The record-union., 1897-07-04

the profOundeSt and most inScruta Die
truths of revelation
THE old question of the Bible in
the schools is coming to the surface
once again. says the New York
Christian Intelligencer," because of
thedecision of Judge in Michigan that
it is opposed to the Constitution of
that State. The soundness of his con-
struction of the clause of the Constitu-
ton on which he bases his decision
is called In question, but whether it
be sound law or not, it cannot be
doubted that in thus debarring from
the schools the Book of books the
youth of our land are cut off in their
school days from the best source, not
only of etnical instruction, but from
the purest we'll of English undefiled 1t
certainly would seem possible for selec-
tionS to be made from the Bible which
would be unexceptionable to Jews or
Roman Catholics. if not to infidels.
When it is remembered that fully nine
tenths of our people hold to the Bible
as the Word of God, it seems strange
that their children must be shut off
from hearing or reading it in school
AAOdio oCSouSC OIlc vi IIlOTG III q nun
dred holds it to be a sectarian book"
.
What amount and what kind Of ad-
vertising of it's services may a church
legitimately employ?' asks the Chris
tian Register" Unit.) of Boston ION
scarcely any practical question do
opinions differ more widely. At one
extreme stands the sensationalism
which makes use of almost all the arts
known to the proprietor of a side show
at a circus, in order to attract public
notice. At the other extreme stands
the conservatism which will not SO
SO much as post a notice in a railway
station or hotel, lest it injure the dig
nifty of public worship. Both alike
seem foolish. So much advertising of
a service to which the public Is in
vited as will suffice to carry the invi-
tation to those who may be glad to
receive it should be employed as mat
ter of course. Generally speaking, the
simple notice is an invitation; and, if
it be given due publicity, that should
be enough. Anything much beyond
this tends to cheaper the church in
the eyes of right-minded people Any
SAAiAis iiAoNi SAAOi vi ILLS lo " IllN
der a bushel the candle that was meant
to shed it's beams abroad"
n
1.-THE supply of ministers is increas-
ing faster than the number of
churches" says the "Congreg gational-
ist" of Boston. During the five years
preceding 1896 the net gain in churches
was 665 and the net gain in ministers
was 72S. The number Is also increas-
ing Of ministers in other denomina-
tions pressing to secure Congregational
pulpitS. Front these ranks it is eSti-
mated that about one-third of our an
nual increase comes and as many more
ministers stand ready to respond to
calls. From these facts and figures it
seems evident that while there is abun-
dant opportunity for ministers to
preach the Gospel, as Paul did, at their
own charges there are already ordained
men enough to occupy all congrega ton
al pulpitS which can afford to give
them reasonable support while more
new ministers than churches are being
added every year. No doubt there are
imperative calls to selected young men
to enter the ministry. But so far as
Congregationalists are concerned, no
general call needs to be issued to fill up
depleted ranks