Chicago daily tribune. [volume], October 04, 1875, Page 2, Image 2

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tin* rid of ft preacher of whom they aro
tired, nnd ft loliof to tho preacher
In being carried off by tbo ruin
instead of Ivoinß dismissed and Pant away. Tlio
rule Imn it* advantages ami disadvantages.
Upon the whole it linn worked well. I licllnvo
in an ilinoranev. and in an appointing or chang
ing rover, but could I havu tny way I would re
move tho limitntlou clause and appdiiitministcrs
from year to fear fta long An It seemed best, or
n movo tbrm at tlio end of tho llrnt year. TUo
in rnto*-1 objection Hint I hnvn to tlio absolute
limitation in, that it ecenln to tako tbo whole mat*
b r out of tbo bands of I’rovtd' nee boynml ft
certain point. Wo virtually forestall and rnto
out Providence, only no far as that Pmvidcnco
can work in n given Unto. lam convinced that
some change or modification in our economy Js
needed to inept the growing wants of tho age.
and especially our «iu Ic in large oition. It taken
time tor ant man to become acquainted and to
acquire an (nllueiico in ft large city, and it W ft
groat l ohs to nicriiiio midi iiiJ!ii°nco when gam
ed. 'Jliou, too. there in and will bo an Increas
ing domro on the part of intelligent and nettled
fannlion in Imvo tho possibility at least of a
Fettled pastorate.
But however these things may bo. wo aro all
agreed in (bin; (bat wo idiould render a ebcerful
obedience to tbo law an it in until such time, If
ever, when it Hiall bo changed. Ami I think It
it* proper that 1 nay bore, that it in only in tbm
spin! of loyally that I haro been unwillingly, in
■nr sens*. to he a party to tho effort that has
been made to, in some way. no ehapo affair* that
T could remain in charge of this church. I
would not, by any means, intimate tlmt those
who have nought Ibis change—and no far as I
know evens - ouo 1° Iha congregation would favor
it—are hi liny souse nnloynl. lor I know they nrn
not. and tlmt they seek only tlio grefttont good 5
tut wbal 1 mean t* this: lam not, and cannot
be. a partv In it, and would in no cano consent to
continue hero unices it is by the general concur
rence of tho Conference and tho Methodist
churches in ilm city. In tlmt case I would bo
willing nnd glad to remain and do the best 1
could. lam not Insensible to (ho lovo nnd confi
dence you would show mo. i know I fully appre
ciate it, ami that to remain hero could not «f*
ford you moio happiness than it would niej
but unless it c.m ho dono by some
such general consent os I Imvo mentioned,
li bad bolter not bo. It is better that yougho
your whole support to him who may stand where
1 have stood, and tlmt Ido tho boat I can wher
ever my lot may ho cast.
In view, then, of tho almost certainty that my
work hero ends with tins hour, i want to nay a
fow words further, suggested by the text, and I
trust suitable to tho occasion.
Tho (ext suggests (dugs: The work of
“building up ” and (he final reward.—“on in
heritance among Uio sanctified; " mid It points
to tho means through wlncli thev oro to be
reached: “God. and the word of ills grace.”
Tho thought of Christ end tlio Apostles in
building did not refer ho much to outward otgan
laationh, but rather to building or carrying up
tlio whole structure of diameter and a divine
manhood, Building up men is God's idea. If
this is done, tlio outward forum of government
and churches will grow about them. God's plan
of building manhood is from within. It begins
by making (he heart pure. Out of it aro tlio in
dues of lifo. Tho stream will ho like tho fountain,
tho fruit like the tree. Tins Inward purity
comes from being made partakers of tho Divino
nature,—being branches in the true vino. All
outward works or forms aro of no avail unless
they roach tlio heart,—unless our inward nature
bo turned to the good.
Then there is too building up of all tlio graces,
and affections, and principles that adorn (ho
Christian character and make up s true man*
hood. God's ideal of manhood is neither a weak
sentimentalism ou tho uuo side, nor a cold sto
icism ou tho other, but a proper blending of all
the good qualities,— HOtitiinsnt, nod geiittotiess,
and love, and courage, and strength, and hero
ism,—all in one perfect being.
Then there is the building of tho outer life or
conduct. All true piety must bo rooted in prin
ciple as well os feeling, and must come to tho
surface in a sound morality and a good life.
I'bs fruit is tho only evidence of tho qual
ity of tho tree, and if tlio fruit bo bitter
tho treo is the earn*, if religion docs
nob reform tho life it is vain. The
Apostles put great emphasis upon this
fuel. .Let every quo that numoth tho name of
Christ bo careful to depart from all evil. And
our .Savior: Let your light so shine before the
world that others may boo your good works and
glorilyyour Father who is iu liearon. Not an
effort to appear good, or a seeming to bo
righteous, but nn actual deen-rooted goodness nf
heart, shining out in overy-uay lifo. Uod wants
to till tho world with men and women of charac
ter, strength, and truo woilh. Tho groat need
of tho Church and tho woild to-day is bolter
hearts and truer living,—simple truth, and Just
ice, and iovo.
In and through nil this is the building np of
faith. lu one caao is is called the building up m
tho “musk holy faith. 1 ’ It is vastly important
that men think right, that their views bo iu har
mony with truth. SVo do not crcalo truth, or
project it upon the world. Wo perceive it. And
if wo mistake something also for truth, la so US
wo may miss the reality itself. There is this to
be saiil, however, in mural aud religious truth,
that Die desire to ho right, tho intention of
of the heart, goes a groat ways. Aud this fur
ther : that it ih nob tuo simple] assenting to any
creed, bo it over so good, (hat constitute!! a sav
ing faith. Men aro found to be very good with
very different beliefs, and often very bad with
apparently correct views. Tho saving faitli is
mure than moro assont to any proposition, ho it
oven this, that '• Ho is able to save unto tho ut
termost all tliuso that come nnto Ood through
Him/' o; that, “ If wo confess our sins Ho iu
faithful and just to forgive them and to cleanse
uh from all unrighteousness.” There must ho
tbo “ coming " the yielding of onr hearts to
God,—there must ho tho •• confessing of our
sins,” there must be that trusting of ourselves
over into tho hands of Uod, —a trusting, a rust
ing lu Him. 'Without a grounding of one’s ' self
iu tho good, a pulling of one’s self wholly over
on the side of light and truth as a principle, all
else avails little. And where wo do this and fol
low the beet light wo have, snd trust to (ho
divine lending, and do the best wo
can, 1 have faith to believe (hat out
of every tangled juv/o ami dark way
God will bring us into the clear light by and by.
The general faith that needs to be built up now
is a comforting and sustaining trunt'iu tbo liv
ing Ged us Father and havior, a faith in good
ness, in right, in truth, in prayer, iu immortali
ty. Many, ninny hearts all about us are break-
lug and sinking from thu want uf this simple
trust. And alas that, instead of bearing to a
suffering world thcbo precious truths, wo mock
thorn with endless confusions uf words.
God's Idea of building Is first to build man
hood from the heart outward, ami then nut of
this, and as a moans of conserving it, to build
tho family, and thu church, and society, and tho
nation. Tho ideal father and mother must make
the ideal home, where luvo. and intelligence, and
piety, surround and bless childhood. The true
principles, and characters, and lives, from the
homo and from society, roust come together to
mako up tho Church, und all those together
flow out into that larger realm of all
industries, and arts, and learning, and
religion, and all that makes up the larger world
of society.
Passing from those more general remarks, 1
feel, beyond what I can express, a desire that
all who have worshiped with mo iu this temple
may iu heart be inwardly true and. good, and iu
life forever stand by sound principles, ami ho I
always found on tho side of right, and, whatever
peculiarities of hollof;you may share, that you
rest, personally and consciously, in the Divine
love. And I cannot but fool a deep concern for
tho future of this church, to which wo have to
gether given bo much care and labor. Prom its
location It must ho lu some House representative
of Methodism, and in its character it ought to he
cosmopolitan iu spirit and work. No labor, no
talent, or money should bo counted dear to
make It a power for good iu this city, and its
Words and sympathies ought to moot tuo thou*
sands of strangers who gather hero, and through
them go out all over tho laud.
lu all this work of building I commend you to
God and to the Word uf His grace. Ho la Father*
Hu is Savior. lie knows our every want.
Ho is ever near. Ho Is alio lo help. We can
not do this work alone, lu religion, as lu other
things, wo must bo workers with God. I com*
mend you to His mercy, for it is groat: to His
love, for it is unchangeable: to His truth, for it
eudurcih forever; to His justice, fur Ho is no
respecter of persons; to His passion and His
cross, fur tho veil is rent ami all may cuter into
the most sacred place, even to the "lledeomor’s
heart.
itevoml the sowing is tho reaping, Beyond
thu labor is the test. Beyond the battle is the
victory. Bovond (bo grave, the inheritance,
rumuwharo God is building His eternal King
dom. Into some heaven tho pure iu heart from
i.ll ages have entered, lu that blessed land, the
nucul voices lust to earth sing the now sung,
in that puuucfnl home (he weary rest. There
tiro heart shall be satisfied with love, and the
wind clothed iu (ho garments of truth. There
aitl Lu no death there, nor sorrow, uur crying.
