p. 107 | Religious Notes

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 2, 1882

Religious Notes.

—There are now more than 700,000 members of the Baptist churches in the United States who are of African descent.

—Revivals have been very numerous throughout the country. The Methodist states that it has recorded in its issues for 1882 nearly 1,300 conversions in Methodist churches.

—That was a shrewd answer that was made by a colored waiter to a politician who asked him, "Do you think I am elected to be saved?" "Scarcely know, Massa," was the reply, "but I never heerd of any one bein' elected that wasn't a candidate."

—The Pope has addressed a very grave letter to the Italian Bishops, commanding them, in view of the dangers surrounding the church, to increase their activity, to encourage Catholic societies among the laity, to develop the Catholic press, and to advocate boldly the temporal independence of the Pope.

—In a late work on Sunday, this passage occurs: "That the 'Lord's day' is the day on which Jesus arose, is distinctly stated in the writings of the early Christian Fathers." This, of course is conclusive except to those few who find it "distinctly stated" that the day on which God rested is the "Lord's day." See Ex. 20:8-11; Isa. 58:13; Mark 2:28. Whom shall we believe?

—Henry Ward Beecher is now finding fault with the Psalms, and accuses them of containing as bad mental philosophy as there is in the world. He says: "David never could have written some of his psalms if he had lived in our day, and if he had believed what I believe." Nobody will doubt this assertion, but very many will be devoutly thankful that David did not believe as Mr. Beecher does.

—The Rev. Father Scully, of Cambridge, Mass., condemns church fairs in the following strong language, which is significant as showing the state of things that exists: "They demoralize our girls, more than do our lowest theaters, for girls, armed with their church fair book, go forth under religious and parental sanction where they please and when they please, entering even bar rooms to solicit chances and votes. The children think of nothing but the fair. Home, church, and school are banished. When läger beer is sold in our churches where fairs are held, how can we train our youth to look with horror on the evils of rum?"

—The Examiner, in commenting upon Rev. Mr. Miln's infidel utterances in Chicago, very justly says that his position is but the natural result of the "tendency to 'pare away' from that which has been revealed." It says: "It is the peculiar glory of Baptists that they have always protested, with equal fervor, against both of these tendencies; that they have never failed to lift up their voice in protest against those who would take away from, and those who would add to, the words of the Book. They will neither suffer that the doctrines of men shall be taught as the commandments of God, nor that the doctrines of God shall be degraded into commandments of men." This is sound doctrine, but the Examiner has evidently forgotten all about the fourth commandment.

—The Christian at Work thinks that the falling off in church attendance that is so much talked about, is due to the deterioration of family government. It says: "We are not of those who believe that the former times were better than these; but it is undoubtedly true that in this country family government is not what it was. There is not the discipline in the home, the respect for the parents and for age, the deference to authority that there used to be. And we do assuredly know that in too many families the sons and daughters are allowed to go to church or not as they choose, to study their Sunday-school lesson or not, to attend the Sunday-school or not—all as it may please the sweet will of the children to do." And this we say, is the very reason why "the former times were better than these."

—The Boston Christian Register gives an amusing description of "A Telephone Church," such as may be looked for in the near future: "There is a central office connected with each stockholder's house. The choir and minister are at the central office, and the service is of the usual form, but all goes through the telephone. The plan requires no church officers except to go round the circle of the wires, which is about twenty-five miles, and test the wires and instruments. Every stockholder is his own sexton, as he can keep his own house in order to suit himself." There are some "difficulties to be overcome if possible. Those who have been accustomed to be late at church would probably forget to put the receiver to their ears until the sermon is over, and no way has yet been devised for having the responsive service as used in the Episcopal Churches." But the advantages of the telephone church are too apparent to allow of its being given up on these accounts. Great expense is avoided, and also the mixing with uncongenial people of a lower social grade. Worshipers can recline while they listen, "dressing" is unnecessary, and best of all, the contribution box is abolished.—S. F. Post.