The record-union., 1895-06-01
IN RELIGIONS REALM
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligious Newspapers
The Religious Thought OF the Day as
Expressed ia the Sectariau Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

Speaking of discipline and liberation
the Living Church (P. E. of Chicago OBJ
serves: There is unquestionabiy an eie-
ment of persecution involved when false
or distorted charges are made, or when
proceedings against individuals are actu-
uated by malice. Under any system such
instances may occur. They have occurred
times without number in the operations
of the civil courts, but no one on that &C
count would say that the State was intoler-
Grant or prosecuting because 1t maintains
judicial system and takes cognizance OF
offenses against society. Miscarrlages OF
justice have occurred in the sphere of &C.
clesiastical discipline, but after the same
analogy the church is not to be charged
with intolerance because she undertakes
to exercise the power of discipline. 1t is
of course needful in the church. as in the
State. that all possible means should be
employed to guard against injustice and
TO secure the redress of grievances. 1t Is
not the least commendable feature of the
new constitution that it would make
some better provision for these things
than we have had hitherto. The neces-
sity is a growing one, since it is altogeth-
er probable that there will be greater rea-
in motion the powers OF discipline in the
church TO vindicate the purity OF her
teaching and protect the people commit
ted to her care against novel doctrines
subversive of the faith once committed
to the saints. Care must be taken to ena-
BILE those intrusted with authority in such
matters to vindicate themselves from all
suspicion of malice or prejudice and to
act with the single aim OF preserving in
tact the sacred deposit OF divine truth as
it has come down to US from the begin
ming"
"a calm review of the higher criticism
of our day convinces US that there is an
increasing tendency in speculative the
oIogians TO give more prominence In
their teaching to their own imaginative
theories than TO the plain inspired decla-
rations of Gods Word" remarks the
New York Observer (Pres.), land we are
also impressed with the absence OF that
spirit of humility and reverence which
should characterize all who assume to be
critics of the divine oracles. If 'Bibliol-
atry' is a new sin of the present genera
ton, there are certainly no indications
that 1t will spread rapidly, or become as
damaging to the faith once delivered to
the saints as that irreverent egolatry
which makes its subjects discontinued in
the obscurity OF practical Christian work,
and urges them on to fame, even II 1t can
be gained in no other way than by enun-
ciating startling errors. Theology has its
fads. but only foolish persons will be led
astray by them. They are ephemeral and
will be soon gone. By that law OF imita-
ton which is the only proof IN favor OF
the Darwinian theory that we have as
cended from monkeydom, these fads
blaze for short time like prairie on
fire. But as spring never fails to cover
the fire. blacken ground of the prairie
~. tNoo
citation, SO the nearer approach OF the Sun
of Righteousness to the broad fields of
the church and springtime of refresh
ing from the presence OF the Lord are
sure to obliterate with bud, bloom and
truitfulneSs, the trace of each succeeding
short-lived theological fad. Thus it has
been in the past, and, as history repeats
itself, thus it will be in the future"
although DIR. Max Nordau's book on
Degeneration was published two years
ago, it has only recently become the OBJ
ject of considerable criticism" says the
New York Christian Intelligence. Ref.
1.-The handspring of the advance OF the
world since a. D. 1920 has been the truth
liberated by the Reformation, That sys-
tenn of truth has been passing through
severe ordeal from the hands of the
highly conJectural criticism of German
scholars, the advocates of evolution, and
first nothing need be said; of the last we
wish only to call attention TO the fact that
the unparalleled temporal prosperity
which has inevitably attended the infiu-
ence of Christianity, resulting in amass-
ing large fortunes to an extent before I'M
equaled among men, has led working
men to jump to the conclusion that Chris
tianity is accountable for existing social
inequalities. Wealth and luxurious liv-
ing and general material prosperity have
been potent factors in producing the de-
generation DR.. Nordau describes. Hand
in hand with these influences has been
the assault upon the accepted moral and
religious standard. The Bible has been
and is to-day the only power able to pre-
vent the degeneration which in all history
has followed upon the acquisition OF
wealth, and the faith of men in the Bible
has been weakened by the assaults of the
critics and the scientists. Such result
has occurred more than once during the
four centuries nearly completed, and
recovery has as often occurred. To-day
the light seems to be breaking again
through the fogs mists and clouds and