The record-union., 1897-10-31
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
EXPRESSIONS FROM VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.

The Religious Thought OF the Day
as Expressed in the Sec
tartan Press.
Let those who wish to know what
the real position of this church is and
whittier it is tending says The Liv-
ing Church" Up. Ed of Chicago, first
examine with care its authorized form
ulari4s. Then let them trace its his
tory and progress in this country, and
observe whether there has been any
tendency during the last century 10
weaken those formularies in any re-
vision that has taken place Let them
recall the jealousy with which, in re
cent years, any alteration which might
trench upon doctrine has been regard
ed. If any change has been made
which can be said to touch doctrine,
it has been such as to strengthen, not
to weaken, the dogmatic faith, as when
the recitation of the Nicene Greed was
made mandatory instead of permissive
If anything further were needful, it IS
supplied by the theological pastoral of
the American Bishops three years ago,
with which may well be coupled the
recent letter of the English Archbish-
ops or the priesthood, sacraments and
sacrifice. In none of these is it pos
sible to trace any influence of so-calIed
liberal religion. If the promoters of
the liberal congress had duly weighed
these consideration, it is not probable
that they would have dreamed of re-
quesring a Bishop of this church to aid
their counsels by his presence and in
dorsement."
"The accusation of intellectual dis
honesty is made from time to time
against Presbyterian ministers and eId-
ers, those who are required to sub
scribe to the system of doctrine" says
The Interior Pres) of Chicago. This
arises from misapprehension of what
is Involved. For example, here is an
article from the Confession: The
Father is none, neither begotten nor
proceeding; the Son is eternalIy be-
gotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost
eternally proceeding from the Father
and the Som That is no essential
part CT the system of doctrine, and has
no logical relation to it. The state
ments are wholly beyond comprehen-
sion as they stand, and it is only by
tracing them back to their origin in
ancient philosophy that any signifi-
canoe whatever can be gotten out of
them. So also that stone of stumbling
and rock of offense, the third chapter
of the Confessions. The vote of the
assembly for revision a few years ago,
by d tWo-thirds majority, had special
reference to that chapter While it
contains an essential factor of the sys-
tenn, the logic of it is no necessary part
of the system 1t Cannot be charged
upon one who subscribes to the system
of doctrine that he is under compulsion
to work out the logic of the divine SOW
ereignty to an extreme which would
destroy the scriptural doctrine of moral
responsibility. Are you not compelled
by intellectual honesty to follow the
logic of your premises?' We are bound
by intellectual honesty to accept the
truth that man is a responsible being,
but we are not bound to follow the
logic of that premise to the extent cf
denying the sovereignty and even the
existence of God-for to that extreme it
will go.''
'"The truth is that in fitting against
Presbyterianism," says the New York
observer (Pres.) Mr.. Mills is assail-
ing a rock. The rock has been there
good while, and is likely to be there
good many decades after the career
of Mr.. Mills is over Many of the
grandest successes of the world have
been pronounced failures by those who
lacked the sensibility to appreciate
them. The assertion that Presbyterian
ism either has been or is a failure
however much as a denomination it
may come short of the perfect ideals OF
Christianity, is calculated to receive
little consideration by any thoughtful
student Of American ecclesiastical de-
velopment and the history of American
religious activities. A church that car
ries on its rolls the names of so many
men eminent in the spheres of scholar
ship, craftsmanship, commerce and in
vention, that is served by such a host
of earnest workers both clerical and
lay, that in comparison with other
churches gives royalty to the support
of foreign and domestic missions and
of all sorts Of educational and charit-
sistent and persistent friend Of liberty
truth, justice and order cannot in any
fair estimate of the case be termed a
failure. If on this showing it were a
failure, then the disorganized and dis
organizing Unitarianism with which
Mr.. Mills has been coquetting is in com
parison almost an historic nonentity.' .
'The fourth commandment is the
workingman's palladium, his best de-
fence against oppression, and was sc
intended from the first" says the New
York independent Masters, en-
ployers, can take rest when they
please; rest must also be provided
both by law and religion, for those
whom constant enforced labor would
otherwise imbrute. Every provision tc
guard against excessive hours Of labor
on the week day is in the very spirit
of this commandment. We are to main
tain a rest day equally out of honor
TO God. according to Exodus, and out
of mercy to man, according to Dueter-
onony. The two versions give us IL
lustrated, in concrete duty, the double
command of love to both God and man
on which our Lord tells us hang the
law and the prophets. That thy man
servant and thy maidservant may rest
as well as thou" How this purpose and
command of God condemns the heart
lessness, too often the brutality. Of
masters of industry and mistresses OF
householdsi For the workman's sake
the wheels and the hammers and the
ploughs must cease to move on the day
of rest For the sake of the servant
girl, the slave woman, the spinning and
the Weaving and the cooking were tc