The record-union., 1896-11-22
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From Various Religious
Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian
Press.

president Cleveland made at Prince
ton neither a partisan nor even a polit-
fcal speech says the New York
"Churchman." HE merely recapitu-
lated some of thel principles which
should underlie the policy of all honest
parties. He uttered a plea for right
eousness and intelligence in the admin
istration of the American Government,
and his speech was at once timely,
moderate and wise. The gracious kind
hness and generosity which distin-
guished his address benefited we'll the
dignity of the Presidential office. To
speak without passion and without bit
terneSS on the subject of a national
government, just at the eve of Presl-
Dental election, is not always an easy
thing. The lofty tone taken by the CHIEF
Magistrate at Princeton was an admir-
able proof of the deep earneStneSS, the
keen sense of responsibility which
should always accompany the discharge
of great public offices. We cannot help
strongly indorsing all that was said on
the influence of American universities
on the direction of American afalrs,
and we believe every educated man IN
the country has learned from President
Cleveland's address that the neglect OF
political duties by those who are best
able to judge of the significance of po-
litica1 issues is a form of ingratitude
and sloth which approaches almost to
the Nervousness of treachery.'
Speaking of the Pope's bull in relation
to Anglican orders, the New York out
look says: This papal utterance Is
likely to be followed by much discus
sion, whose aim and effect, it is to be
hoped, will be the defense and justifl-
cation of the Edwardine Ordinal. Apart
from this much to be desired result, no
importance whatever attaches to the
utterance of Leo XIII He states no
great principle he is only striking at a
school of Anglican clergy, by whose
persistent claim to possess all that
Rome possesses he seems to have been
annoyed and irritated. If, however, the
action which he has taken has the fur
ther effect of drawing the Church of
England into more sympathetic rela-
ton with the non-conforming English
churches, restoring it to its earlier at
titude in the sixteenth century, when
the orders and Sacraments of the for
eign Protestant churches were fully
recognized, then the Papal bull must be
gratefully recognized as an event in the
history of efforts for the attainment of
Christian unity. So far as Rome is con-
cerned it has now been made evident
that the Church Of England is on the
same footing with other Protestant
churches. Henceforth the argument for
the validity of the Anglican orders and
SacramentS must rest upon an inward
and spiritual conviction. We shall
know them by their fruits; we shall
know by an inner experience that they
are valid because they minister to our
spiritual life"
.'Is it not clear" says the Living
Church (P Ed, of Chicago, that it is
the Divine will that the isolation of the
Anglican Church is to continue until
her separate work is done? At every
critical epoch in the last half-century,
when ii might have been in her power
to adopt a policy which would infiict
a deadly wound upon the Church Of
England, Rome, with all the astuteness
and diplomatic wisdom with which her
curia is credited, has been led to take
such action as tended to strengthen
rather than weaken her antagonist. At
herself impossible as resource for
those who We're tempted to turn to her
for refuge. Surely there should now be
an end Of hopes and expectations in
that quarter. a work is laid out for Us.
and we cannot do better than devote
ourselves to it, heart and soul. 1t is to
strengthen the things that remain" to
vindicate the faith and claims Of the
church by her works, to develop and
maintain all that belongs to our glori-
Gus heritage, to assert the Catholic
name and character which have come
down to U.S. with courage and con-
stancy and, above all, to strive for the
salvation of mems souls in all those
great regions of the world which the
providence of God has opened to US"
1.-THE Pope is an absolute monarch -
says the Boston "Congregationalist." F"
Probably he disapproves Of republics.
But he has shown himself a far
sighted statesman, and he will no doubt
accept such a degree of independence
as he must among his subjects in
America Nowhere is the Roman Cath
olic Church more prosperous than here.
Nowhere, probably, does it yield larger
revenues to the papal treasury. Its
gain in numbers is mainly by immigra-
ton But il is increasing in wealth and
intelligence. 1t has produced many
patriotic and some eminent citizens.
The chief danger which many fear
from the Roman Church in the United
States lies in the efforts of a foreign
Power to hold absolute control over it,
The differences between it's leaders
maintained as they are, with calmness
and dignity. do no real injury TO the
church. They give Sstanding in the
republic They reassure those who
view ii with suspicion. They help il
to maintain more securely its hold or
its members. The public school system
which IL resists works TO its advan-
tage. Free education, lower and higher
with liberty among its priests and lay
men in the expression of opinion, is a
necessity to the Roman Catholic Church
in the United States
''Theologians speak of dispensatior
of law and a dispensation Of grace.
SAYS the New York Independent. ,
land some find evidence under the for
mer in the consequences of sin. of Gods
hn laft in h.