The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-27

OuO VI oNer l,OUO marriages IN England
only Al are of Roman Catholics. The pro-
portion has not changed for ten years. In
previous years it has gone as high as 81 in
LOCO, or one half of one per cert. 1t does
not appear that Catholicism is gaining anv
strength in England, although the few
Catholics make so much noise that one
would suppose there are ten times as
many journal and Messenger.
INFLUENCE EDUCATIONAL.
The unconscious flow of influence from
one fine nature to another is not only con-
tinuous, but it is, in the deepest sense,
educational The warm atmosphere which
lures ones sensitive fancies from their re-
treats, the fine frankness which is a better
self-criticism, the quick comprehension
which helps one to grasp his own idea in
all its implicaticns-all these are supplied
by true friendship Outlook
CUBAN AUTONOMY.
No, autonomy should not be depended
upon to relieve the tension of affairs But
possibly midway path may be found by
nous concession as our approval of auton-
omy, and brusque and bellicose deliver
ance against Spain. May the consideration
of this complex problem in December be
wisely and moderately carried forward,
and may Providence reveal what is Just
and right.-The Standard.
OLD TRUTHS AND NEW SERMONS
The Congregationalist offers this sound
advice to ministers: ''Preach old truths,
but new sermons There is certainly
plenty of room for originality and fresh
ness in presenting old doctrines in more
telling ways without seeking to introduce
novelties into creeds and doubts into doc
trinal systems. A well known London
preacher claims that he never breaches
any old sermons, but admits that he does
New York Observer.
THE LORD DEMANDS OUR BEST GIFTS.
The Lord demands of us, not more than
others do, nor less, but our best The
gifts of other churches do not measure our
responsibility. 1t will not do for us, in
giving an account of our stewardship, to
more than other churches - and it will
not commend to divine favor the other
churches that they may boast of larger
gifts than we made. One ''She hath done
what she could,' will be worth more
then, as it is worth more now, than
thousand Pharisaical prayers of thanks
giving than ours is not as other churches
are. Cumberland Presbyterian.
BORN INTO THE CHURCH.
AS everyone is born member of the
state, he is by right, also, born member
of the church. Every one is citizen;
but every one is also a religionist-but we
have no word for this general human fell
lowship. A man may by our vocabulary,
be born a Christian, or born Buddhist,
or Mohammedan but what shall we say
of him as a child of God, as brother of
man. This grand relation ought to be and
must be recognized. 1t is dawning on this
age that we are members of great hui
man, social, international, organism
The New Unity.
POLITICAL CORRUPTION IN NEW YORK
Greater New York is incapabeo of main
tanning a republican form of government.
The systematic corruption and robbery of
Tammany almost passes belief. The plum
dering of public funds is great, but the
robbery of individuals is greater-this
last in many ingenious ways privately,
I'd nxr; I'D -,
interpretations. Tammany derives vast
revenue from saloons, dance houses, and
gambling houses. 1t is believed that the
boss of the Tammany machine and of the
Republican machine, are in league, and
work in each others interest. Ibis can
not last through another century Some
way must be devised to place the city out
of the reach of gangs of criminals. A des-
potic form of government is preferable to
free institutions operated in this way
The Interior.
ENLIGHTENMENT VIA LYMAN ABBOTT.
Now we are enlightened. DR.. Lyman
Abbot has told us what redemption is.
We have the definition in his own words
which any one may see for himself Why
need any remain longer in darkness and
ignorance when this matter is made so
plainl Lay aside the Shorter Catechism,
which is hard to understand, and commit
to memory this plain and simple answer
to the question, "What is redemption2"
Redemption is the entire process of in
tellectual and spiritual development in
which man passes, by means of law and
temptation, through the possibility of sin
and fall-that is, of ignorance of law, and
therefore exemption from guilt-into the
condition of virtue-that is, into con-
scious recognition of law, and the subju-
cation of the animal self to the higher
nature which law and temptation have
evoked THE Midland.
RIVAL CLAIMS IN AFRICA.
England's ambition is a continuous
longitudinal line of English territory
from Cairo TO Cape Town. The ambition
of France is to extend her domain lati-
tudinally from Senegal to the Egyptian
Soudan. Both Powers have been moving,
the one southwark, the other eastward.
The colliding interests just now ale ON the
Niger. France claims a southern boun-
Diary line down to the ninth parallel; Eng
land claims as her minimum right the
right bank of the Niger as far north as