The record-union., 1896-05-31
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From Various Religious
Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian
Press.


sion to his eloquent, and no doubt sin
oere, utterances from year to year on
the subject of unity says the Living
Church" P. Ed of Chicago. THAT
Cardinal Vaughan should strenuously
oppose any recognition of Anglican or
ders is most natural. Such recognition
might place him in an undesirable posi-
ton. 1t would be against the policy
which since 1850 has dictated the main
tenance of a Roman hierarchy in Eng
land. But, so far as the Anglican COM
munion Is concerned, it does not appear
that the matter is of any vital import
ance. The condemnation of Anglican
orders might affect a few unstable peo-
pie, but in the case of much larger
number it would be taken as an indica-
tlon from divine providence that agita-
tlon for reunion is as yet premature,
and that instead of wasting energy in
that cause, it is better to throw all pos
sible effort into the work of the church
TIC spread, build up, reform, and bring
to greater perfection the church into
which God has called us will, in the long
run be the most effective mode of
bringing about in some future age
true and lasting unity"
THE choirmaster of one of the prom
inent churches of New York City has
recently written a letter." says the New
York 'Churchman" (P. Ed, "in which
he complains that the boys of church
choirs are spiritually neglected.
Almost every rector of a parish regards
the choir boy as a church problem
The Bishop of Central New York has ex-
pressed himself strongly on the subject
OF the general irreyerance and bad be-
haViOr of boy choirs, and has said that
rather than be subjected to future
annoyance from this cause, he would
prefer to robe in some place adjoining
the church, and to meet the choir at the
entrance, SO as to avoid the noise and
confusion of the choir in the vestry or
anteroom. 1t used to be said in past
years, by clergy of the Church of Eng
land, that ringers and singers are the
parsons torments.' Ringers do not
trouble the American clergyman over
much, but the irreverent conduct Of
singers, whether they be men or women,
boys or girls, is often a source of very
great vexation to a clergyman who has
strict and correct ideas regarding rev.
erent behavior during divine worship
Perhaps something might be done to
improve the spiritual condition of the
choir boys; but the choir boy will proba-
bly, rule his behavior from what he sees
TO be that of the men and women en-
gagged in public worship. The public
admission of the choir boy upon a dis
tinct promise of reverential conduct has
been one method employed, the estab-
lishnlent of choir guilds another, while
in some churches in England, where the
majority of singers are unpaid, only
communicates are admitted to the
choir
Successive Assemblies" says the
New York Evangelist" Pres.), have
declared by resolution and in judicial
decisions that doctrinal soundness
means the affirmation of the inerrancy
of the original autographs Of Scripture
This is the article of standing or fall
ing church. The majority have left
nothing undone to enforce this test,
and their leaders do not tire in affirm
ing that it is binding upon any man
who accepts the Office of minister or
elder in the church. Every dissent is
to be crushed out, and when this iron
rule is enforced, then, and then only,
will there be peace and unity in all our
borders! If that is the millennial state
to which our brethren are looking, they
must themselves confess that they are
making slow progress, and that the de-
sired result is still far away. Ministers
and elders without number disavow the
doctrine. Nor is the dissent confined
to one locality or to unknown men.
Many of our most popular preachers
are amng those whom we have in mind.
Now, If it be the duty of the church to
see that its ministers are sound in the
faith, why are not these men brought
to the bar of their Presbyteries to an
swer for false doctrine? Ecclesiastical
discipline should be applied without
fear or favor, and the offending mem
bers should be cut off. To be sure, it
would be rather large job to turn out
ministers by the hundred, but necessity
knows no law, and if there is danger Of
deadly gangrene in the whole body
OF the church, the offending members
must be cut off without mercy. Can
our conservative brethren shirk this
plain duty without confessing by their
act, or their failure to act, that their
policy has broken down?"
IF we believe" says the New York
outlook" that the Bible is, in every
book, chapter, paragraph, sentence
and word equally inspired and authori-
tative, we are relieved from all neces-
sity of exercising moral discrimination
in reading it. It's infallibility relieves
us from mental toll in it's perusal. If
we believe that it is human book con-
tanning a revelation of God as a seed
contains a principle of life within it's
husky covering, we are compelled to