The record-union., 1895-09-21
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re,
liglOus Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the SecEarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.
The admission of women to the General
Conference is the burning question in the
Methodist Episcopal press. The North
aOeSterll Christian Advocate, which faVors
admission, defending its position, says
''It ought not to be necessary, but 1t ap-
pears to be so-therefore we remind some
of our critics that we have not been argu-
ing for the actual presence OF women III
our general conference. The entire con-
test relates to woman's eligibility TO MEM
bersbip. All qualified ministers aud
lavmen, as men, are eligible. Woman
is not. We hold that she ought to be ell
gible. If made so. it does not follow that
a single woman will be IN the general
conference for the next fifty years. II
eligible she cannot enter the body unless
she is elected. That condition applies to
men. Delegates represent those who pre-
Ter to elect them. If this point had been
kept III mind from the beginning Inc
women would have been made englb!e
some time ago. That Miss Willard IS
an eminent woman does not prove that
she ought to be in the general conference,
vet the question has been hobbled aud
tangled and postponed by the persistent
claim that that particular lady ougn' 10
be eligible, whatever becomes OF the rest
of her sex. Make women eligible, aud
then leave the practical outcome TO the
godly Judgment of the electoral confer
ences, which are presumed to have some
common sense"
The TTeste3n Christian AdUOcate says
on the same subject: suppose woman
is elected? Well, that would probably
be the shortest and surest W ay TO settle
the whole question. The least Il could
do would, by her personal urging OF her
claims, make way TO reverse 1888 sup
posing that necessary, SO that she could
be lawfully elected III 1896 and 1900. w hat
would be done with her would depend
upon the votes Of the men you send TO
general conference. If the majority
should be favorable she would be seated.
Then, in the absence of fire out OF heaven
protesting against the sacrllege, the
church would move right on, gathering
assurance that ali fears were groundless,
and that further opposition would De
idle and ungenerOus. The conference
that settles this question will make a
great and glorious chapter OF Methodist
history"
The Observer (Pres.). favoring such
gatherings as the Christian EndeaVOr
Conventions, says: at Is human nature
TO settle down on the lees, as 1t were, II
bottled too long. This thing OF shifting
ones body hundreds OF miles into new
geographical and sectional conditions, see
ing new faces and striking up against
new varieties OF opinions, thought, man
ner and style of work, is grand help.
1t is powerfully expansive, giving the
previously cramped up worker opinions,
as it were, and lifting him to higher
planes OF hope and future endeavor. AND
'endeavor' is the word which Is the key
note Of such a gathering. 1t IS not to
learn what great national body OF
Christian brothers and sisters think, so
much as to learn what they are going to
try to do-what seems to be true object
i've point for the next attack upon unbe-
lief or inditference-to look over the
whole territory in a sort OF BIRDS eye
view instead of having our vision local
lied upon our own little balllWick. In
these gatherings, moreover, there is no
spirit OF unrest as regards falth. 1hefe
is no discussion of vital importance from
The standpoint of possible change. outh
devoted to The Lord Is not apt TO be
skeptical. And youth carried on 10 age
in this sort of fraternal loyalty in Chris
tian work is as little apt TO be corroded
with the evolutionist or skeptical lads
which beset some theologlans who have
lived much in the library or who have
fallen into the habit OF seeing how far
they could 60, even IN the pulpit and
upon the lecture platform, IL ingenious
speculations which tend TO upset faith
among those who have not the time for
independent thought and study and who
look at these as their teachers. There
fore, we believe that such bodies as we
have referred 10 are most powerful In
siruments towards keeping up the 10y
atty OF Christian young people IN that
they keep up nrst OF all the feeling OF
brotherhood and brotherly sympathy
the glow and ire and tlame of true church
devotion. The church cannot drift into
evoiutionism or rationaiism as long as
these practical young Christians are COM
ing on the stage"
The Outlook favors local option on the
question of Sunday opening OF saloons.
Here IS some of its reasoning: Now that
the liquor dealers are themselves aiding
10 enforce law, we are willing to discuss
with them the question whether the law
is right and wise, and are wiling to SUBJ
nit to the arbitrament OF The people
The vote on this question should be had
at a special election, that the question
may be presented dissociated from all
political and party issues. In such an
election the advocates of Sunday closing
would have some advantages. They
would be supported by the traditions Of
the city. by the religious influences, both
Roman Catholic and Protestant, and by
the domestic influences in many an hum
bic home. 1t is by no means improbable
that some who now patroniZe the sa-
looms on Sunday would vote to close
them. Thanks TO Mr.. Roosevelt, it could
no longer be maintained that Sunday
closing is impossible. If the saloons
were closed by a popular vote the Ameri-
can respect for the decision of the maj or
lily, nowhere greater than among the
Germans, would secure cordial acqui-
escence in the result, or at least would
prevent an angry protest against and re-
sistance TO it. The election itself would
afford splendid opportunity for tenn
perance campaign, and would compel The
saloon to defend itself in public debate
And il the result snouid prove that ma
jority OF the people of the city desire the
saloons to be opened on certain hours O
Sunday, il is difficult to see on wha
grounds the minority nave right to in
Eist that they shall be closed"
There is movement in several South.
ern States." remarks the Christian Stand
ard Of Cincinnati, Ito limit the right Il
nd -rft