The record-union., 1896-08-30
In RELIGIONS REALM.
expressions From Various Religious
newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian
Press

THE Able Portal, who has come to
very reasonable view of the validity
OIL English orders, has been making an
address under the auspices of Lord
Halifax on Reunion with Rome When
We state that his verdict was non pos
sCmus, modified by a kindly tribute to
the English Church, with a hope for
better things in the future, we have
described almost all he felt himself
bound to admit" says the New York
Churchman' (P. Ed. "He distin-
guished, of course, between the Cath
olic Church and the English Church.
although the English Church claims to
be Catholic. One suggestive thing he
did, however, let drop. He thought
that Rome might view the situation
IN a different light if the churches of
Russia and England were first to ef-
feet union; for this we take to be the
meaning of the following weighty
words: England and Russia are CEN
ters of religious influence of the great
est Importance, and If, as thoughtful
observers are beginning to think not
improbable, the churches of England
and Russia should be brought into a
closer relationship than exists at pres
ent, it is impossible not to see that
such union cannot be without its ef-
feet on the Catholic Church and the
Latin races Napoleon said that Prov
jdence was on the side of strong bat
talions. 1t is possible that Popes are
also to be overawed, like civil powers,
by strong political and ecclesiastical
coalitions, and the force of powerful
majoritieS? We believe it is; but we do
not see how even the reunion of Eng
land with the Eastern Church could
prove that the Pope is fallible, or that
the immaculate conception is a myth.
"Of course every well-informed per-
son knew already that this matter of
the validity of orders is, from the Ro-
man point of view cnly subsidiary .
says the Living Church" P. Ed of
Chicago. 1T is one of the questions
which must be settled before unity can
lie accomplished, for we regard it as
certain that no approach between Rome
and England is possible without recog-
rition of English orders; but the Pope
now reminds US, if reminding We're
nCedful, that the main obstruction still
remains. That obstruction is the claim
of Papal supremacy by divine right and
original institution. That was the rock
on which Rome and England split.
Time and conflict have not worn ii
away in any degree. On the contrary
within the present century, this great
barrier has been strengthened and
fortified rather than weakened. 1t is
for this reason both Mr.. Gladstone and
other eminent persons have taken pains
to indicate that no unity is possible
until the Roman Church has seen its
way to great notifications of its pres
ent claims and a decisive readjustment
Of the position it has hitherto main
tanned. Meanwhile it is possible the
document before us Ohe Popes encycli-
CAD may foreshadOw some kind of IA
Vorable decision at Rome of the i'm
mediate subject Of consideration II
So. IL win be the first time since the
errly DAYS IF Elizabeth that Rome has
stirred from her attitude Of simple re-
Tuairfnn 20 the English Church and
rsierllan uf her claims"
"a --f dead has already teen ac-
in the way Of paving tbs
aF af teaching morals and
art lea the public school.
arF direct religious instruc-
fa the Christian Register
Nt,-fl uG Boston. but the previous
question as To- whether religion itself
ought or ought not be a subject of schoo
study is by no means popularity an
spered Many Of our universities are
reported 10 have given up compulsory
attendance at chapel: but this never
means the giving up Of chapel ser
vices. only a removal of the stigma ot
a forced observance. The common
schools cannot, however. be on {
plane of the universities; and il seem.
likely that an effort Will shortly bt
made by the united evangelical bodie.
TO have a certain time set apart fol
regular religious instruction. The re-
cent attempt made by the party of tn,
Established Church in England to fore,
sectarian instruction into the boarc
schools proved a disastrous failure. bu
cnly because there all the evangelical
fcrces united with the Unitarian in op
posing a measure which was not thei
own. In this country the condition.
viii be entirely different; and. should
the sects which now unite in Youns
Mems Christian Associations an,
which exclude Unitarians. Join in ;
great popular clamor for sectarian ed
ucation in the public schools. the,
would probably have 4 numerical ma
5ority'
I'VE think the eases where student.
are harmed by attendance on compul
sorry services are extremely few" saw
the "Congregationalist" of Boston. -
great many of them are expected to at
tend services when at home on vaca
tions: why should all restrictions b.
thrown aside during term time? No
can any one who has no religious feel
ing suffer greatly in being required t,
begin each day by participating in :
short and helpful service of worshfp
He must be a very weak and marrow
man who is thereby alienated from tn
religious life and made a bitter criti
of religious forms and institutions w
should be sorry to see college authori
ties yielding to the clamor of under
graduates. Harvard is so essentiall-
different in it's internal life from mos
OF our colleges that the fact that fire.
worship has been established there can
not be cited as proof that it would worl
happily under other conditions. w
agree entirely with President Franklin
Carter of Williams, who, in his las
commencement reports, touching upo1
the agitation of the matter among hi
own students, says: Whatever may b
the ultimate solution Of the religion
problem for the New England colleges
the almost universal usage still prevail
inc -. a