p. 371 | Religious Notes

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 16, 1883

Religious Notes.

—The income of the London Missionary Societies of all denominations amounts to some $7,000,000. The Bible and Tract Societies add over $2,000,000 more to this grand total.

—French Catholics take advantage of race prejudice to hinder the spread of Protestantism. Thus in France they attempt to prevent its success by terming it the “English religion.”

—Rev. Dr. Peabody says of his own denomination, the Unitarian; “I verily believe that were a professed Parsee, or Buddhist, or Mohammedan to ask for a place on our list of preachers, room would at once be made for him, and pulpits be thrown open to him.”

—The San Jose Mercury having spoken of “communication between the living and the so-called dead,” the San Francisco Alta very pertinently inquires: “Does it doubt that the former inhabitants of the earth are really dead? Does it know any of them who have come back to deny it?

—The editor of the Independent, in noticing a sermon, says that there is a feeling of unrest, a spirit of inquiry, everywhere at work. It is well. Thus saith the Lord: “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old path, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”

—As indicative of the growing interest in the Sabbath question, we note the fact that the American Sunday-school Union, in pursuance of the conditions of a bequest left it by the late John C. Green, offers a prize of one thousand dollars for the best popular work on the “Obligations and Advantages of the Sabbath.” The manuscripts are to be sent in on or before October 1, 1884.

—Rev. Newman Hall says in the Independent: “It is difficult to imagine a congregation presided over by Paul, Peter, or James, with reserved seats for those who could pay high prices, including certain Jewish scribes or Greek sophists or spies who had secured sittings in order to study the new religion, listen to a fresh style of eloquence, gratify curiosity, or gather material for criminal prosecution; these, along with the wealthier converts, taking front seats, while others, poorer brethren, yet beloved of the Lord, chosen to be saints, stand at the door waiting for vacant places!”

—Mr. Beecher’s latest is that he believes that “man is, as to his physical being, evolved from the animal race below him; but as to his moral and spiritual nature, is a son of God, a new element having come up in the great movement of evolution at the point of man’s appearance.” But no one need be astonished at any vagary that Beecher may adopt, since he says: “I feel that in the advance of science, which will inevitably sweep away much rubbish in the beliefs of men, a place may be found for a higher spirituality—for a belief that shall have its roots in science, and its top in the sunlight of faith and love. For that I am working.” And so is Ingersoll.

—The Christian Statesman says: “Whether we view it in its relation to individual interests or the interests of the nation, the Sabbath question is one of the most important and most pressing issues before this nation at the present time.” Thus far we are perfectly agreed with the Statesman. In another article it says: “All forms of human industry are linked together, and no common day of rest can be secured except by imposing its restraints impartially upon all.” This is also true. We believe, however, that the Almighty has provided for the observance of a common day (not Sunday, but the Sabbath), and we see no reason to interfere with his Government. He will impose all necessary restraints in due time, without man’s assistance.

—The retiring Moderator of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, preached a sermon at its late meeting, in which the following excellent words are found: “The church should meet a man at its door with the Bible. Its terms of admission should be Scriptural. It has no divine right to make anything a condition of entrance that Christ has not made a condition of salvation, however much it may lay upon a man after he becomes a member, as it seeks his perfection. The man whom Christ fellowships is in the Church de facto, and he should be publicly received de jure. It is just as unscriptural to require too much as it is to require too little. It is not requiring too much for church-membership to demand what God requires as a condition of salvation. Christ makes the terms upon which men are admitted into the Church. He gives these in his word. We should keep to his word.”