The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-21
IN RELIGIONS REALM. :
EXPRESSIONS FROM VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.
The Religious Thought of the Day
as Expressed in the Sec
tartan Press.

Now that we are approaching the
era of multiplied English versions, and
mere than one are demanding recogni-
ton already, it is high time says the
Living Gnu CHI" P. Ed of Chicago, ''for
the American church to take this mat
ter in hand, and, by definite legislation,
to protect her people, at least in the lit
urgical use of the Sacred Scriptures,
against individualisrn. Many object to
the use even of different hymnals in
our churches, and the general conven-
ton has done much to forward the
cause of uniformity in this department
of worship, Notwithstanding it remains
matter of mere choice whether hym-
nals are used at all our regular services.
How much more Objectionable, then,
that in the reading of Holy Scripture,
which is an integral and very import
ant part of our daily offices, the door
should be left open for indefinite vari-
alton. We do not believe, to be sure,
| that there is any such license under our
present law. but it must be confessed
that that law is not a satisfactory posi-
ton, SO long as there is nothing in the
constitution to prevent any single con-
ventiOn from adopting a special YER
sion or authorizing more than one or
giving general liberty after the manner
of the English Bishops"
Ever since the inception Of the Ok
ford movement" says the New York
"Observer'' Pres), 1.-The hand of the
adroit schemer has been secretly at
work undermining the strength of Prot
estantism in that great Protestant bull
wark, the Church of England Mr.
Walshs recent book supplies a great
deal of interesting rea0ir g on that point.
Since then ritualism has made great
strides, and has become fairly lawless
But the 'Nonconformist conscience so
influential politically, is now thoroughly
aroused, and has vigorously supported
the demand of the evangelicals within
the church for Parliamentary action,
which has resulted in a vote declaring
that the House 'deplores the spirit of
la,wlessness shown by certain members
of the Church of England, and conf
IDENTIFY hopes that the ministers of the
crown will not recommend any clergy
man for Dreferment unless satisfied
that he will obey the Bishops and the
| prayer book It remains to be seen
how much this vote is practically worth.
With a weakly temporizing bench of
Bishops, it is to be feared that it will
mean little The ritualists seem beyond
law, and laugh outright at all attempts
| to coerce them, knowing as they do
that multitude of shallow souls, who
affect to dabble in religion, are with
them in sympathy. 1t may be the old
battle of the Reformation will have to
be fought over again. Things do not
always stay reformed in this world, at
any rate without the exercise of eternal
vigilance and much self-sacrificing de-
votion. Meanwhile the intelligent sym
pathy and the earnest prayers of evan
gelical American Christians of all
names are with the heroic evangelicals
of the Church of England, who desire
to conduct her services in the simple
dignity which past generations have re-
garded as SO impressive, and who stand
as did Cranmer Latimer and Ridley fol
an open Bible and the sturdy doctrines
of the Reformed faith