They urn all left below.
To this blesced God 1 commend you all.
Lit the aged lean on His staff,
and thu youthful look to Him fur
i uulauo). Let (he sick and the poor look Uhto
Him vi bo bore upon His owu feelings our weak*
nets and <mr pain, aud who had net oo earth
where to lay His head. Let (he weary aud the
heavy-laden come unto Him and Hud rest, and
the wanderer return to his Father’s love. X
commend yon to Him in tho days of gladness,
and when tlio darkness gathers around and tbo
hour of death drawn near. Yon have all stood
hr mo In every way you could, and have helped
bear every burden ami lighten every care.
Deep in tlio love of my heart shall I over cherish
tlio memory of tho davs we have spent together,
and all tbo’klndncsAyrm hare shown to mo and
mine. Tho years aro not many nor long on
earth for mo and for some of you. May they
ho given to tho Maxtor's cause. May they bn
multiplied In usefulness, nnd may wo como to
gether in tho life above.
CHRISTIAN RATIONALISM.
beumon nv tiir nr.v. Annum swanky.
The Ashland Avenue I’reshytemn Church,
which meets for worship lo tho He* Jerusalem
Temple on tho corner of Ogden avehue and West
Washington street, yesterday listened to the fol
lowing thoughtful sermon, by the Bov. Arthur
Swazev, 1). I). Tbo text was s
Tbo Kingdom of Heaven In wllbin yu«.—f.rtr, rrtf„
Tho Church of Ilm living Clod, tho pillar and ground
of the truth.—/, Tmu.thxt, »u„ I*.
Ido not propose to handle, with any attempt
at completeness, tho theme suggested by these
passages of Holy Writ, but rather to call atten
tion to a few things which, if they should
disjointed, find their unity in these declarations
of Jeans and of I’aul.
There is ft “Kingdom of find," or ft “King
dom of Heaven.” for the terms are used inter
changeably, which is not to bo confounded with
any temporal kingdom, or with that vnat realm
in which God is snpiomo. and which wo are wont
to call tho Kingdom of Nature. Thor© la some
thing different from political power, ha it tho
purest and most righteous, ho it a Constantine,
or a Charlemagne, or a I’ope, who is at the head
of it. Tlmro is something different from light,
heal, motion, nnd tho everlasting laws by which
tho grass, and tho brute, and tho star, fulfill their
psTlin the great ongoing. God reigns everywhere.
Krerything in a part of God's Kingdom, and vet
tlioro is another Kingdom of Clod. Tho world,
with all its powers, including the body and mind
of man, is simply area. instillments, time for
something greater and better.
It 1* doubtless true that God In dishonored, In
tho small appreciation many Christian people
Imvo of Ills natural attributes. In their narrow
and sorry views of (ho wortti of those inquiries
which touch tho origin of tilings, tho laws of
life, and the antiquity nnd permanence of (ho
present order of tho universe. Many crude and
foolish things aro said of “dead matter," which
is anything but dead: of human reason, without
which there could bo no faith; of natural vir
tues, without which tbo world would bo a pest
house. Without doubt tho scorn which a certain
class of religious poisons visit on science and
thoso groat men whoso genius unfolds to us
many a tong-hidden mystery of creation and
providence, Is contrary to (ho wideness and can
dor which belong to a childlike mind. Without
doubt tho study of tho physical history of tho
oarth and of man, whether scientists bo believ
ers or unbelievers, is ns really a department of
theology as tho study of Hebrew manners,
and exerts ft most humane effect on religious opin
ions, aud a thoroughly humanizing iniluonco on
society. But, though wo should fuj, as wo
might justly nay, a hundred-fold tnoro in tho
same strain, them is another side of tho great
theme.
Thrro Is In everything on upper aud an under,
n spirit and a form, tlio primary and the second
ary. Tbo tassels ou tho corn, the llitlo cisterns
in’llio corn-stalk, uro only truly appreciated in
a shock of corn fully ripe. Tho moral is higher
Ilian tho natural. If there bo a body anywhere,
there Is a spirit to lubahit that body. To order a
halt in nature, in civilization, and natural vir
tues, is a grievous fallacy. To speak of tbo
Kingdom of God and mean only moUneks and
mammals, worlds and suns, or oven Lho great
reasoning powers of man, and nothing more, la
to arrest thought on tho threshold to admire tho
goodly stones, and yet fall short of tho idea of a
temple of God,
Materialism otWhltaa greatworkshopio which
everything which comes forth from lathe, or
loom, or forgo, is only of worth in erecting an
other workshop, another lallio, or loom, or
forgo, an evert anting series, a little bettor per
haps, but never rising to a uao above themselves.
Materialism knows no Kingdom of God. It
takes man out of an order which la to auhdue
ami use nature, and puts him back to tho level
of nature. It stops everywhere short of respon
sibility, and therefore of spiritual attainment.
Ho can do nothing bnt play his part by a law of
necessity between two periods. Ho is simply an
inch in an overland wire or a submarine cable,
which connects tho post and the future. No
pmlostJaarianism of theology was over so like
romorwelsM fato os those teachings which,
breaking awav from tho supernatural, seek ref
uge in what fs called “ (ho order of tho uni
verse. 1 ’
Tho man who stands np to say tnat Calvin's
God Is n God of force, a remorseless power,
while tils God is a God of loro, and at the Karoo
time discredits inspiration, redemption, and lies
hock on a rationalism which, as a matter of fact,
forbids him to believe lu anythin# but nature, if
ho havo acuteness enough to perceive it, might
with just as much good senso cali Juggernaut a
god of loro. Tho very last words tu the whole
range of speech on which ho may ring his
changes aro tho words Liberty or Love,
lint tako another order of thought. Conceive
of God, not as a more name for an eternal cause,
not as oxygen, not as tiro groat intra-mmulano
and animating force of natnro, but an a Person
who can say “I" and “Thou,” who may loro
and bo loved, who hoars and answers prayer,
who can bo friendly or unfriendly to other bo*
ings, wlto may havo a family bound to Him by
reverence, and gratitude, and hope; in other
wouls, rise into the supernatural, and then you
may talk of liberty, of goodness—God's good
ness, man's goodness or wickedness, a kingdom
of iiaturn. a kingdom of tiutun, ami a M King*
dom of God.”
The fow naturalists who mako the attempt to
join rationalism and Christianity are guilty of n
holocism which tno groat masters, from whom
they copy many of their high-sounding phrase*
ologios, aro careful to avoid. The masters say
I lalnlv, Christianity was a stop in the progress of
thought, and of no more use now than the ferry*
boat which has taken us to a farther shore. The
Christians who draw their inspiration from them
havo no such escape. They must hold to, and
yet find fault with, tho Paulino view of things.
Otherwise their ocaupatlon were gone. Put
what hard thing can they say of it f They
cau detail tho burning and hanging of some dark
ages at thu hands of certain admirers of Paul's.
They can pervert the Scriptures and set forth
the horrible idea of predestination. They can
hung out a picture of Calvin, to lake Paul's
Place, and, painting a great block heart under
liis ribs, use tho picture as a target for invective.
And although they might accomplish a popular
effect without any profound knowledge of Paul,
or any personal acquaintance with Calvin’s writ
ings, it would offer some little show of candor
laud thoughtfulness if from their own stand
point they had anything hotter to offer to the
woild. What do they give you instead ? This:
God is an idea. Ilcligiou is a sentiment. Man
is a clod which tho tlrst plowshare and the brut
surauiois turn into another form of dust; bo is
an autumn leaf which the tlrst gust drives into
luo sower, or iic&pa up over the roots of the
tree that bote U; ho w a log with tho ability to
plunge up and down, and roll over and over as
though it were a thing of lire, and yet utterly at
tuo mercy of wind and aea; tho victim of a
i »i*i 1,1 hears no wail and offers no hope,
the Christian rationalist has a hard
problem m the person of Jesus. He
ban for a roaster one wbo.it isasserted, was horn
, * V }#K u * w “'kod on the sea, raised the dead,
1 himself rose from the dead, and went up into
the clouds, and who was accustomed to sav •• lie
that hath seen mu Lath eecu the Father ”\ What
I H?, d 0 w . u 4 » master i No such things
are affirmed of Lucretius, or Plata, or tspiuoza.
