The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1896-11-01

chism says He is and the Bible says He
is not, He would deserve our reverence.
He might command our service through
fear, not our loyalty through love-.
Now that the active work of the city
churches is becoming increased by the
autumn influx of travellers, and of those
who with the fall Of the leaf leave the
country and seaside, it becomes neces-
sary," says the New York Church
man" Up. Ed, Ito repeat the warning to
church goers against desultory and ca
PRECIOUS attendance on divine service.
The cultivation of religious habits, re-
ligious knowledge and religious feeling
is by far the most important element In
the education of rational creature.
Desultory study can never be prohta-
BILE study. To take up everything IN
turn and nothing long results In a fall
ure to master any subject Whatever.
Worship and the study Of religious feel
ing should be systematic to be profita-
bic. If you would live WELL says st.
Bernard, live by rule We can under
stand a protested infdel going to one
church after another for curiosity or
social entertainment; we can under
stand his not going to church at all.
He can see no reason why he should
go regularly or remain constant TO one
congregation. We can find no excuse
for one who processes to be Christian
neglecting duties of which he admits
the obligation"
"a scarcely less harmful idea" says
the STANDARD" (Bapt.) of Chicago, lis
the impression that though some lay
men may and should act as leaders i'll
the church, their number must be small,
and the suitable men will find their way
into office by sort of natural selection.
This is an error only one side Of which
can be easily exposed; it is not difficult
to see that the men who are found in
positions of responsibility in the
churches are not always qualified, but
it is difficult to prove that there are
members in the ranks who might have
made better leaders if properly trained.
The latter fact can be confidently as
serted only by one who is thoroughly
acquainted with the persons in ques
tiCn. But we believe that until the ex-
pertinent has been thoroughly tried of
giving to each and every member Of the
church some definite training in church
work, no pastor has right to complain
that there is no good material in his
church. The pastor is not the only one
who suffers from this error in theory
and practice. The people as well are
heavy losers. They have a right to ex-
rect that they will be helped to begin
and carry on some practical Christian
work to supplement and counterbalance
the growth of their inner life
while there exists a very general
consensus Of opinion among enlightened
Christian people regarding the main
neral principles of the Bible, differ
ences of view will yet frequently come
in says the New York observer"
(Pres.) las to the application Of those
Principles to particular phases of po-
litical or social life. And such varieties
CT view where they exist are to be ex-
planned, not only by reference to diff
ferences in constitutional temperament,
educational view points or prejudices Of
prepoSsession, but also to the we'll
Known fact that all good people are not
equally enlightened or even equally ca
liable of enlightenment Unfortunately,
a man who is converted from sin is not
always converted to sense. There are al
ways some whose mentality Is Of such a
light and dependable order that, though
their souls are saved, their wits are
lost beyond repair. If these things are
So the very best and most popular min
lister, so soon as he steps off and up
from the plane Of mere platitude, must
expect some individuals to dissent from
his opinions. not necessarily because
they disagree with those views. but be-
cause they lack the native wit or ac-
quired education to agree with them.
The divergence of view. in other words
is often more negative than positive"