The record-union., 1896-10-11
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
EXPRESSIONS From Various Religious
Newspapers.
Th:: Religious Thought Of tn: Day as
EXP: ::ss::d in tn. S:ctarian
Piss.

TIE NEW YIN 4AoCPNA1ASAAS N|~~S -
What the effect of this declaration
will be in England and America 1t IS
difficult to forecast From the discus
sions on the subject in the Anglican
papers one would think it was regarded
as a matter of the greatest import
ance So it is to those who believe
that the existence Of a valid church
depends on the unbrOken TRANSMISSION
of orders; and those who so believe
appear to have been growing more
numerous. To such the decision Of
competent canonists, whose authority
they so much respect, and whose pos
sible decision against them they had
contemplated with alarm, must be a
very serious thing. The Pope tells
them that it is finally settled that the
only way in which they can make their
orders regular is by returning to the
mother church Some of them may 90
1t; in consistency they would have to.
There may be from among the extreme
ritualists a secession to Rome, some
what like that of the time of Newman
and Manning. But they are not likely
to carry congregations with them.
They may be notable men, of the type
of Lord Halifax and Archdeacon Den1-
son, but comparatively few in number.
On the other side this decision Will
arouse a new feeling of resentment
against the claims Of Rome. Many
who have been willing to claim the
coveted actual succession, now that 1t
Is denied to them, will say, Well, what
does it amount to, after all? If we do
not have it, if there was a break in
Do rly time what we
the worse for it? The great broad
church party, and equally the low
church party, which is not defunct,
will be strengthened in their indiffer-
epce to the whole contention on which
high churchism rests, and toward the
exaggeration of whose importance its
party has been unfortunately leading
the church.
Canon Charles Gore Of Westmins-
ter has received the degree of Doctor of
Divinity from the University of Edin-
burgh," observes the Living Church"
P. Ed of Chicago Canon Gore is
undoubtedly one of the most prominent
of the English clergy in the theological
world, much as his position on some
important subjects is to be regretted.
His paper in LUX Mundi'' first at
tracted general attention on account of
its radical utterances with regard to
the higher criticism, the nature Of in
spiration, and the limitations of our
Lords knowledge. Some of the posi-
tions of that celebrated essay have been
developed in Cores hampton lectures
en- the Incarnation and a volume of
supplementary essays. With all due
recognition of Canon Cores earnest
ness, learning and undoubted rever-
ence, and to his real services to English
theology in certain directions, we can
not but feel that in his doctrine of the
'Kenosis,' or abandonment of the di-
vine attributes in the incarnation, he
has struck out line of spurious
thought. inconsistent already with the
Catholic faith, and certain to beal
fruit in various heretical developments
To the broad church Presbyterians OF
Scotland, whose tendencies were eX-
hibited in significant volume OF
Scotch Sermons some years ago, Can
on Cores 'Kenosis' doctrine is entirely
congenial. Hence, perhaps, this COM
pliment from one Of the chief Scottish
universities"
Liberal religion to-day has a good
many allies" observes the Christian
Register" CUnit) of Boston ''They dc
not bear that label Some OF them
are not commonly reckoned among re-
ligious forces, but their influence Is
felt powerfully in the field Of religion
Every contribution to knowledge an6
Intelligence, every force that is ration
alizing, is a help to liberal religion
So the advance of science, philosophy
and history, all inevitably tend in this
direction. The religious sentiment i:
freed from trammels Of superstition
which have bound it. A rational re-
ligion is the only one that properly fits
the spirit Of this age; and a rational re.
ligion may be as reverent, as helpful
and inspiring as one that is supersti
tious Another great ally is the phil
anthropic and humane sentiment. AL
progress in this direction is progress
away from doctrines and beliefs toe
cruel to be accepted in this age as
either true or beneficent. However veal
liberal religion may be in it's organized
missionary Institutions, 1t has behind
it forces and influences which, like all
and sunlight, are surely helping t.
ripen its seed
eff we had the masses within ou1
reach to deal with. that would be ons
problem How to reach them Is an
other. and this Is the one presented t
this age" says the Christian Leader
Oniy) of Boston. Common speech
defines the masses as those en- thu
other side of the line that separate:
employer and employe. and there is ar
assumption, unconscious or otherwise
that the supreme goal of religion i.
with the masses; that they have NOR,
reed, greater temptations, and less re
sistance; that they are plastic and th'
most desirable and available materia
with which the church can work.
is Questionable whether the facts, /
they are known, would sustain the as
sumption; whether, taking man t.
man, there Is not as much need, a.
much temptation, and as little resist
ance with the so-called class as will
the so-called mass Some among 'th,
masses drink and swear, are immora
and Indifferent to religious restraint
Proportionately the class can max,
little better showing, and with the sam,
natures have much the same needs
and in this hour, when so much Is sait
about the Masses certain statistic:
showing the relative moral standing
and religious interest would be an in
teresting and profitable study
"There is to-day in the world, especi
ally in Europe and America, a CROWN,
disregard for the law of God" says th'
New York Christian Intelligencer'