New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-23
SOME RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS.

The May anniversary meetings Of various re-
lgous organizations no longer attract general
attention. except, perhaps, in w-EnSland.
This is partly because they have been over
shadowed by other events, but more especially
because present-day Chris tianity no longer finds
lis complete expression in the oldtime annual
religious reunion. The brethren meet much
oftener now; they keep in touch with each other
by means of the religious press, and, besides all
that the emphasis to-day is coming to be laid
more on work than on talk about work. The
cid May anniversaries were delightful reunions
of men who were separated from each other
most of the year and who were helped and en-
cCuraged by clasping each others hands. BUT
there are now so many other opportunities for
Christian men and women to meet that the
merely social side of the annual church gather
irgs has lost some of its Importance.
Nevertheless, the great Christian conven-
tiCns and assemblies many Of which are held n
the spring and summe:, are not without their
importance Certainly they have not lost their
interest for Christian people. In Boston the
anniversary meetings are well attended, and
the country brethren return home from them
with fresh zeal FOR their work, while, on the
ether hand, Boston is the better spiritually for
Presbyterian Church North and South, which
began their sessions the last week, will call
attention to the important place which Presby
teranism holds in American Christianity. 1t is
a great pity that the schsm between the two
Churches, caused by the war, has not yet been
healed: but while thee is no immediate hope Of
n reunion it is bound to come some day. In
the mean while the two Churches are doing
All,
the sessions of their respective General Assem-
bles are not likely 10 be married by any I'M
seemly controversies The liberals and con-
servativcs in the Northern Church have appar-
emily agreed to disa gree. and wait for time to
show which is to gain the ascendency in the
Church. On the whole, this would appear to be
q wise decision.
The great Baptist meetings which have been
held this last week in Pittsburg. prove the vgor
and zeal of that powerful denomination. 1t
has been said that Of late years Baptiss do not
,lOw relatively as much as some other denomi-
nations in the great cities. But whether that be
50 or not the denomination as whole shows no
sign Of weakness. On the contrary ii is fore
most in aggressive Christian work ut home
and abroad, and in spite Of the onslaughts If
criticism and unbclicf it's members still hold
firmly to all its peculiar tenets. The proceed
ings of the Baptist gatherings in Pttsburg will
lave deep personal interest for n great multi
tude of earnest Baptists all over the United
StGtes.
One does not hear so mach of the COngrega-
tionalists nowadays, and yet as an intellectual
religious force no religious body in the country
SURPRISES it. 1t has been often said of it that
II has lost It's moorings. But this is not so. For
in the nature of the case 1t cannot ne n hard
and-fast system of dogma. 1t must reflect n
each generation the religious consciousness of
those who accept its principles and therefore
the Congregationalism of to-day is necessarily
different from the Congregatlonalism of the
days of Cotton Mnther. The Congregational
meetings are 10 be held in Saratoga this year,
beginning on June !. and they will show that
the denomination Is neither dead nor dying. On
the contrary. the various reports Of work done
which will then be presented VIII prove that
CCngregatiOnalists are not merely holding their
ow Il. but are developing new lines of aggressive
work.