The record-union., 1895-03-01
In RELIGIONS REALM
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligious Newspapers
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed In the Sectariau Press
some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

Ministers and Laymen.
1T would not, we think, be in accord
ance with Catholic doctrine, and certainly
not with the proposition OF the Thirty
nine Articles" says the Lining Church
IT. Ed of Chicago, to regard the utter
ances of the Bishops of any particular
part or branch Of the Catholic Church as
infallible aud irreformable. We cannot,
therefore. appeal to the recent pastoral
as settling at once and for ever the i'm
portant subjects of which it treats. If it
does effect such a settlement, which is to
be devoutly desired, it is because, first,
1t has made it plain that the doctrines
there vindicated are the doctrines of this
| church. 1t is not because the Bishops
say that they are the doctrines of this
church, but because they show that they
are, so clearly that he who runs may
| read. Secondly, the pastoral will have
authoritative weight because the truths
which It sets forth are in accordance with
the faith of the Anglican Communion
and the Catholic Church of all ages.
These are assertions which we hardly i'm
aglne anybody will be found to deny. The
| Southern CburcbDedR thinks the matter
Is as plain as the multiplication table. In
the peaceful borders OF Virginia, indeed,
where happy conservatism still pre-
walls. the editor has never heard of any
one who denied, not, indeed, that these
doctrines are the doctrines OF the Episco-
pal Church, but that they are true. He
has not heard of the new ethics of SUBJ
scrlption' and their practical application.
IL Is to this point in particular that the
pastoral addresses itself"
"The decay of Unitarianism in New
England. and even in Boston, has been
one Of the most important phenomena of
recent religious history in this country"
remarks the New York Cturchman (P.
E.). The two Unitarian preachers who
so recently have undertaken to con-
denim an Epispocal pastoral which de-
clares that I nitarianism is impossible
with honest clergy and laity of the
church, have, as they think, found in
this an argument ready to hand to stop
the leakage of their own sect, and to dis
courage L nitarians from entering the
church. According to these two Unita-
ran preachers memb ers of their denomi-
nation enter the church because it's doc
trlnes are so hazy and indefinite as to
admit of Unitarians subscribing honestly
to church tormularies. Ii there ever was
any idea abroad that the church whose
| Bishops have recently made so strong
and clear dOctrlnal statement could con-
| slstenuy allow uncathOlic doctrine
whether it be styled Arian, Socinian or
! Unitarian, we are glad to lind that two
| prominent Unitarian preachers have at
| length been compelled to bear witnesses
| to the Nlcene orthodoxy of the American
| church on the subject OF the Incarnation.
Nor do we think that recognition Of the
| fact that the church will not admit Uni
| tartan Interpretation of her formularies
"a al n RI ata
and earnest minds in seeking rest in cath
Ole dogmatic truth"
'Ah, the humor of the Churchmd1n'
exclaims the Christian Register (Unit.) of
| Boston. "Or is it not meant for humor?
| Is 1t simply an unsuccessful attempt to be
| serious, when it speaks of the Episcopal
| Church as the American church, 1t is
! very much as If the eighth son in family
| OF dozen children, and visibly much
! smaller than any one of the seven broth
ers, should maintain that he alone had
the right to maintain to represent the
| family name. His older and larger
brothers might smile at this manifesto
| ton OF childish weakness, and the claim
| would develop amusement rather than
Acknowledgements and respect. If the
| ChurchH1d1 Will turn to the record of the
| Church Congress in which this subject
| was discussed at length, and will read the
| that occasion, 1t will see how this strut
OF childish arrogance was rebuked by
one of its own household. 1t is arrogant
| indeed for any religious body in this
country TO assume the title of the Ameri-
can Church, just as it is arrogant for any
one religious body to assume that it is
the Christian Church against all the other
churches in Christendom. We believe
there is no official warrant for the use by
| the ChtrctnlG1t of this term, and larger
part OF the Episcopal Church would Join
with Phillips Brooks in rebuking any
such stilted pretension on the part of one
of their UNCONVENTIONAL newspapers"
A writer in the New York Christian
AdUOc0te (Meth), speaking of the late
! William NJ. Taylor, writes: He was
sound in doctrine, clear in distinction.
vigorous in language, pervaded by unc-
ton rather than pathOS: a master of his
manuscript, so that he looked at it in part
only, able to manipulate it with unusual
ease; had d rich descriptive vocabulary a
fund of Scotch humor, capacity for holy
Indignation, genuine oratoric feryor a
powerful but not harsh voice, sturdy
frame, swarthy features, dark hair, and
much of it; an eye blending benignity,
penetration and shrewdnesS; familiarity
with Scotch and other proverbs, facility
in the use of the best English literature,
reverence, and withal q kind of sim
plicity and love of nature, to which his
love of art, though considerable, was
subordinate. There was another quality
not generally believed to be among the
Scotch-immense dramatic force. Few
actors. even among the celebrated, could
surpass DIR. Taylor in realistic effects of
this kind. When he stood back from his
manuscript, thrust his hands through his
hair and began passage, then with both
hands uplitted, the fingers wide apart,
| 4lN,
crisis, eyes, ears, hearts and heads were
all engaged. No Eutychus slept, no
jester laughed. He abOunded in gesture
and made much use of the Scriptures"
1.-THE minister OF the future is not to be
locked up in his pulpit while deacons
keep the key" says the New York Chris
tan Inquirer (Bapt.), but to carry his
pulpit with him into the forum OF public
debate, there to plant it as fortress from
which every public wrong shall be bonn
barded. Up to now public corruption
has never feared the genteel, respectable
pulpit. Tammany Halls have not feared
the obsequious clergy. The saloons, bur-
dened with death and destruction, have
not feared the church, But the twentieth
century ministry Will be potent factor
in every moral and social revolution.
They will be race of men who will not
allow an arrogant press, debauched
party, or a public criminal to say to
them, Mind your own business and take
care Of your preaching, and we will take
care of the State When the ministry
becomes selt-assertive, as it has power to
! be, it will stand at the head of the most
potent and irresistible force in the nation
| the Christian Church and Christian
| sentiment. But it must be an educated.
practical, unseltish ministry. Courage of
conviction must be qualification for or
dination. 1t must stand forth ready for