New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-06
GOOD WORKS AND RELIGION.
CONTROVERSY BEGUN BETWEEN
CHURCH PAPERS.
PHILANTHROPY IN THE PRo-cATHEDHAL
pARIsH-cRrr1c1sM FROM THE PARISH OF
ST MARY THE VIRGINIA DEFENCE

PARIsH-cRIT1CIsM FROM THE PARISH OF
ST MARY THE VIRGINIA DEFENCE
OF 1ABoRs AMONG TIE POOR
A controversy as to the true definition OF religion
appears to have arisen between the rltuaiistc
Protestant Episcopal Church Of St Mary the VIZ
GIN on one hand and the Prof. Cathedral. In stan
ton-st the ecclesia stcai home Of the Bishop. on
the other The contention seems TO be as TO
whether the good works carried under the direct
authority of Bishop Potter by the Pro-Cathedrai
constitute pure religion.
This interesting question raised by The
Arrow" monthly parochial paper. published
under the auspices OF the Church of ST. Mary the
Virgin by a society connected with that parish
called the Sons of st. Sebastian In the July num-
Der of that publication editorial article.
under the head of PRO Cathedral" which said:
We notice in the ro-Cathedral Record that the
beautiful professional cross presented to the Cathe-
dral corporation and accepted on It's behalf by
in pace, this prayer for the dead being FOR the
repose OF the soul Of the Rev Dr. Miles. some time
on the cross good but would be better pleased
II prayer on the knees formed more prominent
feature OF the Pro Cathedral.
THE Arrow then goes on to outline the Pro-
Cathedral work scheduled for every day in the
week. excepting Sunday. 1t is seen that those
days mainly given over to kindergarten classes.
mems clubs. choir rehearsals. brotherhood meet
ings. visits Of physicians and gymnasti; exercises,
ana the article closes WIN the comment tndt tnlS
may be philanthropy. but it is not religion"
The organ Of the Pro-Cathedral parish. which II
named THE Pro-Cathed-ai Record" replies to this
structure in the present months issue After thank
ing its contemporary in somewhat caustic terms
for the attention II has drawn to the work OF the
Pro-Cathedral, THE Record" adds
We are not ashamed OF being philanthropic. al
Circles ir Which the editor Of he arrow has re-
ceyed his religious instr1ction TO us philanthropy
God that does not manifest itself In love TO man
is not worth having. We believe that the whole OF
man belongs to God-body, soul and spirit We be-
lieve that we doing Gods service when we give
His children a chance to keep their bodies clean
and strong and healthy. and their minds pure and
elevated and refined In the midst or so much that
tends to make them unclean ana unhealthy ana
| impure and degraded.
We believe that the money. the time the effort
which We spend In the attempt to upilf' the ives
| them nobler thoughts and higher Ideals and truer
acts give God more pleasure and are OF more use
In the world than the same money and time and
effort spent in the erection of a beautiful church
in which might worship God In splendor and
ease-in which, surrounded by all the accessories
that appeal TO most refined tastes. We would be
apt TO forget the misery and sorrow OF Gods chill
dren in the world. and think we are doing God 5
service when we are really pleasing ourselves.
The article then quotes few lines from Leigh
| Hunt'g "Abou Ben Adhem" and continues fol-
lows
Of THE Arrow,' but feel assured that the Bible
is II the editor will look at the end OF the fIst
| chapter of the Epistle Of 81. James he will find a
definition Of religion that authoritative:
pure religion and undefed before God and the
Father Is this: to visit the fatherless and widows
in their affection. and to keep himself unspotted
! from the world" To be sure the editor of The
Arrow" may agree with Martin Luther that the
study he will come 10 the opinion that our work
here Is not only philanthropy. but also religion.