RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 25 October 1913, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT OP CHRISTIANITY.

CHURCH UNION FROM VARIOUS POINTS OF VIEW.

Tho September number of "The Constructive Quarterly" (Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press) well maintains the high standard of interest set by the two previous numbers. Articles' from tho United States predominate iu the present issue, but that sloes not- in any way lessen its value, for American writers have a way of dealing with religious problems with a vigor alio unconventionality that is as instructive as it is refreshing. Other countries are also represented. Dr. Forsyth, Principal of Hackney College, London, contributes a very striking article on "Congregationalism and tho Principle of Liberty," and the contribution on "Missionary Education in India," by Mr. A. G. Fraser, Principal of Trinity College, Ceylon, deserves careful attention at the present time in view of tlio growing feeling that something is radically wrong with tho educational system of India. Mr. Fraser thinks that not only in the mission field, but in every educational institution tho idea should bo to work for tho individual only as a means to an end, for the Bake of the nation to which lio belongs; to. train citizens, not graduates o£ a college. There are two interesting pronouncements on tho question of Church Union. Anglican and Orthodox. The Most Rev. Platon, Orthodox (Russian) Archbishop of North- America, writes as follows on tho question of Anglican Orders: —"I can say nothing categorical concerning tho Church, of England, but from my experience, in this country I call definitely affirm that no concession from us is sought, nor is any need of -such concession felt. The Episcopalians wish us to accept their holy orders, not as a concession,. however, but on the basis of undoubted historical data, critically verified and firmly established. Acceptance bb a concession would be of no earthly jase to them; it might weaken their .position, by depriving them df complete confessional equality. Now, pR-'beforo, they wish-one thing only: -that their hierarchy should be accepted unconditionally and without any reservations. This is a great question. Having become acquainted with this question, and with the opinions of Professor Sokoloff of Moscow, Professor Kerensky of Kazan, and Professor Bulgakoff of Kieff (whoso lectures I followed) on it,.; I would lmvo been quite willing to side with those who accepted the validity of j the Anglican hierarchy, had not Pro-1 fessor Bulgakoff categorically announced that tho only real obstacle in the way of a satisfactory solution of .the question is to bo found in the Thirtynine Articles tho Church of England. An insurmountable obstacle,. indeed, as the Thirty-nine Articles deny that holy orders are a'sacrament. Yet Dr.' F. W. Puller publicly announced that an; undue importance was given to 'the Thirty-nine Articles, and that they were not dogmatically binding; he did this first in a public leetiiro in St. Petersburg, when speaking on behalf of the Church of England, and then in a book which- he published in 1912 under tho title of 'Tho Continuity of the Church of England.'. In his book, Dr. Puller, discusses this question in an extremely interesting way, placing it on a new foundation, ana shedding a new light on it. t was so interested by it that, when Dr. Manning, of Trinity Church, called on me, I could not refrain from questioning him on tho validity of Dr. Puller's assurance; from Dr. Mannings I received a categorical statement that ho, as well as many others, completely shared Dr. Puller's view. If this be so, it becomes much easier for our Church to solve the- question, and to acknowledge Anglican, holy orders, not as' a concession, but from a profound conviction that, by doing bo, our Church would think and act rightly, though tho action was of the greatest importance, and the Roman Cliurcli hesitates to decide on it. When 1 this will come about, we do not know. Such knowledge is for God alone; but our hope of its possibility is almost a certainty, and this alone is enough to aBSUI'6 us that our labours for the solution of tho union of the Churches tiro not in vain, though, so far, they can be directed only towards clearing away the weeds which prevent the various Christian Churches from understanding each other." < The Roman Calhollo Point of View.

Tho Roman Catholic point of view is stated as follows by the Bishop of Cremona (Italy)—"Tho Roman Church cannot recede from its position, or yield upon any essential point of its doctrine, without being renegade to itself. Tho Roman Church, with its definitions, with the affirmations repeated a thousand times of its divine character, and witli all tho acts of its government, has cut down and is cutting down every bridge behind it. It can well allow itself to be joined by tho dissident .Churches with unconditional submission; but it cannot turn back,review its own decisions,, modify its dogmas, change its "hierarchy, lessen its authority. . . . Previous to the

definitions made by the Rom&n Catholic Church, in tho various Ecumenical Councils, union between tho three Churches was not difficult, so long as they were of one accord to subniit themselves sincerely and unreservedly to the judgment which the Universal Church itself should in future pronounce: if they all united in the supremo dictum of the whole Church, no Church would feel itself offended, and the truth received no injury thereby» But now that tho decisions have been irrevocably pronounced, what further' way can be found to secure the supreme authority of the Roman Catholic Church? How can we, as it were, put in doubt what has been declared undoubted and indubitable? The more I think of it, tho more I feel my heart wrung, as I see the impossibility of finding a way out of so tcrriblo a difficulty. Wo Catholics cannot suffer that to come in question which we have declared to bo the truth. We should be traitors to our faith. But you, my ever dear brothers, especially you English, you have not tho insuperable difficulty which exists for us, because you have not, _ strictly speaking, adopted any dogmatio definition since, your separation. Wo hiivo the definition behind us. we have t-lie impassable abyss, you have it not. Como over tho : igulf to us; wo will forthwith throw■ our arms abont youf nock, Wo shall all bo sons of the same Mothor, and of tho same Father who is ,in heaven; and Quicklv tho cnrtli shall lie changed, and the great ship of tho United Church will sail in safety upon tho troubled waters, and gather/ in tho millions...of scattefod sons throughout all tho eoasts. What- jovl Wlwt an event for tho Church of Christ! There will bo neither winners nor losers; neither luuftbled P.or tlioso who humble; wo shall all bo brathets. Meanwhile, let us_ bo united, if not in tho same faith, in the ■ same charity, and prostrate before our common Saviour, Jesus Christ, let us pray that His will be done—His will that all bo saved." The other articles are as follow : "The Restoration Plea of tho Disciples' of Christ," by F. D. Kershner; "Comprehension, not Compromise," byG. P. Mains (Methodist Episcopal Church): "An American Contribution to Unity," bv T. J. Garland (Bishop _ Stiff ragan_ of Pennsylvania j "Tho Anglican Position Constructively Stated," by Professor F. J. Hall (Western Theological Som-

inary); "Foreign Missions, a constructive Interpretation of Christian Principles," by It. E. Speer {Presbyterian); "Tho Church and tboStato: Tho Solution of the Problem in tho Ministry of Service," by Dr. Hormann von Bezzel (Head of the Lutheran Church in Ba-

varia); "Moral and Religious Restoration of a Tenemejit-Houso Quarter in Paris," by Professor Max Turmann; "Christ's Teaching About Marriage," by Professor G. 13. Eager '(Baptist); "Frederic Ozanam, Professor ov tlio Sorbonno and Founder of tlio Conferences of-St. Vincent do Paul," by Professor Jacques Zeilier (Switzerland),,