Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-26

- We hive finished all the iransac
tions OF Tins Agricultural Society, with
the exception !, of Mr.. Garneit's I'm
............................
Resolution Of the Episcopal Conrea'ion.
NO. L.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.
SRA writer, under the signature OF Mar.
Gus, has, IN the Enquirer of the I'd of June
made some remarks upon Il resolution of the
Episcopal Convention, respecting the propriaty
of commandments attending public balls, thea.
tres, worse racing and gaming.
While do not mean to Indulge spirit of
controversy, or 10 depart from that temperance
which ought to marx all discussions, yet shall
freely express my opinions, as well of the mo
tives OF this writer, as upon the subject of the
resolution.
IL is much to be iamented. that the christian
members ct the Episcopal Church cannot be
permitted, as other determinations are 10
prescribe rules for the members of their com
r,union, without snbiecting themselves to
newspaper structures and il is a cause of sur
prize 10 the pious and rejecting members of
this Chu cb. that those who by their life and
conduct show that they really feel no interest
in the christian lisiOn, should thus interfere
with the regulations of the church. For il is
from thcoretic or nominal christians that such
remarks as Marcus has favored us with, pro.
coed, and not trem real christians. The oppos
ers OF keeping from the altar the wording,
have what they term - respect for elieion,"
but are strangers TO its practical influence.
Ii is evident from the first sentence in the
production OF Marcus, that heis not q christian
IN spirit and practice, but to use his own
words, lie holds the christian religion in re
Spect aud reverence; he does not pretend that
he is even believer. TO respect religion, is
what mary deists do-they respect il, because
IL is useful in political view. The eSta blISh
ed religion of any country has many votaries;
and Marcus appears 10 respect the christian reli.
gion no otherwise than as the subsisling ieii
SiOn; aud is therefore opposed 10 all iInova
tons OF the usual practice OF nominal hriS tianS
SO did the heathens of old respect their reli
gioD, and tor that reason, principally, was The
establishment OF theshristlan religion opposed
by them.-It is equally evident that Marcus l.
not a member of the Episcopal Church. He
says, he holds the Protestant Episcopal
Church IN the hig hest respect, because he was
bred In IL" This is no declaration that lie is a
member OF that church. | fear that If the
truth could be ascertaned, Marcus belongs TO
no religious denominations
1t rs not 10 be believed that any man who is
christian IN spirit and truth, can seriously con
tend, that gaming, attending the theatre public
balls and horse racing are consistent with the
real christian character, or that the principle
OF this resolution is new. 1t Marcus had read
the homIlies of the church, he would have found
that these and all other similar practices are
strongly condemned. The homilies show W hat
were the doctrines of the church in its purer
days In Maryland, the canons OF that church
declare !" drunk enness, incontiDeHce, profane
swearing, general neglect OF public Worship
| sabbath breaking, irreverend behavior during
divine service, gaming, extOTtion and other
omen riciOuSnesS OF life, are acts for which Law
members, who are COMMITMENTS oftbe church,
| may be repIOved, publicly censuTed. or renel.
| led from the holy communion, accordh,g TO
| the degree of the offence, and the age and
| other circumstances oftke offender" 1t NAV
| DC said public balls and theatres are not men.
toned III the Maryland eanons. They are
practices IDtluItPly han 4 rot
| are enumerated, as shall show before | close
| these remarks.
| The canon ofthe church ofVirginia declares,
| that any member of the church, being a com.
| niuricant thereof, conducting himself i'm a
| manner - unwothy d christian, may and onght
TO he admODlshed orsuspended by the minis e r
| OF the parish or congregation, according to the
| Tubric. The term" uRWoithy of q christian" is
| indefinite, and leaves it in the discretion of the
\ minister. The resolution objected to in a
| great measure limits that discretion, What
| does the rubrIc OF the church say upon this
| subject? 1t declares, " 1t among those who
| come to he partakers of The holy communion
| the minister shall know any to I've an open and
| notorious evil liver, OF to have done WrOng 10
| his Reighb0r, by rOrd or deed, so that the con.
| gTegdtIon be thereby offended, he shall ad yer.
| tise him, that lie presume not to come to the
| Lords table, until he have openly declared
| himself TO have repentcd and amended his for
| Mer evil life. that the congregation may be
| thereby satisfied, and that he hath recon1pets
L
or at least declare himself TO he in fnll purpose
| so TO do, as soon as he conveniently may"
| According 10 the Tubric, the minister ma,
| TcPel from tile communion notorious evil Ii
| YER, OF any person who las done an injury u
| his neighbOr by oOrd or dced" Thus, If :
| person St0nderS or assaults his ueighbOr he ma,
| TCpel him from The communion table until he
| repentS, aud amends, ar offers to do so.
| ~ Marcus Had been an Episc6palian, not in
! name, but in reality he would not have suppos
ed that tile late resolution of the convention
| Intrenched upon that Hberalag of spirit which
| since tie revolution has so much distinguished
| this church" IL is true, it does iutremch npoi
| the SlIamcinI practice Of tie former clergymer
| OF the church, and of those who wish TO have M
| more religion llIan will permit them to indulr,
~ all tue designations aud yaDities ofthe world
IL Marcus calls himself an Episcopalian, ant
had read the baptismal service Of the church
he would have found in that the promise mad
by The baptized person, il an adult, or II an in
FAINT, by his sponsor, that he will renouuc
the devil and all his works. the rain D0uD am
gieTyOi the world, wilma the cOvetous desire
! Of the same, aud ihe siniui dsts offhe Gesh. 81
that lac viii not follow nor be led by tHem".
| are not the practices Condemned hy tie con
| vcutiuu, the offspring of those very covetOu
| aud sinful desires Of the flesh 1" which tie cate
| cliiinen promises 10 feuOunce3 surely the o,
! solution cannot be considered by any rofleCtin
| person as an intIenchmrm np0u the ancisn
OF present doctrines Of the church.