The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-12-22
Religious Opinion.

"It mas often been said that a paro-
rhial system, such as that which is
adopted in England, cannot possibly be
introduced into this country. This
opinion, however, observes the New
York Churchman (P. Ed, "is formed
upon what appears to be misconcep-
lion. Taking London, Manchester, Liv-
erpool. or any other large city as an ex-
ample, the whole area is divided into
parishes. for which the incumbent of
The respective churches is responsible.
But while the miniStra tons of the rec
TOR can be claimed by the people resid
ing in his district, this parochial ar
eangement does not interfere with the
liberty of the people to enroll them
selves as pewholders and communi-
cants in a church in some other part of
The city. Nevertheless, 1t does circum-
scribe the obligations of the pastor, and
each rector and vicar knows exactly
where his responsibilities begin and
End, as far as his district is concerned.
AS matters now stand in New York
City, it Is difficult for the rector Of a
church 10 define the precise territory for
which he is spiritually responsible, and
II would seem that the time has now
come when ecclesastic authority
should define such parochial limits
Such an arrangement would in no way
interfere with the liberty Of a pastor in
visiting msmbers of his flock residing in
the parish of another. bat it would
tend to create a feeling of etiquette
among the clergy with respect 10 their
PASTORAL ministra tions. Professional
etiquette exists among physicians Of the
body, and ii is surely only right that
something of the kind should exists
among physicians of the SOUL"
''The fact is" says the New York OBJ
server (Pres.), that. as human nature
is constituted, a united Christendom is
a hope rather than a probability, and
that the most strenuous efforts made to
attain ft-those Of the Jews and Roman
Ca tholEcs-haVe resulted in the estab-
1iShment, not of a united and all en-
bracing organizatio but in particular
ay exclusive ones. No church possessed
of a visible organization has ever at
tanned TO the universal ideal, and the
only union of Christendom is spiritual.
not formal Such realization as the
ideal can be said to have had has been
due rather TO coercion than to any spir-
itual affinity. II is improbable, more
over, that conditions will greatly
,4Lt&44 sc, anu u Ildy seriously QueS-
toned whether change is desirable, and
the obliteration Of existing di-
Visions would not involve reverSion 10
lower, instead Of the attainment of a
higher, form Of religion. a writer in a
recent number Of the Westminster Re
view. in discussing this subject, clearly
shows that the theory Of evolution, by |
which everything is soght to be explain |
ed unowadays, as applied to the devel- |
opment Of the church, justifies the |
and extension of present |
distinctions. The forms of religion an
tedaTing the Christian era were, he ar |
CUES, based on the corporate idea, indi-
Vidualism coming into play only with |
the advent of Christianity. Thus the |
New Testament mentions many |
churches, but only as separate and dis
mnct organizations. True, they were |
united by common faith and common |
aims, but the bond was one of affinity /
and not of unity. Nowhere was there |
the Idea Of a universal church, with a
single organization and guided by
single visible head. Against the imposi-
tlon OF such an ideal upon the early
christians Paul emphatically protested
IN his letter ITO the Galatians: With |
freedom did Christ set us free; stand
fasts therefore, and be not entagled
again ina yoke of bondage -
1T is not a little curious" saws the
Wabchman Bapt) of Boston, that,
while Eptscopalans, Presbyterians. and
Slethodists zealously maintain the de-