The Washington herald., 1912-12-22
IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
THE TREND OF THINGS.

Lutherans Of the General Council have
taken an important and unusual step In
a ministry to college students. They have
installed formally students pastor. The
installation took place last week in the
Church OF the Messiah. Brooklyn. The
pastors name is Rev. Samuel G. Trexler.
He has already taken up his residence
near to Columbia University, but his field
of work is not limited to one institution.
He is pastor of all Lutheran students in
New England and New York colleges
and he is to use churches and halls al
ready built for conferences and services.
Disciples of Christ have established stu
dents pastorships at several univertties,
10 work in respective institutions, and
they have changed pastors of Christian
churches in college centers. that students
might be better cared for. Others have
erected chapels near to universities. So
far as known, this is the first instance
Of a students pastor for Harvard. Yale.
Columbia. Cornell. and given list Of
universities. There are about loo
Lutheran students in the colleges COM
prising the field.
The report OF the royal commission
on divorce in England is the outcome OF
several years investigation" says the
Christian Register CUnitarian), of Bos-
ton. The Significance OF its recommen-
datiOns is greater even than their di-
rect bearing indicates. The commission
unanimously approves the placing of the
two sexes on. an equality before the law.
By a majority of nine against a minor
1ty Of three, the grounds on which d.
Torce may be obtained are extended to
include FIVE causes. This indicates
still more remarkable forward step-the
transition from ecclesiastical considera-
20
discussion of the subject. The strict
rules which a church may ask its MEM
bers TO conform to have. i'm many mat
ters, ceased to be authoritative in legis-
lation. Scriptural warrant and theolog-
Ical influences are not discriminating fac
tors in the framing of laws before which
all are on an equality. In laws relating
TO marriage they have, however. natur-
ally sought pre-eminence. That in a
country where conservatism has had
powerful sway it should be proposed TO
SHIFT the basis of action from texts to
present requirements is of profound sig
nifcance. If marriage shall in this
evolution, become more surely a sacra-
ment, strong in character and fidelity.
We shall not regret the substitution OF
laws meeting present conditions for
those taken from ancient and medieval
times
At the 1872 meeting of the Ameri-
can Federation held at Rochester. Fa-
ther Dietz, of the Roman Church. and
DR.. Charles S. Macfarland. of the Fed
eral Council. who has succeeded Mr..
Stelzle as the Protestant fraternal dele
gate, spoke successively from the con-
Vention platform. Father Dietz appears
tC have angered tn Socialists a shade
more deeply than usual, and their feel
ing was expressed when one Of them the !
next day introduced a resolution provid- !
ing that all religious or anti-religious
discussions as such shall be prohibited |
a; all future conventions of the American |
+ FeGeration of Labor" The motion was |
referred to a committee. which reported |
& back adversely, and in debate Presi-
dent GOmpers spoke strongly against IT, |
expressing the opinion that Mr.. Stelzle's |
addresses had included many of the very
best things ever said in any labor as
scmbly. Even Max Hayes, the leader OF
the Socialist contingent, opposed the pro-
hIbition saying that he was not in IA
Vor Of ruling out of labor meetings any
tLcmc whatsoever, but he did wish for
tho privilege OF replying from the moor to
any religious uttersnce with which he 2
disagreed. In the end the resolution was
overwhelmingly defeated, and the fra |
ternal delegates of the churches both !
Protestant and Catholic. will continue to |
enjoy unlimited liberty in this great an |
nual assemblage of labor.