The herald., 1897-10-31
CHURCHLY NOTES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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M. De Coubertin, in a recnt issue OF
the Nouvelle Revue (Paris), speaks OF
two great events in the history OF re-
ligion in the United States, the Puritan
foundation of 1920, and the Assembly at
Chicago in 1898. While with us the
spheres of religion and of the state are
constitutionally distinct, he recognizes
the universally of our appeals for the
divine assistance on nearly all public
occasions, and he discovers in our ma
tional constitution an article making
''the Christian religion the religion of
the state.'' Contrasting the periods
1920 Ind 1898, he says:
'The men of the seventeenth century
held somewhat rigid and intolerant
creed. The civilization of Asia and of
Europe was odious to them, and their
idea of moral regeneration was based
upon a stern austerity. 1t is different
picture in 1893 There is great assem-
bly, of religions; q cardinal of the Roman
church presides. Around him are rep
resented the various Protestant sects,
the priests of Buddha, dignitaries Of
Islam, deputations from the most dis
tant and the most ancient monasteries
and temples in the world. We see what
is lost to dogma is gained to sentiment.
On the shore Of Lake Michigan meets,
indeed, a council, but it is council
without anathema and without eXcom-
nun ication."
He tells us that Americans "are essen
TALLY more sentimental than any other
nation in the world" and refers to the
curious religious phenomena, such as
"the revivals," as a species of religious
hypnotism. to which we abandon our
selves, and which sis the marvel Of all
visitors to our country.
The practice of ministers in eXchang-
ing pulpits is another revelation to M.
de Coubertin This practice is all but
unknown in England, and he believes it
has tendency to broaden the spirit of
preaching, since the Baptist preacher,
for instance, in filling a Presbyterian
pulpit, seeks not to wound the convic-
tions of his hearers, on the contrary,
seeks, for points of agreement, as the
parliament of religions did at Chicago.
1t is a slow process, but those Europ-
cans will learn something of the spirit
Of Christianity from us after while.
The achievements Of the late reformer,
Neal Dow, in the cause of soberness and
abstention from the use Of intoxicants,
is the subject of commendation by the
newspaper press of the country, relig-
ious and secular. ITO him and such a s
him." says the Free Press (Detroit), "are
praise and credit due for the tremendous
advancement in temperance sentiment
throughout the country, for the ad
vanced opinions on the subject that
makes tippling and the tippler far less
tolerable in any community than they
were half a century ago"
while not the father of the prohibi-
tion idea," declares the Voice On. W,
"he became it's chief apostle in the days
of his early manhood, and by untiring
energy gave his native state (Maine)
the high distinction OF being the first
commonwealth to place prohibitory
law upon it's statute books. The
prohibition reform has been blest with
a multitude of consecrated champions.
but none of them in the manner and
spirit of their work furnished so helpful
an example as did Neal Dow
(Boston) illustrates how contiicting are
the opinions entertained of distinguish
ed men by their contemporaries. In the
eyes of the Transcript, while according
to him "a life of grand intentions" Neal
Dow was monumental failure" 1t
refers to the system of prohibitory laws
as growing factor of decentralization
and deceit in the legislation Of various
states" Massachusetts, bitterly ex-
claims that paper, has suffered from it
and while she is happily rid of the sys-
tenn there still remains the virus of hy-
pocrisy of which it was the most prolific
spawn this country has ever known"
Nevertheless, the cause of temperance
moves onward and is destined, sooner or
later, to become part of the common
law of the country. The laws of hygiene
as we'll as the moral law are already on
that side of the question.
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A new parliament of religionS-such
as that which assembled in Chicago in
1S93-to take place at Paris in 1900, is
advocated by Victor Charbonnel. He
says: 'Why should it not be chosen to
mark the data of an immense religious
rendezvous where all believers might
make a sole and same declaration of
faith. L believe in God and unite in q.
sole and same prayer, Our Father, who
art in Heaven?'" The abbe thinks the
proposed parliament would give r. new
inspiration to that charity, brotherly
love and social solidarity "most needed
by humanity in our terrible times" He
believes it would accomplish 'the moral
union of religions
= y
An English army chaplain contributes
to the United Service Magazine (Sept)
a paper entitled praying Soldiers"
ancient and modern, one or two extracts
from which will be found of interest.
He tells of a prayer offered before a
battle in Ireland by Bishop Leslie, who,
like Bishop Leonidas Polk of the Con-
federate army, was known as "the
fighting bishop" This pious (?) effu-
sion is as follows:
80 God, for our unworthiness we are
not fit to claim thy help, but if we are
bad our enemies are worse, and if thou
seest not meet to help us, we pray thee
help them not, but stand thou neuter
this day and leave it to the arm of
flesh" An habitual ante-battle invo-
cation is attributed to Gen. Moltke in
the following terms: Lord teach us
to think that we must die, that we may