The record-union., 1898-09-18
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
FROM VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.

The Religious Thought Of the Day
as Expressed in the Sec
tartan Press.
rs the confidence of the Christian
church in the conquest of the world
for Christ declining?" asks the Con
gregationalist" of Boston. IF it is,
then it's own faith in it's Lord is grow
ing weak, and the power is waning
which has made Christian nations
foremost in the work of civilizing the
human race. 1t is hard to believe that
this can be true. Yet it appears that
Congregationalists, who led the move
ment of this century in America for
foreign missions, are giving less to
carry it forward than they gave TWEEN
ty-five years ago. This appears to be
proved by the facts stated in another
column by the Rev. J. r. Thurston.
While the aggregate amount is larger,
IT each member of our denomination
on the average, had given as much
for this object during the last five
years as was given during the years
from 1869 to 1873, the receipts of the
American Board would have been
greater by more than ST 100000. This,
too, in face of the evidence that the
fruits Of foreign mission work give far
greater reason for encouragement than
| those of the earlier period
Discussing the question of ministerial
recompense, the Christian 1ntelll-
gencer" (Ref church, of New York
says: I'VE are not disposed to con-
! denim trade discounts or special privl-
! legeS to ministers. It is a recognition
| of the value of their services the world
can we'll afford to make. They work
! in the interests of business. They are
a more efficient constabulary than an
armed police, and do more to restrain
! the evil influences of society than a
standing army. If the full object and
| interest of their labors were recognized
and accepted and the golden rule which
! they proclaim and enforce was obey
| ed, taxes would be lower and hard
| times come seldom if ever. 1t hardly
seems desirable to lower the standard
to any further degree. 1t is low
enough. If firms and corporations
desire to express their appreciation of
ministers services to the community at
| large we can see no good reason why
| they should not be allowed to do so,
or why the minister should not accept
| it on the basis of PauPs authorization.
The "Western Christian Advocate
| M. Ed of Cincinnati says that only one
name on the Peace Commission-that
of Judge Whites open to adverse
criticism. And he is unexceptionable
but for one thing: his appointment
| seems to have been in response to a
demand from Roman Catholic prelates
that Roman Catholic should be on the
commission. When any denomination
| demands recognition as such, that is
sufficient reason why it should be lg-
nored But especially in case like
this, where the Roman Catholic Church
| is a party in interest, such demand
on her part is doubly repugnant to the
sacred American principle of separa-
ton of church and state. Doubtless
Judge White is a good and loyal man.
We have no fears of him. 1t is the
pernfcious principle and dangerous pre-
cedent to which we object"
1--WE dislike the talk in the religious
papers about the leading of Divine
| Providence and the opening OF new
countries for the beneficent mission OF
Americansm," says the Christian
Register Onit) of Boston. I'VE be-
lieve that American missionaries have
| in all parts of the world, in spite or
many defective methods, wrought
steadily for the advancement of the
human race. But not even to send
American missionaries to all the ISL
ands of the East should We be willing
| to engage in further war of conquest.
We should be obliged to kill many
thousands of Philippine Islanders
before we could establish the institu-
tions of peace. Gradually, by the con-
sent of the leading nations of the world,
religious liberty will everywhere be
esta blished. Then the missionaries may
have free course and be glorified."
with so noble a confession of faith
| as our denomination possesses, anu
such generous provisions for honest
diversity of Judgment as our form OF
subscription provides, there never
| ought to be a heresy trial IN our
church." declares the interior (Pres.)
| of Chicago. THE standards of our
church contain provisions to secure ND
| ertv and also to conserve loyalty. But
where the line shall run upon any par
| ticular question newly arising may De
a matter for honest difference Of opln-
| ion. Nothing can prevent the rise ol
such questions. What method IS pro-
vided for their peaceful adjustment!
| According to the terms of SUBSCRIPTION,
made at the time of early debates IN the
! first synod, it was determined that cam
| didates for the ministry in the PreSpy-
| terian Church should accept the west
Minister Confession as in all essen
tial and necessary articles good forms
Of sound words and systems OF DOC
trine. but that in case OF any ooupl
the candidate and presbytery should
carefully consider the requirements OF
LOYALTY and the limitations OF liberty IN
the particular matter involved, and
peaceably decide the controversy II
would be equally fatal to our denomlna-
ton to impugn the constitutional llb-
erty guaranteed by our STANDARDS. or
to ignore the constitutional loyalty pre-
sunnosed But if ambassadors of
States can agree to submit the question
of boundaries to council instead OF war,
why may not the church of jesus CHRIST
do as well? How much better it would
he to Law such matters when in dispute
before impartial theologians of denom-
nations not directly interested in the
decision and abide by the result OF
their deliberations"