They made no anch claims lor UwmaoWos To
boor the u«mo of one who has no earthly father
hut U begotten of the Holy Ghost, who puts on
the ear of a aorvaut which one of hU followers
has too raahly out off with a sword, and whoso
death groans shook the t nobs about Jerusalem,
aud who assures hie disciples that after bo bad
gone away ho would come back to thaw, und m
a word,—one who *uys, •• l came down
from Heaven,” and at the same
time to deny tho supernatural pjes
once. an intellectual entertainment
iu which it pleases some men to wrap them*
selves, m the fond conceit that they aro wUct
than those who havo the mental vigor either to
deny or affirm snntrely tho Gospel of God.
The idea of a Kingdom of God rests upon the
universal consciousness that there is more than
can bo seen with tbe natural eye, that there are
things true which lie bsyoud the range of reiuuu
tug, that those higher things may be made
known to us, and may become our inheritance,
r nationalism, on tqe contrary, reduces all ro
> ligious train to a guess, a hope,—a theory to till
• a gap, but not to stand by, or to stand by us. Ita
i utterances when pub into plain English moan
i that U is extremely doubtfu) if any of the re*
1 ligtpug he true, but that, uu tbe whole, Ghristi*
I auity makes tbe best exhibit of them ah, and
THE CHICAGO YUIBUNBi MONDAY, OCTOBER A , 1875,
may bo true. By so slender a (broad hang all
tho hopes of man boyond (his world. By so cold
an answer does It respond to n soul's hungering
after Clod. By fo feeble an utterance does it
confess tho name of Jesus. Upon such a crazy
platform does it stand to preach repentance ami
tho remission of sins. Job said. “ I know
tlmt my nedoomer liveth." I'otor said to
Jesus: “Thou art tho Hon of Clod." Paul
said. “The life wbirh t now Jive, I live by tlio
faith of tho Hon of God.” John mild, “Wo aro
passed from death unto life.” Stephen said,
“ Lord Jesus, rrcclvcmvspitlc." Far be it from
mo to say that thoso persons who honor Chris
tianity ns having a few ratd of evidence as to
tlio bifitniir.il reality of Us founder nnd early
teachers, who make quite a generous exertion
of fniili In believing that Jesus Is no myth but
a veritable person, are not nearer “absolute
truth" if anybody Known what tlmt term means
—than .lob anil Isaiah and John and Paul. But
thin only. that l>v such convictions as stirred
dm hearts of prophets and apostle*. In a King
drnii of Oml possible ill (his world,—tliat Urn
unbelief which lines not deny, and the faith
which does not believe, and tho Christ)unity which
is without authenticity, are no elements 'in that
hope which John tho Baptist heralded, and tliat
great boon which (,’hrist came to confirm unto
men,—ft Kingdom of God in this world.
it la not. therefore, a matter of surprise that
men with strong religious convictions, men who
lav hold on tho Gospel an a groat salvation, as
authentic ns Hod himself, draw a slurp linn be
tween “ natuio" and “grace,"matter and spirit,
tbo earthly ami tlio heavenly, tlio heirs nf this
work! anil the heirs of tlio incorruptible in
heritance, while those who lay hold of Christ
because in the utiiveis.il entanglement
DlitlrttifttiUr.atrippod of flotno offensive features,
is more plausible than any other religion, dis
like and avoid all discrimination between decency
and piety, civilization and religion, and oblivious
to the whole philosophy of mental trinnformn
tiou, put faith away in (ho background as among
the weakest muniments of salvation. There is
logic in either course.
The question of the interpretation of Chris
tianity docs not make this wide difference. Tho
Bomanist has one interpretation, and goes About
in his own way to establish A Kingdom of God.
Tho Anglican has his interpretation, and in his
way goes about to establish a Kingdom of God.
Among the nou-prolatical Protestant, tlio
Baptist, the Methodist, tho Presbyterian, has
cadi his tntnri rotation, nnd labors in his own
way to establish a Kingdom of God.
What now does tho Christian rationalist do ?
Does ho endeavor to effect a return from super
stition to a sound Now Testumont view of things,
visible and invisible ? That wore a good Chris
tian work. Does he seek to reform theology to
rho Now Testament standard of doctrine, de
nouncing all traditions of moo which sat them
selves up as tho Commandments of God ? That
were a good ami a Christian work. Does ho
fodk to correct the undue prominence some
times and injuriously given to a certain class
of truths ? That were n good and a Christian
work. Does ho aim to promote a real sympa
thy among Christians, a thorough good will, Ai d
a commmiitv of nays and means of bringing the
world to tlio feet of Jesus ? That wore a good
and a Christian work.
No. Ills work is not to reconstruct theology,
or the Church, on tho basis of tho Word of Oou,
but to reconstruct Christianity Itself; to make
it moro Miitnblo (o human wisdom and human
need than its own records make it; to wood out
of It the elements which, by somo grand error,
as ho thinks, have been its power for 1.800
years, and to throw into tho shadow of science
and philosophy tbo one simple way of
solution by Jesus Christ. Ills occupation
is to chill, not to inspire, tho religious life, to
establish tho reign of universal doubt; which,
instead of being tbo work of s wise disciple, is
tho work of a “ foolish virgin/’ and caused our
Lord to say to his disciples, “ How long shall I
bear with you. 0 ye of little faith ? ”
lint it will tie said the rationalist Is putting tho
great practical virtue, the comraon-sonso view,
of life in the nlaco of a snarl of doctrine. Ah,
my friends, hero, as often as elsewhere, tho
gtain of truth is outweighed by tho hundred
weight of errors. Tho follower of Mohammed,
and especially tho follower of Confucius and
Buddha, might say the same.
I would not be understood an Inveighing
against a wide, and catholic, and reformatory
spirit, or against a return from tbo fenced pas
ture-grounds which a few men now assume to
own. to tho great wide field of God's Son. Jesus
Christ. Only lot a man believe iu Christianity,
by tho guide and iu the spirit of its own records.
It Is by such a real belief, alone, a conviction
reaching his very marrow, that ho can eater into,
and labor for, tho Kingdom of God.
Our Lord directed the attention of Disciples to
tbo real foundations when ho said : “Tho King
dom of Heaven is wPbin you.” Neither Bishops,
□or priests, nor preachers; neither liturgies, nor
vestments, nor theology; neither the temple,
nor tbo Church enrollment, nor tho Church
Court, make tho Kingdom of Iloavon. Its es
sential idea is a heart reconciled to God. It is in
its extension made of men iu whoso hearts Die
throne of God is sot. Each life is a world in it
scif. Behind every pair of eyes ami every pair
of hands aro wide thoroughfares, vast fields,
great nvors and seas, mountains, valleys, c&voh,
forests,all peopled with desires,ambitions, hopes,
and fears. When God comes into that lifo, it be
comes a Kingdom of Ood. Amt to say to that
man, “Lo! hero ” or"Lo! there/’ as though
under a surplice, or in a presbytery, or in a
prayer-mooting, ho might find the Kingdom,
would be os wide of truth as tbongh you should
point to a plowshare and a kernel uf wheat, and
call thorn tlio groat American Republic.
Tlio inward and personal first and most. But
os States whoso populations apeak (ho samo
language and whoso principles of Government
are tbo same, confederate for tboir mutual
profit, so Christian lifo confederates with Chris
tian life under one common hood, Jesus Christ,
fur mutual help, aud for greater ofikloucy iu tho
work of tho Master. Christianity is both a life
and a propogandiam. And as au efficient propo
gandlsm it needs organization and discipline,
ilouco tho Church, or the visible Kingdom of
Uod lu tbo world, boaud always to its divine
charter, and at tho samo limo subject to tho im
perfections of a purely human society.
We may reduce our thought on this matter to
a few propositions:
i'iral—Our religion includes the idea of a God
who is a person, anti who coigns as a King, and
who in addition to His natural dominion, is a
moral governor who has subjects allied to Him
by will and choice as well oh by his creative out,
aud so form a distinct aud spiritual Kingdom.
Hero wo antagonize science and philosophy, not
in themselves considered,—for in themselves
they aro like any other groat national good,—
but ns they aro brought forward by unbelief to
usurp tho place of tbo “ living God/' Wo an
(agonize all those equivocal expressions and
habits of thought which attach alt sorts of
meanings to the term “Deity/’ or “God/ 1 but
those which imply that Ho Is Creator, llodoemer,
and Judge of men. There are many things in
our religion which do not admit of a sharp defi
nition, whose houudary-Une, like that of a
nebula, depends on tho instrument used aud tho
hour of observation. But tho idea of God, as a
personal ami spiritual head of the universe, aud
who has purposes to which all nature is sec
ondary, is not among tho number. Tbo phrase
ology wblih may mean either that God is a
primordial atom or a Maker; which may bo in
terpreted either in tho Emersonian or tbo Wes
leyan sense, which may define with equal accur
acy the infidel's denial or tho Christian's faith,
is utterly foreign to tho Idea wo have of
loyalty to the Now Testament. Wo antagonize
also all those admissions and declarations
commendatory of Jesus Christ and tbo Now
Tastamout, which, however, do not rise to a
conception of the solitary grandeur and author
ity of Christ, and of the New Testament as tho
authontlo thought standard, and as tho last, and
only, and perfect, revelation of the way of sal
vation.
