The Religious World-Movements In IN


Churches.
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Churches.


There is evidently at present great deal OF agl-
latiou amongst the churches. new spirit OF IN
quiry appears to have been OF late awakened, and
the sounds of theological controversy are heard on
ali hands Such ministers OF the various sects as
are most desirous of notoriety and the fane-al-
ways readily reaped--of the controversial arena,
are buckling on their armour; and in their pulpit
addresses, are exhibiting and defending, with
more less ability, acrmony, and christian spirit,
the distinctive dogmas Of their respective creeds.


The sectional differences between Cathollcity
and Professionalism, occupy now, as they always
have occupied the chief place in those discussions.
The introduction OF tie Puseyite controversy, as it
is caed, into the Episcopal Church OF this country,
gave new impetus TO the discussion Of the Catho-
lie dogmas. which, owing to the going out Of such
lights as Brownlee, Cheever, Kirk snd others. had
suffered temporary oblivion and still more re-
Gently the lectures Of DR.. Pise of this city. have
had the effect OF bringing into a very prominent
light this prolific department of polemical divinity
Bishop Hughes is now also in the field; and in
veral pulpits Of the Protestant churches, the pre-
monitory symptoms OF a return of the fire have al
ready been manifested. We have, indeed, every
reason to expect that, during the present winter,
great deal OF public attention will be directed to
the discussion of controversial topics. Next TO
politics. theological disputaton is the most attrac-
tive, it is the most exciting subject with great
multtudes of the people, and there will be no
scarcity Of professors otthe science, who will very
cheeIfully contribute abundanly TO this species OF
popular entertainment.


Not that we would make light OF polemical die
cussions. BY no means. We find fault not with
theological controversy itself, but with the
unchristian manner in which it is almost uni
versay conducted. And the best practical
demonstration of our opinion which we can
give, we are making. We are presenting
10 the public, faithful reports of controversial SER
mons and lectures. Ia thisway we bring the topics
before the public and invite investigation, which
will result in good-in a wider diffusion of the
truth. And at the same time we applying the
best possible corrective to the violence, the rancor
the grossness, the pernioious tendency of mere
sectaranism. Preachers, when they find them.
selves addressing not handful Of people, but the
public in general, will be cooler and more christian
than heretofore. They must at least affect to be
charitable. Public opinion, they will soon feel,
has its eye upon them And thus, in another i'm
portant field of action and usefulness the indepen-
dent newspaper press will discover itself to be-
what il is more and more acknowledged to be every
day-the faithful ally of truth, morality, virtue,
universal charityand in saying this, do not de-
clare that it will be the friend of true christianity
itself.