New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01
RELIGION ~ THE LAST YEAR

review OF the religious world during the
year Just ended would not be complete with
ont taking some note Of the religious impulse
that IL coming more and more TO manifest IT.
self outside Of the Church organizations. Ii IL
not easy 10 estimate the strength and value Of
this impulse for In the nature of the case II
must he more or less intangible, and therefore
does not readily lend itself TO classification
The sccularlSt is not inclined to take account
OF It, for in his view religion has no necessary
relation TO ethics and conduct Nor Is the
orthodox churchman more willing TO recognize
IT, since he is bound to maintain that religion
can he effective only when enshrined in the
organization. Nevertheless modern civilization
to-day is to large degree swaycd by IDEAS
which I, learned from Christianity. And il Is
those ideas that are giving IL It's strength and
impetus 1t Is Christianity quite much
civilization that is striving to replace Mahom-
etanism on the shores Of the Mediterranean.
and Christianity IL no less n potent factor in
Africa. China and Japan, where civilization
and barbarism are locked in a death strug-
gle. Even the secular affairs Of the worlds
great nations bear witness to the same thing,
for the principles Of justice and brotherhood
that are finding voice in the new sociology are
essentially Christian.
As regards the activity of the churches. there
is much TO record In the last year. For the
first time In their history the Congregational
lists held their Trennial Council on the Pacific
Coast They took steps TO further the fedora
ton Of their benevolent societies, have sent n
dcputation to China to study their missionary
work there. and have strengthened several or
their schools and colleges. The theological
storm IN the Presbyterian Church appears for
the time to have subsidized and the General As
scmbly Of last May was unusually peaceful. The
Church. however. is in a state of unrest when
will continue until some modus vivend Is found
for the conservatives and liberals. The Episco-
pal Church held lis Tricnnial General Conven-
tion in Washington. its sessions were not
fruitful In much legislation, but, on the WHOLE
marked an advance in the growth ana pros
perity of III" Church. The missionary work OF
this Church Is not well supported, but in the
larger cities especially it shows many signs or
vlgor and vitality. The bitter controversy over
ritualism that has been raging in the Eng
lish Church seems hardly to have walked an
echo in this country.
The wear has been one Of quiet and steady
growth for the Baptis' especially IN the larger
cities The various conventions OF the denom-
ination reused much interest. and the statistics
of its societies show no diminuton in the zeal
Of It's members The McthoCists have started
ont to raise S2OOO0.0Oo in this country and
S5.OOO.OOO in Great Britain, as twentieth-cen-
turv thank Offering and there Is little doubt
that they will accomplish their purpose. " nile
Mcthodlsm has ouigrown the pioneer stage OF
It's life when the rude eloquence ana lerVor oi
its circuit riders counted for so much, it is
showing great wisdom In adjusting ltsel 10
modern needs and conditions, and II continues
70 stand in the forefront as one OF the great
Protestant denominations or the woriu. Inc
war with Spain has revealed some OF the ueh-
ciencies Of thc Roman Catholic Church ID span
ish dependencies, but its members say mat
These deficiencies are due 10 Spain rather than
to the Church and American 'athohciSili'
which Is strong and active. will undoubtedly
set itself to the task of injecting some OF us
own life into the Church In Cuba Porto Rico
and the Philippines.
while all the denominations have been touched
with the modern spirit of speculative INQUIRY
There Is little evidence of any radical revolu-
ton of thought. While the liberals ana con-
servntIyes are seeing a tremendous crisis IN
every new question that comes up me pam
neope IN all the churches are conscious OF no
crisis Here ana there the! "le ''''"s '''
views and opinions. but so gradually 'hh' even
they themselves are rot aware OF ". lhls
silent reimbursement of religious fhought Is 10
less wholesome than necessary. 'hris'hhi'!
has always been obliged to reformuiate l'sel
from time to time and il has always done 50
by this method The decisions Oh 'he erea'
councils of Christendom. AFTER all, derive 'ilelr
only Importance from the fact that they ior
mallv recorded the thought OF the rank ana
file Of Christian people So IT VIII CONTINUE 10
he. and in this way the burning questions 'iat
now disturb Christians will find solution which
will give partisan victory to neither party III
the controversy.