Awnd— Our relicion includes what In com
monly called experimental piety. It hi nothing
if there Lo uot In it a sense of personal ac
countability, not merely to an abstract standard,
but also to God Himself. It includes love, grat
itude, and trust fowarda G od. It includes what
is very Justly called communion with Qod, “ fel
lowship with God," hope in God, sorrow m God,
joy in God, as though Qod were a friend. a helper,
and a judge. Wo antagonize all rituals, ana all
ssytotus of ethics, nut in themselves, fur In them
selvo* they have their value, but as they aro
brought forward to take the plaoo of a persons!
reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ, a
personal faith In tho lledeemer aud the inter
jday of life currents which are sot in motion by
the perceived facts of natural our*
ruutiou, redemption by grace, and the
QaUy cmdaiiue of Qod. \Vo do uot un
derstand that morality, or culture, or
civilisation, constitute religion in the Christian
sense of that word.
T/ilrd—Our religion Includes the idea of tho
truth. Thu “Churchls tho pillar aud ground
of the truth.'’ luatoad of negation and dubiety
there Is something which U called “(ha truth.
Instead of a bonus of munosttlous which may
tie hold or surrendered at will, Instead of chapter
after chapter of holy ambiguities which tuay
mean much or little, something or nothing, (he
New Testament presents a system called
duuinclivoly Christianity, which is neither
nor transcendentalism, nor eclecticism,
a lathis to be built up among tbe opinions of
men, and to bo discriminated from, aud de
fended against, the wisdom of this world, which
i'aul declares “ know uot God." And the
Church is to promote the eitensiou of (hie
system of truth,—by its missions, by its pmoh*
lug, by its symbols and discipline, and, above all.
by bearing witness to tho power of tho Crops of
Christ,—tno power of God lu Justifying tlio un
godly.
J'ontth— Ah nersonal Christianity Includes per
sons) rospoiiPimUly to (iod, and ah U includes a
groat sell-world of vast dimonnioni Into which
neither n friend or priest can outer only ah
gnosis, mid into which can come by right
none but God and ourselves, it
tiniHt nl-o ineludo liberty.—liberty in
thought, belief, and life. Hut thin liberty is
subject to law. mid becomes religions libertinism
when It undertakes to bo A law unto Itself. A
Christian has a Lord and Master, Jeans Christ.
Otherwise, bo may bo a Jew, a pagan, a philoso
pher, mid an amiable and excellent citizen, but
bo is not a Christian. A Christian, then, him two
things to regard.—Christ’s words and Christ's
household. Tho words ho is to bo subject to in
Ins opinions* the household bo in to servo, ac
cording to the law of his Master. Hearing bin
Master's name, bo Is guilty of bad fallh in main
taining views and opinions contrary to tho teach
ing of bisMaPfer. A member of Chripl's great
household, bn is hlpo subject to tho limitations
without which no Church can exist. Huppom Iho
Church lo bo ministered by very imperfect men
—which Is n fact—tho limitation*, ha they do
lined umro or lens rlghllv, remain, if tho
Church have ho much worth in hiH eyes that ho
claims Us fellonship, then. liv tho samo meusnru
(hat bo claims must he yield obedience. If, on
tho other baud its fellowship bo north no hltto
that ho docs not claim it, then ho is in part free,
and at tho samo lime forfeits any
consideration ho might otherwise claim from tho
organized household of faitli. Persecution is a
crime. And tho rigid construction of articles
or rules is both an inlMlecttml and a moral blun
der. Lena criminal, but uotngtain more sen
sible, is tho position of thosn who deny all
responsibility, and claim all privilege; who are
iniluk to strike. and who become martyrs at tho
first blow bitch, though it ho with only tho
llat of tho sword; who sneer at a Church. Us
creod, its ministry, and wuho and sleep with a
sense of injury, because the Church which they
abjure will not givo them the prestige they need
in destroying its credit in tho opinions of their
follow-men,
Fifth—Wotf* kingdom In ft wldo Kingdom.
Tho elect aro not hnowu by ribbuua or shibbo
leth, but by the place God as King, and Savior,
and filend, holds in the heart. The thousands
who, kept out of tbo Church, noTcrtholoss pray,
mid trust, and hope, mid whoso lliblo slahds to
thorn for llinhop, and Church, and temple, iimko
up the great throng which no man nan number.
Their lives measure tbo area of tbo true King
dom of God.
MEMORIAL SERVICE AT UNITY CHURCH.
stsiutox nr tub tiEv. nonenr collykii.
At Unity Church yesterday morning tbo Bov.
Itouert Collyor preached a memorial sermon,
having reference to the recent decease of three
female parishioners, to whose virtues and Chris
tian character ho paid a fitting and eloquent trib
ute. The text was os follows:
Ho calluth to mu out of Self, Watchman, what of tbo
night?
The watchman sold, Tho morning comoth, and aNo
thu night; if ye will Inquire, inquire ye; return,
come,
In opening, Mr. Collyor said that life and
death might he compared to day and night, tho
passage from Ufa to death being in effect the
transition from day to tbo night of human ex
istence. As people pass through tbo day until
darkness approaches, by which All things are
obscured, so do they go through life until tho
shadow of death falls upon them, whoso
mystery no human thought can penetrate.
They aro as helpless, as far m a knowledge of
death is concerned, as are tho creatures that fly
from aun to sun and know no more of yesterday
than they do cf to-morrow. Yet it is well to
look into this mystery* and Hod out all that it is
possible to discover, because all people know
that the night roust bo theirs also at some time.
The dear friends, tho hone of their hone and tho
flesh of their flash, who gladdened them with
their cheery presence and their old loving smile,
go forth ono oy ono M did a friend of tho speak
ers, who bodo'him good-day on a pleasant morn
ing, and the next day was not soon, and only
again when tho breath of life had passed away
and tbo familiar form was borne to Us last rest
ing place. There is no escape from tho
fliiaf leave-taking of this world, and m
thinking upon this subject one in lost iu tho
mysteries which surround tho tomb. But as n
child sorrowH for its abseut mother, so they sor
row for those who aro gone. Tuoro remains
forever a sense of incompleteness, oven after
the first burst of grief is over. Little wonder
that, where there m no flight which can save
from tho all-reaching arm of death, oven Clio
greatest minds have shuddered at tho thought
of its approach. Stout-hearted William Ho
garth, when once asked what would bo tho na
ture of his next picture, replied, “Tbo end of
all thing*,” and Ins promise was fulfilled in one
of the mont vivid and terrible of his paintings.
And how strange is tho picture of Johnson walk
ing down Fleet street and whispering “1 don’t
want to die 1”
It is as natural to cling to life as it is to live.
Though oua savs nothing to anybody else on tho
subject, and though one la apparently tho most
careless and indifferent of men, yet there are
liiaos when bo would stop tho irresistible wheel
of existence, and sacrifice everything for life.
It Is of no use while one is in this mood to call
Uoalh a debt of nature, for it is something that
ho don’t want w pay, ami would avoid It by ev
ery moans in his power. Yet all strife is in vain,
and tho best that oan bo done, after all, is to
submit quietly to tho iuovilablo, and to trust to
a brighter life in tho world to come. According
to tho general idea, the soul will never die.
Catching at this hope, things may bo loft to take
their course. Burmlee is of no use, being hut a
repetition of tho old symbol of a serpent in
which the Loginning torments tho end.
llofornug to tho fact that as people approach
death they lose their farmer dread, tho speaker
said that during tho past summer he was stand
iiigon thosoa-shoroouodny towards evening, and
inquired of a friend why there was no light from
a neighboring lighthouse; to which was replied,
•• Wait till tho mm goes down." Bo they watched,
while the shadows of tho olids lengthened sea
ward, until tho last ray of sunshine disappeared,
when immediately a bright light flashed from
the tower, and illuminated land ami sea. Ho it
is that Just as the ray of life is expiring there
gluamu a wood light of Uopo and peace upon tho
fearful soul.
Unity Church had lost out of Its membership,
during the pastor's absence, throe highly
esteemed ladies, two of them being mothers of
little children, and the third a veritable mother
in Israel. The former were lu tho bloom of Ufo,
and tho latter had seen more than three-score
and tun years.
Mrs. Annie Thomas, when she came into tho
church, was a woman of delicate constitution,
who might, ou that ground, have excused her
self from active service. But her desire
to bo dolug something for others was
her pro-ouiuont characteristic. Bho was always
a zealous worker. Besides that, she possessed o
rarely-educated mind, and nor wit and readiness
to see into difficult questions was remarkable.
Bho was radical, without knowing it, because
she always thought that tho truth could care for
itself. Hho led a life of peace, and iu her last
days of sickuosrf was over thinking how to spare
her friends and attendants any trouble on her
account. And wbon death overtook her at last,
she departed peacefully, and was laid to rest be
side her child.
