The record-union., 1899-07-02
man mind to so revise them as to form
valid judgment Of their Importance. Z

man mind to so revise them as to form
a valid judgment Of their Importance. Z
THE statement of the board of visi-
tors at the installation Of Professor c.
e. Torrey, at Andover, puts the creed
matter in new aspect. says the Bos-
ton Congregationalist' . 1.-THE visitors
recognize the fact that the forms of
expression of the creed were deter
mined in degree by conditions which
do not now exist. They specify that
Professor Torrey is not expected to
fight Jews, Socinians, Unitarians, etc,
except SO far as such of these sects
mentioned which continue in existence
are engaged in active heretical or anti
Christian efforts. AS we understand
it, the visitors and trustees act in en-
tire harmony in assuming responsibility
for Professor Torrey's position as a
teacher in the seminary, representing
the spirit and purpose of it's founders.
They judge OF his qualifications by his
own statements of the doctrines he
holds, and they are satisfied that these
accord with the creed. BY implication
we understand that the new and older
professors will be expected hereafter to
stand in relation to what is really obse-
lete IN the creed, as in relation to what
is obsolete in the sentence specified.
If any object to this Christian and rea-
sonable position they may make their
sentiments known to the visitors and
trustees. We are glad they have as
sumed this responsibility and hope their
action will be generals approved
IAN unfortunate tendency" says the
New York Observer Pres.), lis OBJ
servable in many directions to disso-
ciate the idea of religion from that of
morals, as though a man might be re-
ligious or moral, either or neither, as
he chooses But pure religion is moral
ity spiritualized, spiritually etherized,
and only exists when the life Of the
human subject is absorbed in the grace
and service of Him whose will and
worship alone make a religious re-
ligion possible. Men do not, will not,
always recognize this, and go about
to establish righteousness and a re-
ligiousness of their own. Hence results
a multiplication of man made faiths,
which during history'S crowded, diver
sified day spring up for awhile, like
rank growing weeds, but having no
deepness of earthly rootage, after a lit
tie fade away and disappear. Page
after page of the annals of the race
is occupied with the records of such
futile attempts to manufacture novel
forms Of religion. The attempts have
failed, since such amateurish essays at
religion have proved wholly inadequate
to the task of satisfying God, or even
of long retaining the volatile attention
of man"
"The severe ind ctments and condem-
nation of the Sunday-school by the
Rev. Pelham Williams; D. D., of Green
bush, Mass, has done a service to the
Sunday-school cause says the New
York Christian Intelligencer' (Ref),
lin directing attention to some of the
defects and weaknesses Of the institu-
ton. Few,if any, we imagine, will be
inclined to follow the lead of IDr. Will
liams in seeking the abolition of the
Sunday-school, or go to the length he
has in condemnation Of it. In fact, the
defects and failures of the Sunday
school SO trenchantly and unqualified
presented by DIR. Williams are an argu-
ment, not for the abandonment of the
institution, but for it's improvement
There is no doubt that the Sunday
school despite the excellent work done
and the magnificent results achieved.
has in some cases been allowed to usurp
unduly the place of the church, and
been an excuse for the NEGLECT of