The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-26

Perhaps there is no one topic of schol-
! arly investigation upon which the opinion
! of students is changing so rapidly as in
regard to the traditional estimate of the
! character, doctrines, and influence of the
| early Bapt.sts of Europe" says the
Watchman (Bapt) of Boston. 1.-The sym
! pathetic article of Richard Heath, on
! Early Anabaptism,' in the Contemporary
| Review for April and the paper of the
/ Rev. w. L. Griffis, DID,, on The Ana
| bapt.sts' in the New World for December,
are indications that the spiritual ances-
tors of the Baptists may yet receive JUS
tice at the hands of impartial historical
research. To quote freely the language
of DR.. Griffis, the AnabaptistS stood for
the liberation of religion from sectartan,
priestly, and political control; the elimin-
alton of the mob of middlemen in religion
and the swarm of mediators between God
and man; the practical abolition of mo-
nopoly and privilege in religion; the sep
aration of church and state; freedom of
conscience; the priesthood OF believers:
the rights of the Independent congrega-
ton; honest translations of the Bible; the
liberty of prophesying; prison reform,
the abolition of human slavery, the saliva
ton of infants and of seekers after God
in non-ChriStian lands, the equalization
of the sexes in religion and privilege, and,
in a word, social, political, as well as
spiritual reforms. But their primary de-
NAL of infant baptism, the 'tap-root of all
political churches as Dr. Griffis suggets-
which placed the clutch OF priests for in
fiuence and revenue upon childbed and the
cradle. the altar, the tomb, and the worlds
beyond-was their great offence. and It
was that which led the half-reformed Re
formers to brand them with the hateful
and slanderous name of 'AEabaptists' OF
course the Anabaptists drew Il them
selves religious and polgccaI extremists
Persecution made some Of them bitter and
fanatical, but the ordinary church histor-
ian has gained his facts from poisoned
sources, and makes the zealots of Munster
typical of the whole movement"
On the subject OF the calling OF rectors"
the New York Churchman (P. Ed says:
While it is scarcely probable that any
convention in any diocese of the American
church would vote for depriving the YES
tries Of their present powers OF election,
perhaps something may be done to lint
or control those powers. n step in this
direction was taken when the New York
convention passed its Canon Kill, where
by 4 was ruled that the ordinary, with
the concurrence of the authorities Of the
parish. shall take such measures as he
may deem expedient for the temporary
maintenance Of religious services in such
parish THIS canon, II duly acted upon.
enables the bishop TO send a suitable
clergyman 10 take charge OF vacant
parish. and thus indicate % the vestry
desirable clergyman for their future rec
tor. Again. It very frequently occurs
that weak parishes part with Their rectors
because they DO not find 4 possible 20
pay his stipend a canon placing such a 4
parish II the hands Of Tie bishop temper F.
arily until circumstauces change, would (
also give the bishop al opportunity % I
bringing a suitable cle-gyrna % the no I
tee OF a congregation. L has efiea been 4
asserted thai our present system o. eject .
ing a rector = pure 'cons7e- 2 '-o-ia ism
Such = not the case Il q o9As1ss@ --s'1l-
al chapel every member vo;es Tor ne
election Of the minister. The cali = Hot 4
delegated 70 a small body o. TeSi'oias-'4e
men. There is consequently q vas ait-
ference between cur present system ard
iA1t OF The Cou-regsz-o-.a.lsts
NO mar is n closer touch E'Sn ne
young people CO The country says -e
Boston Coagrega-lona.is-. ''ia1a me f.ss-
u. +. =. Clark AID ,ae Information
which comes % btu, ard which Re has
gathered in his attendance a he T2F.o'ls
STATE convea;sOus % the Chr-s----- n
Jezvc- societies : suca as . AZ
Christian world wi;h Lve4y Io'es ieI
widespread revival z TIE rear il--.S-
TIA present moment there = 3 l9'-i-s
expec.z1cy % az out95aEi-g q --s
such as hAs rot beel eI7e'-el~e- 10
long tine. Ta1s teeliIs . E-0- -
ous,ea ~ - - u any CO O. few
ro.es evance,fs.s Il ices nsf sem ts
be t-acsahle % any e5ncsEs e aeti0n q
ne pa-- OF religious xc-ks-S II ~