Mrs. Wood was known and loved of ail. Dur
ing tho Wax sbu waa earnest iu her efforts to
provide for the soldiers, and all will remember
with what a wide motherly fouling she took in
whole regiments and oared for them unceasingly.
A widow of 40 years, she exhibited all the per
fect end puro grace of American womanhood.
Hho liked to call herself an old-school Unitarian j
but, iu reality, the belonged to tho heart of the
denomination. The last time the speaker saw
her he noted a mist in|hor eyes, to
him to denote a dissolution of the tabernacle.
Hho passed away cheerfully, like a noble Chris
tian womuu.
Mary Hlovonßon, tbo last to come to tiro
clmrob, watt tbu last quo that bad toft It. Bbe
wan an example of nulotuotia and rout. Those
who know her trusted per at they did the stars.
Cuming from another order aba sat down at tbo
Communion table wltb uo trace of diasatisfao
tiouor regret. Her view# were wide and catho
lic. HUa died lu tbo faith- trusting in Clod, and
showing no tremor or failing iu spirit. Wbou
she know tbaru wan no hope of Jiv
ing, aba did not despair. In bor
loot momenta aba biased bar children
and wept over them and blessed Ibom. Bbe also
scut affectionate remembrances and kind fare
wells to bor young friends lu tbo city) and then
her light wont down.
Tbo apeaber bad thought fit to talk of tbla
quofatlon of life and death, having in mind tbeso
instanced of departed friomla. Hbould not their
hope lu tbo hour of death bo example# to all
listeners that Uuuday morning, and wbou Itcamo
their turn lu enter tbo Uaik archway they might
boo with happy vialou tbo bright world beyond.
THE NEW RECTOR OF ST. JAMES.
* tun. jigy. «. a. uaauu.
Tho liov. H. U. Harris, tho newly-chosen fleeter
of tbu Church of Bt. Jumea, Episcopal proaobod
for the tfrat time in tbo lebturo-room of tbo
edit! co, corner of Uur on and Casa streets, yes
terday uo ruing.
. Mr. Harris la quite a young man, with heavy
dark hair and moustache of the same color, and
of dragoou-liko llerconcHS, Ilia faco is rather
handsome, mid bis flgnro decidedly command
ing. Tim gentleman la alao gifted
with a very lino voice. although
as a pulpit speaker ho does not uso it with good
judgment, a fact to bo much regretted. Mr.
Karris appears lo bo rallior fresh ns an orator,
and bis chief drawback would appear to bn not
lack of talent, but lack of practice. When
animated bin style is monotonousi and when
calm it in rather pathetic, lie ban evidently in
him tho germ of on orator—bin talent running in
Hie direction of Verbal redundancy,
wbilo ho overspreads bis discourse with so
many flowers that tho pith of the moral Is com
pletely hidden. Mr. Harris is poetical in his
ideas/mid ins expression of llmse ideas smacks
not a littlo of tho school hyperbolical. Notwith
standing, tho a mill! mm appeard to relish tho
young pastor, who showed enthusiasm, and had
iho moral courage to eschew that now almost
universal custom, —a manuscript flenmm. His
really refreshing to pro a minister of tho Gospel
stand up to Ills work in the good, old oxlcmpoto
fashion.
J .4.-11 i\.l4*
Air. Harris chose for bis text tlio .Id vcrsoinf
the first chapter of Haul lo tlio Urrhillitmis. Ho
spoko long upon tho subject, and declared his
Intention of laboring bard In tho field to which
ho ban boon called. Dining the progress of bis
discoiuso, Mr. Harris made hoiiio praceinl allu
sions to bis predecessors, and predicted great
things for St. .Tames* Church In the future. Ho
miuouuced that the church proper would bn upon
for tho find memorial sorvico Monday evening.
SCRIPTURE EXERCISES IN SCHOOL.
“ mimmiaa’* <ittr.< ms views.
To the l.'ililor of The Vhteitno tribune:
CsiicAno. Oct. 2.—Tlio article in Tub Tnmuse
of to-day, signed “ T, Q.." protesting against tho
action of tho Hoard of Education in discontinu
ing Hcripliuo exorcises In tho public schools, H
so full of erroneous statements that I cannot
forbear calling attention to thorn. Seldom is tbo
spectacle presented of so many errors strung on
so short a string ns his scrood displays. It dem
onstrates what profound ignorance n man may
display who has been educated under religions
auspices, cr rather under a system of education
which excludes from the subject thereof all
tight or knowledge at variance with tbo religious
theories of bis educators.
I am willing to concede groat worth to largo
portions of the Bible, but when a writer lays
such exalted claims to it ns this ono does I can
not refrain from challenging them os unfounded
in fact. Ilia assertions llmt I cnticiao arc as
follows:
first. u Christians of ovory name claim the
Bible os their book."
Mistaken, for tlm Catholic Christians do not
claim the Bible which is rend in Iho schools as
their book nor acknowledge it at all as sacred.
AVcomi—"Tho 201) Protestant Churches in this
city regard it ns the only source of morals.”
Homo may, but X know of many that hold to
no such thing.
Third—" It is the book from which the found
ers of this Bopubllo obtained their idea of free
institutions."
Falno in toto. finch men as Thomas Jeffer
son. Tom Paine, and Beniamin Franklin wore
prominent ns founders of tills Government, and
die Bible was one of tho last places whore they
looked for their ideas. The idea of free Institu
tions, too, is not contained in the Bible. Tho
Bible tenches obedience to Kings.
Fourth— “it lies at the foundation of common
Another stupendous mistake. It has no more
really to do with tho common law, so far ns
foundation is concerned, than it has with tho
science oi geometry. In fact, it has nothing to
do with it in any way.
—‘»\Vo aro indebted to it for all correct
notions of statute law."
Was anything over moro absurd ? There is
hardly fin idea of statute law. in either tho Old
or Now Testament, that cool J bo utilized in our
modern times in application to existing society.
From tho Old Testament the ideas would bo
100 barbarous and cruel, and from tho Now
Testament too mild and impracticable.
Sixth —“lt is from the Bible alone that we
I lave learned tho Golden Buie, to do unto oth
ers as wo would that they should do to ns."
Not so, by any manner of means. That prin
ciple is almost as old as the race. It was known
thousands of years before tho Now Testament
was written. It is not now In tho Bible.
iS'cven/A—-“ It is the book of all others most
needed In guarding ua from crime."
For that purpose I prefer the penal statutes of
the Slate, and £ guess “T, Q.” would, too. after
ho bad made an experimental trial of tho power
of each separately. If tho Bible can guard us
from crime, it is n pity that oar legislators have
not long ago found It out.
Fhjhlh—" Drunkenness, adultery, Babbatli
broaking, lying, stealing, murder, and all other
crimes run riot whore the Bible is not honored."
Tho facta rrlll not aupnort this assertion. Mo
hammedan nations aro free from drunkenness,
ami bear a bettor record than moat Christian na
tions in regard to tho other vices and crimes
enumerated. In fact, in this very nation,
distinguished as it is for man ana
women of lofty 'virtue, there are prob
ably more lion, thefts, burglaries, acta of
adultery, and diabolical murders perpetrated in
a Dingle month than could bo hoard of in any
civilized .Mahotnmodan or Buddhist uatlon of
the same population in an entire year.
A’inih— “No nation over made any attainment
in public morals without it."
I don’t know what ho moans by “ public
morals." No nation, perhaps, has made any very
exalted attainment m morals with or without it.
No Christian nation has over yet produced, how
ever, a generation where its public men as
a class would bear anv comparison in their
honesty, patriotism, and persona) purity, with
tho nude men of Borne in her best estate. There
is hardly a heathen nation, past or present,
whose public men have not neon, or are. less
given to robbing the pooiflo, than are tho pub
lic men of this Bible-readiug United Slates of
America.
Tenth— " It develops Intellect as well as moral
activities."
I deny it. It binds ns to tho past, and
quenches thought and inquity.
Ktewnth—" It is the friend of the common
people, and formidable only to tyrants."
On (ho contrary, it always was tho bulwark of
monarchy, from which its defenders drew “ the
divine right of Kings." It was the groat de
fender of slavery in this laud. Had it not boon
for as use, by tho churches, in upholding that
institution a public opinion would have boon'
created that would have overthrown American
slavery a quarter of a century before it did.
And that, too, probably, without bloodshed.
is tho conservator of pooco and
good-will, and has done more to instruct and
benoilt mankind than ail other hooks put to
gether."
While the facta aro that almost all tho wars of
Europe up to tho eighteenth century have
grown out of diverse views of the teachings of
tho Bible. Tho most bitter persecutions, tho
moat cruel massacres, tho roost fiendish treat
ment of innocent human beings that tho world
has ever witnessed, extending over many cen
turies of history, have sprung directly from
faith in its dicta as inspired and Infallible.
