The record-union., 1898-07-10
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
EXPRESSIONS FROM VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.
The Religious Thought Of the Day
as Expressed in the Sec
tartan Press.

1t is only too clear" says the "Liv-
ing Church P. Ed of Chicago, that
we have in the American Church no
judicial system worthy of the name.
We have diocesal courts, but no courts
OF appeal. 1t is not necessary to dwell
upon the consequences of this Every
thinking person sees at once that such
state Of things is completely ineffect-
I've. There can be little respect for the
decisions or court which, just or un-
just, cannot be reviewed. Here, at
least, the province has a legitimate
| place 1t is starting point from
which something definite and useful
may be attained. Much, however still
remains to be settled, even when we
have got so far as to have a distinct
object before us to, be accomplished
| through provincial system One ques-
tion. and that the first one. is, on what
principle shall dioceses be grouped :?
Shall we have State provinces only, or
shall the scheme be flexible enough
to include adjoining States? What title
shall be given TO the president of the
provincial synod or council? Shall he
be called Metropolitan, or Archbishop.
or by that dear old term. Presiding
Bishop" Then, again, shall me hold
his position by virtue of the importance
OF his see, or of seniority, or by cleo
ton? In view of the number and diff
Guilty Of the points to be dealt with it
appears to US that the committee on
the revision of the constitution has
acted most wisely in making no at
tempt TO embody in a constitution a
full-fedged, cut-and-dried scheme of
provincial organization. 1t has con-
tented itself with vindicating the prin
ciple Of such organization and leaving
all details to be provided by canonical
legislation"
THE one present duty Of liberal
churches and denominations of all
kinds" says the Christian Register"
(Unit) of Boston lis to prove by the
lives of their members and the services
they render that religion in it's purest
form fiourshes best under the law of
liberty. No obnoxious dogma was ever
driven out by argument. The existence
of personal devil has never been dis
proved and cannot be. But belief in a
personal devil fades away as confidence
in God increases. A literal hell Of flame
and physical torments has never been
disproved. and cannot be. The belief
in it is still nominally held by the ma
jority of Christians, MohammedanS
and Buddhists. But all active interest
in the doctrine and the practical appli-
cation of it ceases in proportion to the
increase Of faith in the love and justice
of the Father of US all. The prejudice
against Unitarianism. which is still one
Of the most conspicuous features of re-
ligious journalism, springs from fear
that dissent from the doctrine includes
denial of the faith, that fear can be
banished by abundant examples Of
godly, or goodly, living"
Religion" says the New York Chris
tian Intelligencer' Ref), expresses
itself in outward forms-in rites, cere-
monies and uSages. As thus embodied
men come to know it, and often con-
found the church with that Of which it
is the expression. Christ said to those
who in His day made this mistake, who
thought all religion must conform it
self to existing molds, methods and in
stitutions a new vintage has come, and
it must be put into new bottles. The
principle is that there is ever to be pre-
served harmony between the inward
and outward, the contained and the
container the Spirit and the embodi-
ment; and which every advance in re-
ligon, with every increase in knowl-
edge and power, there must be a cor
responding adjustment of the external
expression. The thought impressed is
that the church must keep itself in con-
gruity with its own attainments and its
changed circumstances, that to live
and do its work it must conform itself
to the new light and new conditions
which continually arise and urge TO new
attainments.'
York .'Churchman" P. Ed, attribute
what is lacking in ecclesiastical and
spiritual conditions to the shortcomings
of the clergy in the same way that in
this the most democratic country in
the world the people blame the admin
istration for their own faults. The
apostolic conception of the royal and
priestly people worshiping and acting
as one body is wanting; the sense of
personal responsibility for the state of
the church is all too rare. Here and
now the crying need is to awaken the
layman to the recognition of the re-
sponsiblity Of his position in the church
CT God, a responsibility which demands
of him definite spiritual work according
to his capacity. He needs 10 learn that
a clergyman does not do spiritual work
because he is a clergyman; that he does
it because he is a Christian; that his