The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-31
IN RELlGION'S REALM.
EXPRESSIONS FROM VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.

The Religious Thought Of the Day
~ Expressed In the sec-
tartan Press.
In the present century," says THE
Living Church (P. ED of Chicago, 'the
changes which have come about since
1880, in the wake Of the Oxford move
ment, setting what is specifically called
ritualism entirely apart, have been SO
great as compared with the state OF
things in the Georgian period that it is
certainly true that the clergy and peo-
pie OF the eighteenth century, If they
could rise from their graves, would find
little or nothing of a familiar charac-
ter-apart from the Prayer Book-aven
IN the most moderate parish churches.
The traditions Of that old time have
been almost utterly extinguished. In
architecture, in the interior arrange
ment and in the manner and accom-
paniments of worship, all is wonder
fully changed. In all the multitude of
churches erected in London in the last
fifty years. our forefathers could hardly
enter one which would not suggest to
\
therefore, In the light Of facts, extreme
~ oin1cult to establish any kind of ira
d1tIonal character as pertaining to the
outward aspects of the church. The
character of the church edifice, its APP
poiptments, the number of services,
thelr order and relative Importance, the
nethoo OF their execution and their
ceremonial adjuncts-all are changed
ana NOBODY desires to go back to the
"alled-up chancels, the white-washed
walls the square pews the 'three-deck,
er pulplts, the black gowns, the duet
OF parson and clerk, and the rare COM
munions, all of which satisfied cur fore
fathers
AND II patience was never more nee
essary on the part of the laity, so there
mas never been a time in this century,"
says the New York "Churchman' tP.
t.), when a higher craftsmanship was
demanded of the episcopate. If the
Vexatlens of acrimonious controversy
are added to the heavy burdens of do
cesar administration, Bishops would be
more than human if they did not lose
the wider in the narrower vision. And
tnere is spirit abroad to-day of Angli-
can fellowship, Of racial sympathy. that
has been long in maturing and is rich in
promise for the immediate future. Tie
colonies and the missionary jurlsdic-.
lions of the English Church share in
larger degree than ever before the spirit
OF glad cooperation with the mother
country, Of which the South African
war has recently given an eloquent
demonstration. The Churches of Ire
land and Scotland are most friendly.
The feelings of our own church have
never been more affectionate and cor
dial. OF subordination there is, Of
course, no thought, but closer co-opera-
ton in associated effort there may we'll
be, and it would strengthen US ALL We
have a common opportunity, and that
implies common duty. The Anglican
communion in all it's branches repre-
sents re-eminently that primitive
Catholicity in which the individual
stands erect on his feet before God, not
bound by the swaddling clothes of
Roman tradition nor separated from
the fullness of faith that comes alone
with the organic unity of the church.
That is the great truth for which we
stand in Christendom. In cordial fell
lowship we shall bear to it an effective
witness in the, coming century,
IF we were to make a list Of the
| things which the first Christian Church,
as it was on the day of Pentecost, did
not have" says the presbyterian Ban
ner. of Pittsburg, Pa, I'VE would be
surprised and think it could not have
been church at all. It had no church
building, no pipe organ, no choir. no
pew holders, no subscription list, no
treasurer and no pastor. What would
we think of our church if it were
stripped of all these things? Yet one
thing it did have that may be our
greatest lack, the baptism of the Holy
Spirit. Kindled by fire from Heaven,
how it burned and famed with zeal,
how great was it's work, what multi
tudes were added to it, what a power
full impulse it gave to the kingdom of
Christ on earth! A church's life, then,
does not consist in the abundance Of
the things which it possesses A costly
building, an artistic choir, an eloquent
preacher, and a fashionable eongrega-
ton do not in themselves make a true
church. We may go into a church that
has all these things, and then go irto-
| 'O'AAS OeiA Z iioAi w AC1S q lew AIIlSlldIlS
are worshiping, and we may feel that
the plain hall is a truer church, has in
it more of the spirit of Christ and the
glory of God than the costly establish
ment. These external appliances OF the
church-its material sheIl-are good
and even necessary in their place and
are not to be deprecated They cost
US good deal of money and we must
have them But they are not the
church, and they are not what the
church is for. They are only means,
and we are to use them only as means
to spiritual life and fruit"
..Dr. G. A. Gordon of Boston is re-
ported to have remarked recently at a
religious gathering in Boston: The
fault in the Christian Church is that
the broad-minded men have been least
filled with an ethical passion; the mar
row men have done the work Broad
and narrow" says the New YorI,
Observer" Pres.), ARE relative terms,
whose proper application varies ac-
cording to the standard of measurement
adopted. If the cubit of Scriptural
mea Sllrement he ounpJovod, ba &c co foIv