At this present moment there la more estrange
ment among men in this land who would natural
ly bo friends, inoio hatred ami bitterness of
heart extant among people susceptible of tbe
kindest emotions, all owing to tno way they
understand this book, than there is from all
other sources whatever. If It is a book that
promotes peace and good will, pray show us one
that produces discord.
Htill, 1 like tho Bible for tho good that is in It.
and 1 believe that there is virtue enough in tho
human heart, when cultivated, to appropriate
that good and reject tho evil. That school
children can do it I very much doubt.
Much kind of talk, however, as this of “T.
O." may do for Sunday-schools, but not fur tho
columns of such a paper as Tme Tmnu.sK, which
are perused by tho intelligence of the West.
A PLEA FOR PERSECUTION.
now it is i-uoposeu to thkat mumsii phot-
ESTXKTfI,
Tba London Timer of Hopt. IB baa the follow
ing editorial discussing tbo recent protest of tbo
Papal Nuncio against that clause lu the draught
of tbo new Spanish Constitution which extends
a mild degree of toleration to noo-CalboUetf :
llellgluus toleration hu become ao much of a com
nxnipiutwiu these days (hot it la refreahlng to read a
downright plea for persecution like that which waa
given iuvurrarls curreepoudeure of yesterday, and
on which the Madrid Cabinet will deliberate to-day,
The Papal Nuncio of that city Is determined to allow
/■ tint bis Church Is not ilia meet sufferer which U sild
to bo by bor prelates in this country: that aba acorns
to be content with tbo fair Arid ailuno favor which
fursua thu whola ground of Cardinal llaunlngM mod
cat demand, tihu claims supremacy and the auppna
slon of all other creoda as vcbsmwuily aa
ahu did lu tbo thus of Philip I}.,
and isos ready as ever with plow whlub logically
lead to the wont practices of the Inrjulsltlow. in lbs
draught of s now Constitution for Hpoin there Is a
clause which would give Protestants uud olher re*
Unions bodies oulslds the Itomau Csthuuo Church s
mild toleration, They would got be interfered with
on account of their religious opinions, uur in the excr
dao of thulr worship, unless they should alack
“ChrblUu morality.” This phrase is so very eheUc,
especially tu Bi>olu, that aurh freedom might mean
very llUle Indeed U the Court happened to be vehe
mently Ultramontane, and it la further attmuaUd by
tho prohibition of all ceremonies fetid public
manifestation* other than those of Ihn Htatn
reunion. I'll rin tho Protestants of Madrid
Might tin forbidden Id op«n > ctliirrli
In any public manner. or trim, i>erliap«, to place ft
church In any peculiarly prominent ixi'lllnu, ami they
would coilnlnly not Ik? allowed In indulge In tho Inju
ry of street-preaching. Hcllgions toleration emit
ScftrcMy lift Inildor, lull U hail roused tlio Irn of iho Pa
f>ai Nuncio, and bn make* n protest In 11m? naino of iho
iw. The Concordat of I'd), he points mil, distinctly
slate* that the boinnu Catholic religion "hull, “to Ihn
Mrlntlntt nf every other erred," W *• the tnlfl religioh
of tin? Spanish nation,’’ and ahnll Ik* maintained “ 'villi
all the right* mid prerogatives which It ought to pi**-
ses* according to tin? law of God mid Iho clause* of
the Holy Canons.” Hneli n pledge might have
satisfied rorquetnnda bltnaclf. Amdlier danse of tlio
Concordat slab** that “nil Inslruelion In public or
private school* *hall l*o In conformity with the Catho
lie faith.’’ A third la all-iinportanl, for it anna the?
Church with the power* of tin? civil arm by providing
that the Ilishops shad have "the help of Ihn annular
power every time Hat they shall have either to oppose
tin? malignity of men who try to jicrvcrt tho soul* nfid
eorrupl Min moral* of tin? faithful or to atop I ho print
ing. introduction, and Mrculallnn of had and perfert
cd iMHihn." What tuoro could tho fleredU (if inqulsl
lora have wanted In the wnrat (Itnca of hereby 7
If a misguided English Protestant went about
corrupting tin? peoptn ny iho dlntrllmlton of I’rotnntaiil
lllhlcs. if n neWKpapi r aprrad calumnies against tho
Church, or if a bookne.ler exposed for sale any vol
umes of Voltaire or Itcmn. the Bishop of tho infuelud
district could Call upon tin? nearest magistrate to loud
him tin? aid of a poltcem in, ami Hie pestilence would
ho stamped out forthwith. Tho theory was perfect,
mid then? can he no doubt Mint If Spain should grant
even tin? ninallest measure of toleration oho will havo
broken inf pledge to tin? papacy.
If wo lock at tho matter from Ili6 Nuncio'* point of
view, hi* arguments are mintiiivornMe. Ilia Church
and tho Pope arc alike infadlblo ; It 1* aa certain that
tho leant iota nl her doctrine in almnliitcly
tniu aa that theft and murder artl breaches
■<f tin? moral Jaw. If Ibcao ollciise* ore heinous,
much more ao ia tho aln of heresy, because It lilight*
tho Immortnl pro«]*cot* of millions, and houco if tiicft
or murder should 1h? pul down with bra and aword,
much more ought Protcatatillam. Them ia not a Haw
in Hint renaonlnif If wo grant tho promises, and It
would allow a* ample * condonation ofamuaaaero of
Ht. H irlliolonicw na of tho kidnapping of a ainglo hoy
Mortira. Of cotirac, Iht? naked logic of mi infallible
theology ia kept out of alght liy tin? Homan C.ilhollo
prelates of our own country, mid they protch instead
beautiful praiaea of rdlgou* toleration. Cardinal Man
ning acemft to hold that It wna invented hy.a member of
Ida own Communion, Lord Ihdtlniorc. Clever men, like?
the English Nlmliop* of (ho CalUnlfo Oanrch, ran, of
eoitrae, easily provide excuses for tho apparent In
con Ifiloncy of (bo Papal Nuncio at Madrid. They
may Ray that, since Spain la essentially a Catholic
country, Piofeslniillsm must Ihj kept away from Ha
chores, because it disturb* tho public ]?caco, hut that
ilidsamo rigor would Ik? out of tho question In En
gland, where tho pnhllo peace haa already been ao
much dlalurl>ed by heresy (but It Is past praying for at
present. The meaning nflhla theory Is that Homan
Cathollolam preaches toleration where it U weak
and practices persecution where U Is strong,
Tho frank, buhl, ferocious Intolerance of M»u
seigneur Hlmcoul Js a confession of this fact. Nor Is
It diblcull to makfl ollowocOJ for the Indignation with
which tho Nuncio sees the Calhollo Ministers of a
Catholic King attempting to push tho most Catholic of
countries into the paths of a religion? Impartiality
which would lend straight to Ibotost condition o! Kn- •
gland. Spain had B.eined to ho tho last stronghold of
(hn Papacy. When Franco and Austria were na good
as Inst to tin? Vatican. Upuin had still much of tho the
ological fervor which nerved the arm of the Inquisi
tion llrr country people were still as pious os
they were ignorant, and irreverence was con
nno't to tho towns, llct universities were mote
like those of tho Middle Ages in spirit than
any other In Europe, and Iho Coilrt had tho
honor of being at nncotbo least decorous and tho
moHt devout In the whole world. When such was (ho
state of Spain only a few years ago, tho Papacy must
bo profoundly moved by the work of tho last fow
years, which Lave greatly helped to shake tho remain
ing power uf tho Cunrch, amt which now threatens to
destroy its supremacy. It is peculiarly bitter for tho
Hector of an English parish to see an Independent
chapel set up within a stone’s throw of his own
church, and bo ofton directs very strong language In
deed against tbo Intruders; but a hundred times more
latcutf? must he tho anger with which tho Cathode
authorities of Hpaln view tho proposal to legalize
Protestant meeting-house* and Protestant sermons In
cltiea which tho Hourbon Kings had kept free from
the pestilence of heresy.
