Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-09
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RICHMOND. JUNE o.


Ni1rMI'ND, JUNE y.
TO THE EDilOk Or THE ENQUIRER
y few observations maybe proner I'm answer
10 those OF Marcus, ('teretoforr inserted in your
paper,) upon the resolution lately adopted bN
me convention OF the Protestant, Episcopal
Chnrch, at Winchester. The tone of his r.
marks entities them Ia gteat fespcet. the i'm,
roriaDce OF the subject. also, merit. The atttu
uon OF the friends ofreiigiou generally and
especially OF the membcrs ofthat church =
bnt, (coniormab'y with The hint YOU have aiy-
ell, must endeavour TO he short
= he resolution III question is condemned hy
Marcus, as being departure from the llbe
RAJ character of the church, winch hitherto
mas given II the preference, ia his opinion TO
other sectS of more strctness and severity
lhs character of iJerdGty, er more prooeriy
iooSeneSs or total rcnt ~ diScipiirs for which
the Episcopal church, before aud since Tie
Revolution. was remarkable, has indeed re-
commented il TO The appreciation of MANY.
but with all due respect to Ma~cus will, whom,
The writer isnot acquainted, truth requires the
remark that, With tue seriously pious IN gene
raj, that very circumstance mas operated per
maps more than any other, TO the injury OF that
church. They who think that Christians
| ought not to be - CONFIRMED To- tins world bmt
transformed in the renewing of their hearts
and minds, could not reconcile to their sen
t"emts OF propriety the communing with
chnrch IN which the vain, the dissipated the
worldly minded" lovers of pleasures more
than lovers OF God,' were considered as mem.
ia
without any change in their conduct: thew
therefore forsook IL, and joined The Baptists.
Methodists. or PreSbyterians amoug all of
whom "a rigid discipline was established, and a
line OF separation drawn between The followers
OF the Lord jesus Christ, aud those who fol.
lowed HIM not. The spirit of piety. being AVA
kened among the EpiscopaIians, begins BOW 10
manifest Itself, as IL ever will do in amy sect,
| the members of which are deeply IMPRESSED
with the love of God, and really anxious TO do
| GOOD to ihe souls of their fsllow men. That
measures, prompted by that spirit should he
| unpleasant TO those WHO wish - TO join Christ
y. W.lh b9!a', 10 i've according 10 the fashions,
PoWpS ana ranuies OF this nicited D0yld and
al the same time 10 lie called by the name of
thiS'ans, must naturally be expected /; and
mat some of different disposition should ne
yea 10 cehSuie ny mistaken zeal for egious
freedom, rs much 10 be regretted. The resolu
| ton complained of, however, is NOT a canor
hshding on the ministers and cummunca rs
| but merely an opinion or reconp,endutios bv
me convention. which may be isobe, ed Nv
| those Wha cODscientiGusiVcnt entertain a a .frrent
| opinion, and cannot with pIop,ietv be ron
stfucd as, III itself authorizing min STERN re-
pei any person from The Lords table The only
| canon 'owin force, under which a minister NAV
| do 80, l. cauon published in the wear iat7 NE
words OF which are" that any member o. The
| chufch, beng COMMUNICATE thereof cou
| quoting himself al madnfr ,fnw0ythy nj n
| CHRISTIAN, may and ought 10 he sdmonsled
or suspended by the minister OF the parish
| A
| might he contended that, under Tie vaprg
| words, conducting hjmsfLf IN a manner nn,roTfby
9 a Christian, person offering TO ONE to The
communion, who had recently been at
| play or public bali, might be repealed bv
! HE minister but the reference TO the
| hUbrici perhaps Obviates this constfuc-
non; Tor the language OF that instrument is
| ~ among those who come to be partakers of
| Inc Holy Communion, the minister shall hno.
any To he ar open and notorious eril H.er or to
y" nave done any wrong TO his ueighbonrs. by
word or deed, 80 that the congregation he
thereby offended he shall advertise him
that lie presume not TO come 10 the Lords
table, until he have openly declared himself
10 have truly rerented and amended his fer.
| mer eViiilte. tlatthe cOngree tiopnav the 70.
/ by De satisfied; and that lie hath recompens.
: ed inc parties 10 v HON he hath hONe vyrong :.
or at least declare himself to be in full pur
| pose so 10 do as soon as he conveniently nav
| Now, ii can scarcely he cOntcuded that "A per.
| son, whose conduct is generally moral and
| religious, can with prOpriety he designated
" an open and notorious srhHrer," merely Tor vi
| sting the theatre or ball room. But If The 9Th
canon, Notwithstanding its reference TO The
| luDr!ck) DC capable Of construction by
| when more extensive powers are given to the
minister THIN he could exercise under the rn-
| brick, the resolution Of the Conv eutiou tends
| rather 10 weaken than to strengthen such con.
structiom; because IL is not given To the world
| as an explanatory canon, bnt as an oDinion only
| ne conclusion may therefore be fairly drawn
| mat The members WHO voted for il did uot
| tbink ltprOper 10 pass canon 10 that effect
| Considered as az opinion il is objected 10 by
| Marcus on several grounds in the first place,
| because II Is not supported by 0rgRment-To
| this answer, that the arguaIents 10 shew the
| miScIietS arising from theatrical euiertaiu.
| meutS, and public halls were too numerous TO
| be fully comprised ia brief recommend tory
| resolution, addressed to protesting christians.
! tas all conmuulcants arel who IL is expected
] VIII lie induced to" consider their WAYS" and
| examine these subjects more at large ~ other
| wtitings.-But the resolution is not altogether
destitute OF argument for three very inpor-
| rant reasons arc given, for preventing cOnimu-
nIcahis from participating in these diversions ;
| VIZ that theS have the bad effects of sfaiU.
"i6g the purity Cfbte christian ehardcler.-of gic-
| " tHg 9DtHce TO their giOuS bfefhreR aud of IN.
| ddrgeWg their OtrH S0ic0fioR, IN their rushing
r0inHtariiy. into neutrality-suspicious. against which
! " they implore the protection Of their heavenly
Father" In support oflhese reasons, wilitake
| TIE h6erty OF quoting q partOfNlr. e.. FAeccr,l
Substitute, rejected by the Conyspti0nitis true
/ but containing some observations truly excel
lent.-hls language is as follows" Il bat The
| theatre has ~ erGy country in which IL has er
isfcd, LED to ti,e corruption of morals MIC t he
| " inferred from the cenetal character OF tI,e
dramas which 1t exhibits; il tile deyogro,p
circumstances attending The exhibition itselg. The
| numerous Temptations 10 erfraraeancg ami rice
| tOwhiciI u exposes It's actors All audience
| lelt any room 10 doubt lis peTHietovs t,i.degcg
} II VIII Ie ths proper time to l.sti.,a sisL be