The record-union., 1895-06-22
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
liglOuS Newspapers.

liglOus Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expres5od in the Secrarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.
Discussing the subject Of the revision OF
she constitution and canons the New
York Ch1rchn1dn (P. e. says: 1.-The
Church in America, as an integral part OF
the Church of God, and its diOceses as its
integral parts, legislate for themselves,
and govern their own affairs under the
divine charter or constitution. No other
so-called constitution can override that
divine charter, or supplant it, or add to
its powers. Any such sO-cslled consti-
tuition is therefore unnecessary. But it
may be worse than unnecessary; it may
be Injurious. Its existence does not in
deed destroy the inherited character of
the church in America az an integral part
of the universal church. But ii tends TO
obscure, and even to shut out of sight the
divine constitution OF the church. 1t mis-
represents to her own members and to
all Christians who recognize that the
church Is an organized, visible body. 1t
makes her seem to be merely human
nstitution-merely the work OF mana
sOrt OF denomination or sect. Is there not
now an opportunity and the occasion of
doing away with this erroneous idea by
simply RELOCATING the law now called
constitutional TO the canOns; or by substi-
tunng for 1t some such statement of the
true constitution of the church Rs is con-
tanned in the Chicago Declsra-
tion?"
archbishop WhateIy somewhere COM
ments on the peculiar tendency OF mar
Eow- minded clergymen to supply the
word catholic, in an exclusive sense. to
themselves or to their particular section
OF the universal church." says the New
\ YOrk Outlook. 'In certain cases the
more limited the religious sympathles
and the more circumscribed the view OF
God and man, the greater appears to be
the attraction Of one of the brOadest,
freest and most inclusive words III the
language. Nothing could be more in mar
mOny with the spirit and teaching of
Christ than a genuinely Catholic Church;
church broad enough in its practice and
ritual, deep enough in its faith, large
enough in its love and divine enough IN
its conception of its origin and It's work,
to receive and contain the company OF RIl
faithful people who acknowledge the
leadership of Christ and are enueavOring
10 follow Him in all humility and truth.
The world waits and longs for the leader
ship that shall make the great word cath
Olic real and potential III its daily life; it
rejects the Interpretation of the priests
whom the wise and learned Archbishop
had IN mind, who reverse the real mean
ing of the word, and. by monstrous per-
version, identity that which means COM
preheusiveness and universally with ex-
cluslOn and narrowness; 1t will welcome
the Interpretation Of the prophet, speak
ing out OF the infinite love Of God and
satisfied with nothing short OF the re-
demption of the whole race. The word
catholic as often used in these days
means nothing more than another sect
among the scots; a little exclusive COM
pany, not noble. diyinely commits
stoned and ordered church"
Suppose" says the New York EUan-
QeLLSt Pres.), "that five years hence,
more or less, the General Assembly shall
record strong liberal maJority-s sup
position not al all beyond the bounds OF
probability since the world do move
And suppose that Princeton, having
yielded TO insistent pressure, has done
that which its pronounced judgment has
declared unnecessary and unwise, and
put its splendid endowment at the mercy
OF the majority Of the Assembly, of what
ever color 1t may happen to be. Then
what? An occasion might possibly arise
such thing Is suppOSaDie-for strong
~ accented difference Of opinion between
the liberal Assembly and the Governing
Board of Princeton Seminary. or of any
highest court All, now It Is the other
sides OK that is gored. WI hat will you
DO IN sucn caseY was once asked OF the
leader IN the movement to place all Pres
byterian seminaries under legal control
of the Assembly. on he replied. i am
a lawyer and know how TO accept an ad-
verse verdict But would you? Would
the conservatives submit TO the rule Of
liberal majority over the seminaries OF
their theological preference?' After some
hesitation he replied, Yes, of course
But would he? Would they? Here, at
any rate, IS a fine opening into long vistas
OF legal complications and conflicts when
the Assembly gets standing IN the
civil courts
The Presbyterian press is by no means
unanimous, says the New York hide
pendent, "in approving the action of the
General Assembly in boycotting the stu
dents of Union Seminary. 1t is said that
those who attended the General Assem-
bly-such was the atmosphere that sur
rounded it-deemed the action perfectly
natural one, and were surprised to find
how strong a disapproval it excited out
side that Pres sbyterian city. We are satis-
fed the more this action is considered the
greater will be the moral revulsion. Il is
said by the defenders that tt is soundly
logical. Perhaps 1t Is. Logic is one or
the strong points Of the Presbyterian
Church. Regarding the seminary as an
offender and therefore worthy Of punish
ment, the Assembly in 1893 put ii under
the pain Of its positive disapprOval, re-
Iusing TO recommend Il as ali institution
for the education of young men for the
Presbyterian ministry. Keeping the idea
OF punishment in view the Assembly OF
1895 was not illogical in int1icting still
another penalty on the seminary by try
ing to shut its students out of the avenue
To the Presbyterian ministry. The ac-
ton Is logical enough, but there Is an
other side TO IT, and that is the effect
which this penalty has upon the innocent
students and upon the church itself
This is the point at which justice comes
in and where the thoroughly logical
method fails"
1--WE believe" says the New York
Christian AdU0cdte Meth, that at the
present time, numerically speaking, nine