The Papal party have been using all Ibolr might to
pull tho poor young King over to tbolr aide. Tho Vat
ican has taken caro tn keep on good terms with him as
well aa with Dun Carlos; and a Jesuit Journal, which
Is behoved to speak In its name, has given him a hint
of tbo price which musk bo paid for tbo support of the
Poi<e. When it bogged Don Oarloe to lay down bis
arms now that Ring Alfonso was no loss Catholic than
himself, It InOta tied that tho young monarch might
gain the support of tho Carlists themselves if bo would
only act In tbo spirit of his orthodox mother. Tho
oiler must ho tempting to a youth who Is told by
jkiw? rful advisors that ho could give rest to tho
couuiry by calming the lean of bis Catholic sub
jects. Tho duty and the policy of intolerance will, no
doubt, he also advocated at the Cabinet Council to
day. Nevertheless, tho Minlstcn will commit a grave,
perhaps a fatal, error If they should allow themselves
to 1m cowed by the throats of the Nuncio. They have
a right to dismiss the plea (bat Spain made a specific
com|>act of intolerance with the Vatican tn 1801, fur It
Is rreiiosterous to suppose that Spain must still deny
her Protectant citizens religious toleration merely
because it was withheld from (hem more than a
generation ago by a Government which has since
that time been overthrown. There must be some
end to the reign of criminal folly. Nor would
King Alfonso gain as much as bo would lose
by the refusal to tolerate any other religion than tho
Homan Catholic faith. A considerable number of
adherents, no doubt, would flock to him immediately
after such a declaration, and among them would Ik?
moat of tht? clergy. Hut a general election Is at hand,
and (ben tbo King must reckon with the Liberals and
tho moderate Conservatives as well ta with the Clerical
party. Ilia advisers might reasonably toll him that
Uio bigotry of Spain Is a lessening force, and that tho
interference of the priests in political matters Is
regarded with growing Joalouny. Even in (ho coun
try districts there Is a disposition to leave heresy
alone, Instead of keeping It down la the old ortho
dox fashion. Most of the towns have flung off
the sovereignty of the Church, and regard Protestant-
Ism with undisguised patience, if not good will. If
they alone were to be consulted, they would grant a
much less limited toleration than that which has
frightened tho Pupil Nuncio. Moreover, the tendency
of the whole country Is towards religious freedom, and
that bent will become more marked every year. King
Alfonso would thus bind himself tn a vanishing past If
hu were to Ik? as Intolerant as bis mother. It is very
doubtful whether any fairly-elected Parliament would
aceupt even for a Umu such a Constitution as would
satMy tho Papal Nuncio, audit It woro to ho passed
it would only give new force to tbo revolutionary agita
tion.
'*ST. BEECHER AND THE NONCON
FORMISTS.”
TUB “ SATURDAY REVIEW " DECLARES ITSELF.
TUo lost number of tbo Saturday Jievmo baa
tho following article relative to tbo rocout action
of certain Nonconformist members concoruiog
Mr. Docohor:
Tho recent dedication of the City Temple to the
worship of that strange idol Mr. Dcocucr has supplied
a significant commentary on tho Insidious Invitation
Just before addressed to clergymen of tbo OhurcU of
England to identify themselves with the institution.
It Is unpleasant to discover that there is in any part of
our community a sympathetic weakness for tho.o po
cullnr tenets which have borne (heir natural fruit la
the scandal at Brooklyn. It is sumo comfort, however,
to observe that rvajwiiblo Nonconformists
are, as a body, by no moan* disposed
to submit quietly to tho humiliallug Imputation
which has been oust upon them by Or. Parker and his
friends. For the trap which was cunningly laid for
tho unsus|K»ctlnß congregation of the City Temple,
when a role of confidence lu Mr. Beecher was sud
denly lot fly In tbdr name, X)r. Packer may have been
alone responsible. But the meeting next day, at which
a still more sickly and fulsome resolution was put
forth, as if on behalf of Nonconformist ministers gen
erally, naturally Involved more serious consequences
to tho character of the whole body; and It Is not sur
prising (bat tills audacious assumption of authority
should have produced a commotion Nfldch has not yet
subsided. There was at once an Indignant repudia
tion from all parts of the country, and this has
been followed up by continued protests lu the denom
inational organs, and a series of denunciatory pam
phlets, some of which have reached us. Tho lino of
defense which has boeu taken by some of (he chief
oilcudera Is certainly rather an extraordinary one;
for, apart front thu main charge against Mr. Beecher,
on which they arc, of course, tike other people, en
titled to tbdr own opinion, they eagerly seek to ex
tenuate and Justify the peculiar practices which tend
to confirm the suspicions against him, and which, in
any case, show how little tils personal conduct and
habits wore m accordance with the sobriety and de
corum demanded lu bis position. Dr. lUlelgh. for
instance, admitting that there have been ** peculiari
ties n —ho “will even add Improprieties "—la Sir.
Beecher's behavior, does not see why on this account
ho should nut be approached with sympathy by those
who behove (hat be bos. “with complete success,
shown himself Innocent of the heavier charge. ’ This
assumption, which also pervades the resolution passed
by Dr. lUlelgh and his associates, that tbo charge
against Mr. Uoocher has been completely disproved. Is
of course a flagrant perversion of the notorious fact
(bat the Jury could not agree on a verdict of ac
quittal: and not • word of censure or ad
muulUou is hiuled as to the dsugorous cm
sequences to others of the example of Mr.
Beecher’s 14 peculiarities." It Is extremely unfortunate
that any controversy on this unsavory subject should
have spread to our shores; but, as this bos happen
ed, It Is necessary that any misrepresentation of tha
positive facia of the case should be ex|>oscd.
The theory of ths defense at the trial waa that Mr.
Beecher was Ud by hla accusers Into a series of discus
sions or negotiations which he imagined to have no
reference to earthing mure serious than an Imputation
of undue Interference ua his pari m the aif airs of (he
Tllluu family, which waa supposed to have bad tint
effect of producing an estrangement between the
husband and wife; sud that ths graver charge came
upon him afterwards as a complete surprise, it Is
dear, however, that Beecher must at least
have known the gravity of the charge efter
the 20th December, 1(170, whoa Tilton, follow
ing ui» bis forma) demand on the stitb to hi#
pastor to resign his office sud quit Brooklyn, showed
Jleocher his wife's written confession, which Beecher
persuaded Mrs. Tilton next day to retract out of
compassion, as she said, fur his misery. Yet from that
day down to the middle of last year we find Beecher
lu close and obsequious attendance on Tilton and
Moulton, ite hoe plenty of bard words for himself,
groans and tears, and pleadings (or mercy, but not
a word against hU accusers, tie docs not attempt
to deny anything, makes no iireiuntlou for a defense
or fur the punishment of his culmluators, but tries
to coax and wheedle, gud touch their hearts
by his wta'plug and despair. The day alter
ho gets Mrs. TlUou'a retraction, be humbly etunda by
command at Moulton's bouse to meet Tilton, though
it is e preyer-meetlag night, and he has In bastelo
make arrangements for a auuutute, Us expresses no
Hummus.
Indignation at the na'ure of the Recusations against
him, bul merely complain*—tide is his own ovulen *
—that ** nn unfair ml vantage lias been taken uf him"
In gelling Mrs. Tilton's confession ; and when Tilinn
re.l«?li?H that U»« tmfalnwa* was ou his aldft In fU'iru
lug Ihn retraction, “In* argues the point with hi,,, m
and Hum surrenders the document lo Moulton wliii rv’ n
apology. Uu New Year s day (Hutulav) tho fani'Mi,
“lettler of ronlrlthm 1 * is written. In nlii Ji | IS
“ bumbles himself t* fore Theodora Tilton as h, f., r 9
God." am) begs forgiteni-ss; nr, he admits, m.-t
words to that rifecl. Ou Fot>, 7 lie send* a whit,,
ing letter to Stouilnn lagging for ft
with Tilton, whoso “tinliteuMs” ho extols; an lim
writes to Mrs. Tilton tagging her to trust implicitly
to Moulton, “ wooso hsiul lied up (he tdorm (hut w.ii
ready In burst upon our heads.” On the IHlih May h.
ghes to Tilton’s house, ami they f ill Into “niieaKr
mul tinbitslness- like ehat,” Needier sitting on Tilton'*
knee “lo make tho appeal closer, *• and, when
Mrs. TlltOti comes lu, the three kihslnw nn.l
fondling nil round. Early In I*7 J lircliir
repeats ail offer hh had before tuadr? in
down and out” if his “destruction” would satutir
Tilton; hut fears it would make ft '* clouded futnro "
for Tilton's family. At Iho beginning of Hie m*xt ? c ?r
again lie is “ suffering the torments of the il.inuiH.s
and living on ” Iho shorn and ragged edge of anile:*
reroorso, fear, and despair.” Ami soil gins on friim
tho last day of IfliO down to well on lu 1*74. H.v. tu r
Is continually whining, cringing, anil suppliant b. f< r «
Moulton and Tilton, and beseeching im ny and f ( , r .
givencss. In Odohcr, 19'fl, a private Committee of
Plymouth Church summoned Tilton „ n
ft charge of slandering lh« pastor. Mr*
Umdsbaiv had lu H7O heard Tilton ftccitsn Ueochrr of
ndullcry, and, ns tho report spread, In the autumn of
IHl.'l she fell bound to ask llcecher whether lh» “awful
story ” wuft I rue, Ho advised her not to Interfere, **
ho had mad?? it nil np with Tilton, Even when con.
