Show THE CONGRESS it appears that the archbishop arob bishop of canterbury at the annual meeting of the society for the propagation of the gospel has baa expressed himself to the effect that the english clergy must refuse refuge to take part to in the religious con gresa greas proposed to be held in chicago as a feature of the worlds fair the reason he gives for his refusal is that his ble church cannot be represented at that gathering without the tacit admission that non mn christian religious systems have as aa much claim on the faith of mankind as has christianity this Is in singular the archbishop in other words says he cannot go to go chicago and discuss religious questions with a JOW jew a mohammedan or a buddhist because his bis doing sa would imply an admission on his part that either of those gentet gentlemen men hes has as much right to his b to faith as he hast has t his were this position correct it would seem that all mi mia sinary efforts all endeavors to evangelize the world by means meana 0 of friendly discussions and ses ought to cease but this conclusion naturally following though it does from his hia argument even the archbishop would reject as absurd in connection with this it is worth while remembering what the catholic archbishop ireland said at the dedication of the fair grounds in relation to the subject truth be said in sub stance will never suffer from being placed in juxtaposition with error there certainly seems to be more force of truth and more manliness in this utterance than in that of the english prelate which might easily be construed CODs trued as an admission that christianity as represented by the church of england would possibly be defeated in EL a universal univ erual religious contest and it to is truly to be hoped that other protest tut int bodies wil not follow the be example set by the canterbury prelate great results maybe may be expected from the religious congress at the fair the idea la is worthy of the century in which we live it to la an embodiment of the evangelical alliance principle on a larger scale an attempt at its universal application when in 1845 various protestant bodies represented at a meeting in liverpool formed the evangelical alliance few could foresee the results that were to follow slowly but surely however it has had the effect of breaking down much of the prejudices existing between Prote tits and even to draw catholics somewhat nearer to their opponents christians christiam have it learned arned partly at least to respect each other notwithstanding differences endea of opinion on doctrinal points rites bites have become of secondary importance to a vast vase malo majority rity of church people and to many they have lost all significance whatever thus broadening the field may it not be supposed that this process of erasing doctrinal circumferences and breaking down ritual obstacles Is to go on still further and that tabt the religious congress is in one step in this direct direction ioL who can say what the final result will bel bt I the gospel f jesus teaches us with no uncertainty that a time will come when the whole world will acknowledge him as an the ruler and will worship him there can be no doubt that as an a preparation for this time mankind must be more unified in every respect than at present pree ent old systems must be torn down to give room for the new structure to be reared under the direction of the lord aud it seems that this leveling process is in the chief work of our time in almost very every direction social political and religious ligi ous all is being prepared for fer a now new era 1 and thal thai wilt will according to the ber be the era if f the reign if f the son of god |