The record-union., 1895-03-08


ministers of all persuasions were becom-
Ing more humane in charitable organi-
zatlons and social fellowship, where &C.
cleslastlcal lines were forgotten on i'm
portant occasions, where now and then
an orthodox believer dared to believe in
Darwin, and say so, suddenly all is
changed. The liberal churches are given
to understand in no doubtful terms that
they are not regarded as evangelical
For little while the interdict will stand;
put when 1t becomes to be understood
that all the cultivated men and women
OF that community, all lovers of modern
science, and those who read the best lit
erature of all nations, have no home left
to them in the self-styled evangelical
churches, then the drift will again set in.
The result of it all must be a drifting
apart OF intolerance and liberality, of
those who stand and those who move."
zone of the most significant signs of
the times" says the New York Outlook,
is the change of attitude among the sci
enUists towards religious questions. Those
who keep pace with scientific thought
and are familiar with the atmosphere and
spirit OF scientific investigation in the
universities abroad have been struck by
the radical change which has taken place
IN the last twenty years. What now
strikes one In the attitude and spirit of a
- -
reverence toward the religious side of
life. This does not mean that there is
return to the old dogmatlc statements or
to the ecclesiastical explanation OF things,
but il does mean that there has come a
deeper perception Of the facts of religious
experience, and a deeper realization of
the immense part which the religious
element plays in human life. 1t is very
generally felt that the explanations of re-
igious phenomena offered twenty years
ago and accepted at the moment as final
are inadequate; that religion Is something
deeper, more persuasive and more int1u-
ential than many scientific men took ac-
count of two decades ago. The feeling Is
growing that the religious phenomena of
history are not to be explained by the
NEUROLOGICAL and anthropologica explain
ations offered. Mr.. kidd's striking book,
SO widely read and so earnestly dis
cussed during the last year, is striking
revelation of the attitude which many
scientific men are now taking towards
religious questlOnS-an attitude OF Tree
but reverential investigation. There are,
OF course, number OF the Old-time sci
entitic men who still hold to the some
what arrogant agnosticism of two de-
cadeS ago, but the younger men are in
spired by very different spirit"
The following is from the New York
Observer (Pres.) speaking on the SUBJ
iect OF closer relations between the theo-
logical seminaries and the General AS
sembly, the Presbyterian SAYS: The
church, as represented in the highest
court, has only one desire, and that is,
that our seminaries shall, in their char
ters, protect her pecuniary rights in case
of misuse. 70 outsider it seems strange
that the trustees of our theological sem
inarieS are SO averse to this simple re-
quest. But the question will not down
at their mere ipse dixit, but is likely to
assume growing importance, when the
church will make her demand in a way
that will be heard. 1t will not do to hide
behind the allegation that it is impossible
to change existing charters because of
certain provisions in some of the State
Constitutions, when the fact is that these
same charters have been amended to suit
varying conditions by these very institu-
tions, under the same State Constitutions
as now exist. 1t is to be hoped that the
desired end in the present case will be
happily and cheerfully reached by those
in charge of our seminaries.' We do not
quite understand what is in store when
we see the suggestion that the church will
make her demand in way that will be
heard. We believe that the church
should put her foot down firmly when
she deals with doctrine contrary to her
SldhudIOSs tIO III 81 VI "I1iCiis VI COuISS. -
the Bible, but these seminary relations
must be treated in a very different spirit
and with much judgment. Most of the
Presbyterian seminaries feel that the
| bonds existing between them and the
Presby yterian Church are of the matrimo-
NAL order and need no further welding.
As to the new seminaries that seek Pres
byterian acknowledgment and indorse-
ment for the sake OF securing Presbyte-
rlan funds. wly thew are sons and
daughters, and will be wise enough to
| submit to parental requirements and
regulations. May is coming, when the
great church will hold her high court at
Pittsburg, Let not the waters of that
city be disturbed by Presbyterian strife,
| when little wisdom will insure an irenic
assembly"