as they are, and that unity is a human
e2peulent, not divine necessity. The
unhesitating determination of the church
to stand IN the old paths will find re-
sponse IN the minds of many outside her
told. The majority OF men know in their
hearts that II there is a supernatural re-
Hglon, 1t must, IN its essence, be un-
Changable. Where the body is there
will the eagles be gathered together 1t
only remains that the Bishops shall
practically back up these statements of
necessary truth by refusing to allow
thelr students to connect themseles with
schools IN which they are not steadfastly
held and taught. AS an essential meas
ure to this end, no candidate should be
allowed to pursue his studies in school
which has no necessary relation To the
ecclesiastical authorities of the church
and which cannot, in any direct way, be
called to account"
Commenting upon certain notices pub
ushed by Trinity 2. E.) Church, Bridge
port, the New ork Observer CPres.l re-
marks: There is not In all of the Word
OF God passage that can be quoted in
support OF an early and fasting Commu-
mon. The Lords Supper was instituted
In connection with an evening meal, and
was neither an early nor a tasting Com
munlon. Nor Is there any indication
Lnat those who went alter Christ in the
wilderness were fasting when he began
his mlnlstrations. But this exponent of
catholic doctrine, as IL is taught in Trim
lty Protestant Episcopal Church, Bridge
port, shows that the Romish doctrine of
the Real Presence is one of the tenets
proclaimed. That is plain from our first
quotation, wherein we read: 1T would
seem as II the one service of obligation
the one service wherein He whom we
profess to adore, is indeed really present.
etc. Ii that Is not the RomiSh heresy of
transubstantlation, then we do not know
tnat heresy when we see it. The pace
at which this church is going may he
gathered from the following notices:
The sacrament of holy baptism will be
administered on Sundays alter high
mass Is finished; at other times by ar
rangement with the rector Confessions
are heard IN the church on Saturdays at
the usual hour Special celebrations
Tor marriages, funerals, months minds
or other memorials OF the dead NAV be
had, freely, by applying to the rector
we regret deeply that such state of
aHalrs should exist in the Protestant
Episcopal fold, but we have some reason
TO believe that there is more Romish
heresy and practice in that body than
some OF It's Warmest adherents would be
prepared to believe. And this ia the
body in which has been discussed the
proprlety of calling itself the American
Church, and from which emanate such
urgent invitations to other Christian de-
nominations TO unite win it,
No! the theological seminaries are
saying with emphasis and with surnris-
ing unanlmlty; mot still Closer And
one can easily near" remarks the New
York Evangelist pres }, .'in the tone of
voice circumt1ex in closer which Inn
plies query whether the relation is not
too close already. This brings us aronnd
through two and half years of inouIrv
back to the Assembly at Portland. Tho
committee which now gets its answer ba @
its roots there, and was first supgestad in
the minority report of the committee on
theological seminaries. That report. with
QllnNSnnpa n mir