Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-19
SECULAR SHOTS At THE PULPIT.

San Francisco Call: A recent church row
in Kansas reveals the existence in that state
OF a set of people who call themselves
Truth mowers" and also that their neigh
bors think they do not know enough about
the truth to tell 1t even when speaking OF
themselves
New York World One POSSIBLE answer
to the question why do the people not go
TO church," is furnished by the statement
that $4,000 OF the good people Of Kansas
City crowded into the convention hall to
listen to a sermon from Moody, while 1000
more were crowded out.
Buffalo Express: In the disbarment case
at Helena, a clergyman, who was chaplain
OF the Montana house at the time, has tes
tilted that to satisfy himself that there was
corruption in the senatorial contest he called
upon Clark at his hotel and told him that
he had friend who regarded Clark as his
second choice for senator and that his
friend would switch from the Daily man to
Clark for consideration. Clark he avcrred,
told him to offer his friend $4,000 for his
vote Clergymen would better leave the
setting of traps for their fellow men to pri-
vate detectives.
Cleveland Plain Dealer: An Elmira
pastor is out with his choir. At least the
choir is out, and says 1t will never come
back. The trouble grew out of the pastors 8
powers of mimicry He didn't approve of
the choirs singing. He told his congrega-
tion SO. To make his disapproval more en-
phatic he showed how the members of the
choir sang. The limitations were good, so
good that the choir tramped out OF the
church with tears in its eyes aud profanity
in its heart, and vows it will never again set
foot across the sacred threshold. And that's
where the matter at present stands.
Springfield Republican: The Presbyterian
church is trembling on the precipice of an
other heresy trial Prof. McGiffert of Union
Theological seminary refuses to take tho
same view Of the bible that committee OF
the presbytery wishes him to, and, con-
sequently, the majority OF the committee
have recommended that the case be referred
to the general assembly for action, which is
practically a request that Prof McGiffert be
placed on trial on the charge Of heresy.
Those who believe that a heresy trial is
worse than heresy itself are trying hard
to have the charges against Prof McGiffert
dropped. All concerned are now taking a
month to think matters over.
Kansas City Star: Bishop Doane's sug-
gestion regarding provision absolutely for
bidding the remarriage Of divorced persons
seems to lack the qualities Of practicability
and of justice. The absolute abolition OF
divorces would be more to the point There
Is no proper reason why an innocent person
in divorce transaction should be punished
or why person who has, at every step,
been wronged shall be condemned by law to
a life of celibacy That there shall be a
reform altogether in the divorce laws Of the
different states, that they shall be made, as
far as possible uniform, that it shall be
made impossible to Secure divorce for trivial
causes or without any cause is generally ac-
knowledged; but the reform should be
effected along the lines of reason and what
may be called humanity, and Bishop Doane's
amendment does not satisfy this require
ment.