The record-union., 1895-11-30
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From Various Religious
Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

In many ways says the Living
Church (P. Ed, Chicago, "the Pastoral
CT 1895 marks d great advance, and no
less for what it Omits to mention than
for what it actually says. Many
things have now become a matter OF
course which were once viewed with
suspicion. The Bishops, with the ma
Jority Of the church under their charge
are becoming more courageous in as
sorting the catholic character and
claims of the church. The full signiti-
canoe OF the old appeal to the undivided
church is becoming better and better
appreciated. We rejoice in such words
as these in connection with the subject
of Christian unity: However earnest
and persistent our endeaVor to keep
alive this great movement and the deep
yearnings which inspire it, we can i'm
agine no circumstance that would in
duce us to consent to any departure
from the ancient deposit of the falth
ana order committed to our keeping
for the common benefit of mankind, or
to the impairment of any truly apos-
tolic and catholic tradition of the
church, or to any measures which, IN
bringing us nearer to poSt-reformation
cOmmunions, would create any new
obstacles to reunion with the old his
toric branches of the Catholic Church.
Nothing could more exactly express the
position on this subject which the LlV-
ing Church has maintained throughout.
Attentive perusal of this address of
our Fathers in God serves to strength
en the impression that, as the conVen-
ton of Minneapolis has been in many
ways memorable one in the history of
the American church, so its Pastoral
worthy of the occasion, is full OF nope
and encouragement for the future.
Commenting upon the article upon
the unity Of the church in apostolic
times by the Rev. DR.. Lindsay, in the
Contemporary Review, the New York
Outlook remarks: This picture of the
unity of the apostolic churches, If its
accuracy is accepted and we do not
think it can be successfully denied
seems to show that plans for the fedora
ton of independent churches are more
in accordance with apostolic prece-
dent, and more hopeful of practical re-
Suits than plans for immediate organic
union. And it also indicates the first
steps to be taken toward such fedora
ton of those churches which accept
the Bible as their textbook and Christ
as their master. They are four: First,
the recognition and acceptance by ev-
Christian churches upon letters of rec
concentration. Second, a free inter-
change of pupils by the ministers of
different Christian churches. Third,
the recognition of membership in any
church as membership in the Catholic
Church of Christ, and therefore a suffi-
cient ground for admission to the COM
munion table. Fourth, a gradual de-
velopment of practical cooperation in
common work outside the bounds of
the local parish. But, underlying all
methods, and more important than ALL
are mutual respect and esteem for each
others Christian character, work and
worship
1T ought to be as clear as day by this
time remarks the Central Christian
Advocate (Neth) of st. Louis, that
there can be no unity in the right sense
between the great Christian bodies
without mutual recognition. The Pres
byterian, Congregationalist, and
Methodist denominations, for example
are just as genuine churches of
the New Testament pattern with
an apostolic ministry, and with
divine sanctions for their existence
and with divine blessings on their
work. as are to be found on earth.
V henever the Protestant Episcopal
Church and the Anglican communion
come to recognize these facts, the way
may be opened for closer relations be-
tween all the churches of Christendom."
There has been a good deal of talk of
late years" says the New York Evan
gelist (Pres), about reunion with the
Presbyterian Church South the CHIEF
movers in which are the bold men of
Kentucky who it is minated would
be quite willing to be rid of some of
their Northern brethren, in order to a
more congenial alliance with those of
the South. We do not like to interfere
with advances toward reunion, but
would only suggest that in the next con
ference with their brethren, before the
marriage certificate is signed, sealed
and delivered, they should make frank
confession that they-and not we-are
the lneal descendants of that old
school Assembly which in 1865 voted
TO prescribe the whole Presbyterian
Church South We shall be surprised
If those Southern brethren do not
answer, with a proud scOrn of hypoc-
Tisy, We had rather be associated with
the men Of the extreme North who
fought us bravely in the field but did
not carry their hatred to the COmmun-
ion table. instead of allying ourselves
with those who would not admit US TO
their Presbyteries, or even to their
churches. without confession and re-
pentance for what we did with a good
conscience and consider to have been
the greatest act of devotion in oup
lives!'"