fronted with Tilton before Iho (rtlmnal. ti>? «uid lie had
no charge against him; everything hod been “ amici,
lily Adjusted, and. as far ns lie was eohCentod, hurled s
tn 1871, however, Needier Iwgan to change |,{|
(one of n whipped hound, and became liltmtor.
lug itnddefliiiit; hut lids did Hot hapjien until Til.
tod’s secret hud become public property throiigj,
the iiews|ni)crs. Down to about tblsttni" thrro h,,(
hi-cli throughout the whole of Hie correspomleuct? nm)
talks a tacit assumption that Needier was a grmi
culprit, and tho Tilton* his Vidius, and yet it was m t
till after three years had twissod on Iht* fouling tlut
bo veutnrod to turn upon Ids accusers,
U is dilflcnll to see how lUdi a Bticroßslon offsets
can bear any but one interpretation ; hut, even ap,rt
from tho actual charge, then? Is something slnenhrly
nntragemis in asserting that this exhibition of IJrach
e.r’a pastoral “ jusoulliitUlw ''—lda loose freedom
In blsdng and oilier endearments J his instill
oits phiiamlerlng with ft weak woman; nn
slimy sycophancy and abje-t crouching to
people who accused him of a shocking crime; Lli
hypocritical subserviency oven to such none os di
Mrs. Morse, Mrs. Tilton’s mother, who wrote; 11 Dq
yon know, when 1 hear of your cracking your jokei
from Sunday to Sunday, and think of tho misery you
have brought upon ns, I thluk with (ho Psalmist
'There Is no God ’ 7 and his hlitrloulo effrontery in
tho witucss-liox. again cracking Jokes oven ou sacred
subjects, as In too description of Mrs. Moulton aa •<*
slice of lUB day of Judgment "—that all this Is "so en
tirely favorable fo the Christian character of our
honored brothef." Even If Mr. Needier did
not ellp himself, ho gave evil encourage
moot by his example to try ft slippery descent.
Tin? terms on Which, before the scandal broke out, h«
lived in Tilton's homo as his “second home," at
once tho confessor and ddsoco of his wife, recall
Tartuffe almost to tho letter “Ah I pour etre devot,
Jc D’od mils pas molns hoirnnol’’ though perhaps (La
“ feu dlacrct ” hardly applies. Hero is some of Dr,
Parker’s Ingenious argument ou (bis point from «
letter in Iho ChrtoUnn »’orUi. Ho argues that silo*,
sace must bo made for "groat gilts." which "would
seem lo provoke great temptations." •* Vfhen ihets )•
high sensitiveness of nature, when everything
is looked at through a moral rather than
a logical medium, when sympathy <•
large and unsuspecting, the probability h
that (hero will he many temptations unrelt by men of
another mold.” It Is, therefore, unfair, in bis opia.
lon, to sot one man against another when so much
pends upon circumstance* which ore rather to in felt
than explained. This last touch la an exquisite ona
Dr. Parker goes on to argue that preachers who mats
" the pulses tingle with a life mysterious and mighty
as eternity " are not to be Judged by ordinary men tf
they indulge In any <4 peculiarities ”; and he winds op
by the astounding assertion that "every English min
ister with whom he is acquainted it in deep
sympathy with Mr. Beecher,—a noble man,-
aml when be comes to England they will
(ell him something of their great lorn." It is not very
likely that Mr. Beecher will pay ns this honor, but. If
he does, we fancy be will discover from his reception
that the sort of "large and unsuspecting sympathy*
which ho typifies, and which Dr. Parker apparently
wishes to see widely cultivated In domestic circles lo
England, Is not exactly to the taste of a race old fvb*
ioned enough to prefer ordinary decency and a roonii
ity that la prudent in keeping clear of wanton tcmnU,
Hons. It Is Uma that tbo Congregational Union took
some definite ptildie step to exonerate itself from any
connection with this poisonous propaganda.
A Tend and fllouao Fight*
Richmond Ditpateh Letter ,
It is ay custom daring tho summer montnsU
visit tho Huguenot sulphur spring every oven*
lug and morning. Having arrived at (bo before,
named place abont C o’clock p. m. on tho 2d of
September. 1 drank and took my float on tbo mv
Honey that incloses tho spring. In the tiro most
southwestern cornora of this inclosuro, which ia
an octagon, aro (wo holes, each about 8
inches in circumference. After sitting a
short time a shrew-mouse made Ita
appoaratico in front of tbo holo near
cat to mo, scorning to bo earnestly in search of
something. After encircling its threshold for a
short time it proceeded around tho wall. Pres*
ontly. to my groat surprise. I hoard a scream,
and on looking up perceived that it had en
countered a largo toad. At first tbo shrew
seemed unwilling to mako an attack, and re
turned a short distance ; bub at this time, mlf
Its courage was renewed, it retraced its steps,
and leaping over tho toad seized it by
000 of its hind logs. Tho toad nudo
no show of fight, but. striving to es
cape, put forth those pitiful screams (bat
would have moved the heart of any 000 to Its res
cue but of 000 whose curiosity was not yet sat
isfied. When tbo shrew bad wearied ita prey
tho former undertook to carry tho latter into
tho nearest holo; but this was Impossible,
as tho shrew had cut tho cavity iu the
wall to lit itself and nob tbo toad, which
was larger around by two Inches. When bon
oral unsuccessful attempts hod boon made to
carry tho toad into this dining-room, tho lat
ter succeeded in getting free, but was sooa
recaptured and taken uaok to undergo the
samo treatment, (ho Hhrow no doubt thinking
it an inflationist, and that it had swollen Itself
to prevent being carried through the threshold
entrance; hut tho poor toad was accused wrong
fully ; it no doubt needed all the air it could
draw in. but unfortunately for tho ehrow thi
toad’s framo was too largo, Finding it impos
sible to accomplish its purpose at this corner,
the shrew dragged its prey (which by this Unis
socmod to havo given up all hopes of escape) to
tlio uoxt holo, and laying it near the en
trance ran quickly to and fro several
times, os if seeking a place to put
it. Tho shrew now commenced again the
task to (ako a toad that measured 6 incoei
around Into a holo that was only JJ inches in dr*
enmforenco; but this being of no avail it seemed
as if to say, “ To take tapper la my dining-room
this evening is impossible, so I will onlov It the
beet I can out in Iho cool porch." And so Haul,
for it gnawed oil and devoured one of the hmd
logs of tho living toad, when I set tho latter
froo to spend tho remainder of its Ufo with omy
throo logs. During tho whole of this scuffle,
which Tasted about half an hour, tho toad
screamed moat pitifully.
Cnlohlug Frogs.
A correspondent of tho Troy Prest write*
from Caaileton, llcnsaclacrCounty, thus: “1
woo out driving on Haturday, and a few mile*
from here found two mon in a swamp hv the aid*
of tho road, who aoomed to to crazy, to Judge
from their movements. I watched them from
tho carriage ttomo time, and finally made up oj
mind they wore Halting, but how they could
water enough to Huh in [ could not imagine.
Finally 1 called out to them, ‘ What are you do*
tug there?* 'Dome and see,* one of them
Blioutod back. 1 bitched my horse, and picked
my way over the hog* to them. They were
catching frogs. They would strike them wim
clubs where they could roach them, but ibe
most of thorn they caught with a wir*
4 snare.' They had a large basketful,—n} 0 !?
than 100 pounds, they said, and 1 guess they told
the truth. One of them said ho mads a good
deal of money catching froge for the New iff*
market. Ho said that, la one mouth last season,
he caught 1,600 pounds of dressed frow. 4
which he got 80 cents a pound, making
Ills mouth’s work. Part of tho time ho had
boys to help him. Last week, near Hudson, P*
said ho caught upwards of 600 pounds, ana eoio
them for iIGO, or an average of 83 cents a
pound. Thoso stories seemed to mo liioreaita*.
sod yet he assured mo it wss truth. 11*“
clesr 88 cents a pound, ho says, easily. «
seemed to me an honest man, and from the 04 *
with which they caught the frogs 1 w«e lc “ ; h
bollovo that ho had not stretched the uutn
much, if at all."
Ilaby’a Weight.
A doctor of France has invented a machine )
means of which au over-aoxlous mother m •
assure herself from day to day, or ovon I ,*^ Jll> ,
hour to hour, that tbeßabv is doing
tortly aa regards ttalncrease of weight, t* cc t
slats of an ordinary cradle, to , r i'i
fitted with a balance underneatu which wili J
tho exact weight of the cradle and its couio* t*.
without any need of disturbing tho chiU. i ,
said that after two complete days of life » cww
weighs 4 ounces less than at birth. '»b™
wooU qld, i( will be the same weight as at binm
From seven days to five months the average
increase should bo throe-quarters of °
dally. At 6 mouths tho weight should be ™«j{}
that at birth. At 10 mouths the weight *b«jw
ho double that at 6 mouths. Of course.
vary from time to time, and each ludivfduhl hjs
a rule of its own \ the great point ta that grosUi
ought to be constant.