New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-18
THE OLD RELIGIOUS PHRASEOLOGY.

The letter of the Rev. DR.. David II. Greer,
of this city, declining the office of Bishop Co
adiutOr of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode
Island TO which he was recently elected. Is an
excellent illustration Of the modern spirit that is
doing so much to reshape Christian thought and
phraseology We all know in what way such
a letter written by the Oldtime clergyman
would be expressed. 1t would probably quote
one or more appropriate passages of Scripture
and would certainly make numerous references
TO Divine Providence and the Great Head or
the Church. The writer would make clear the
fact that he was but a worm of the dust. who
could do nothing without the aid and guidance
of n Higher Power, and he would tell how
earnestly he had wrestled with God In prayer
in order to come to a right decision in the mat
ter In a word, the whole letter would be Ut
tie more than cento Of religious phrases, EN-
ployed no doubt, with entire honesty anf sim
certify. but many Of which had come to be lit
tie more than conventional expressions.
Far different from such letter Is that which
J,r Greer wrote. 1t contains not single quota
ton from Scripture and none CT the tlme-hon-
orcd phrases to which we have referred. IT
begins by saying that after "a full and care
full consideration Of the subject the writer IS
compelled reluctantly to decline the elec-
ton Then after referring to the difficulty IN
volvcd in coming to decision Or. Greer says:
"In attempting however. TO ascertain what L
Fought to do, felt that all personal considera-
"tions must be eliminated and put aside, and
that | must look at the question that had come
"to me simply as question OF duty, ana that Is
what | have tried ut least to do. But even
then found 1t very perplexing question, with
"the conflict in it of duty against duty draw
"ng me first in one direction and then again
"in another. with strong and urgent reasons
con both sides What those reasons are 1t
"is not necessary to state; but | will ask you
"to believe that 1t Is only after very careful,
"and | hope conscientious, weighing and bal
"ancinc of them, with no other purpose than
"to know and do my duty, that have reached
"tbe above decision" That Is all AS "The
Church Economist we'll says: "a letter like
this on such n subject, would be almost un-
"thinkable in any other age Of the worlds his
tory. 1t is the letter OF business man or
"biph character and motives. declining an I'M
"pOrtant trust-thc presidency OF a bank or a
railroad. or Withdrawing from n Senatorial
contest"
MANY ld-fashiOned Christians will regret this
tendency to ignore the supposed difference be-
tween a religious duty and n merely secular
duty. They would say in this particular case.
for instance that a bishoprc Is incidentally
more important than bank presidency. and
that one who Is chosen to 1t should learn his
dirty by means Of some distinctvely religious
process To this the modern Christian would
reply that duty is duty, and that In true and
noble sense II Is always a sacred thing whether
/. relates TO n religious or a secular office. In
either case the method Of asccrtalnlng 1t must
he the same for truly religious man. The
old phraseology really meant no more In the
last analysis than the phraseology employed by
DIR. Greer The oldtime Christian tried to learn
his duty by weighing all its attendant circum-
stances. and that is exactly what the modern
Christian does. In loyalty to the faith and In
sincerity OF purpose there Is no difference be-
tween the two types Of Christians. The diff
ference in expression Is a mere accident, and
arises from the fact that the old phrases for