Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-05-25
RICHMOND. MAY D.



SIR-From your acknowledged impartiality,
cannot doubt your readiness to admit few
remarks, III answer to piece which, has APP
pcared IN your paper. addressed TO the Pro-
testant Episcopal Convention. This comes
rather later than might have been wished but
me sgh!ect, considering the nature of il. is not
out of date. 4 SUBSCRIBER
MAY nth, 1910.
The Protestant Episcopal Church.
In the Enquirer OF the Z Il inst. writer, un-
der the signature of MARCUS, comes forward
against certain resolutions or rccommepda-
ticn of tnc last Convention. with arguments
which would indeed be rather appalling, il The
church we've actuated nv motives of mere Lu-
man policy. Let us, however, he permitted
briefly 10 examine this fearful message, which
Marcus has dispatched to the Convention
meeting in Petersburg.
Concerning the resolution just alluded 10,
(which goes To oppose certain fashionable d.
musements. such as dancing and the theaire)
" be assured" says he, " that public opinion
WAS strongly against H." What, l would ask.
does the writer mean by public opinion -
people iudiscriIninately; or the opinion of the
religious public! Ii tile forMer, the objection
has no weight; becan,e the church, if il he wor-
thy of the name, is community ct pious peg
pie buff the utter, then il will beho,e Mar
Gus 10 make good his assertion "a task. which
ipresume, he will never be able TO accomplish.
The tact Is, that truly pious people, of every
denomination, are almost epti0nably op-
ans.
III is your interest" lie says, " 10 concil,
ate, and not 10 offend" Here again would
ask, iChQt interest ?--tempOral or spiritual -
The interest of The Convention j, the interest
of religion and whether This would he pro-
noted by the measure which Marcus RECON-
mends, is question which does not seem diff
| 1cult to answer. Mere human policy indeed
might dictate such 4 measure: the church
doors would be wideDed, and the church'se-
| monuments might be augmented; but would
her purity be advanced, and the lustre OF he's
christian character be 5rIghieued' 1T is yonr
interest to coDciiate and not To offend
This, with proper limitations, 10 a good max
i'm lut in its unqualified sense, il Is the very
! maxim OH which the Popish missionaries pro-
ceeded IN converting pagans They considered
~ Their interest 10 cOnciiiate and not TO of
fend and The result was ibonstrons conn
pound OF christianity and idoIstry.--But so il
sesins il must bs, or the number Of converts
wonld be TOO small. Better Tor our I" interest"
To have paganized christians than no christi
ans. Very well !" Make friends, gentle
men," says Marcus, you caunot afford TO
| lose any"
- On tic very spot where the Convention re-.
soi'en' d theatre is about TO be opened"--As
Just retaliation, II seems, for the obnoxious
resolution standing in terrOreHl, 10 teach ar
| hIifary ecciesIastics and bigCtted laymeu bet
| Ter manners SO, ia the city of Ephesus, "tIIe
very Spot where Paul had preached the Cos
petOi CHTisi. and opposed idOIatrV. Demetrius
| aud Iis companions, exaspeIatcd AT this dar-
| inS cohd'!cI aud finding their craft IN danger
| raised the cry. Great is Diana OF the Ephe.
sians y On the very spot where once the
| Theatre stood III Richmond, a church ha. been
| opeued now, on the very spot whcIe the
| convention sat. a theatre is about To be open-
| ed so then II seems, that whereas the church
| once had fe aScCpdaury, The theatre has now
| obtained u AID the only prosper preSentcd
| tor THE wcli-heiug of tile church is that these
| tWO rINais .hOuid shake hands and agree TO he.
| cOme good friends
| On tie subject of policy, in regard to this
| matter ] shall add bat one rcfnark IL the
| church OF Chrsl be- divine insiugtoH. men
| tie honor OF Christ, a. tie head, aud the sui .
| ritual prosperity Of The church. - Tie bodv.
! are the great objects which Ought To- guide N
Christian convention, ia ali IFS dcliberSfions--
| TesaihleN OF the consequence which mere
! worldly prudence might suggest, aud rnuf-
| cent ~ that support which tbr hand Of God
! VIII afford TO his people. I hope ihis viii
| not be decined " fdUdtiCISm,' or - Idle cant -
Bui Tie rights 81 conscience il il said arc
/ miriuged hy the - solution cuInpiaiucd of .
! 1On have dared 10 exercise u contro,1 over
/ ihc rights Of conscience" Is not this fOsny
| no moie OF u, B,iU0ner had thought Thai
! - ihe rights Of conscience" regarded tge rPii-
| gious dOctfihHs and practices OF men. and tb,
mole NJ divine "orsHip. Apd ilinS Tor in
/ stance ~ d l1N Wctc passed, ptOhi.,ttjup thr
| shakP rs fron diHcing ~ then rcljrinp. as
! F'WbiiFs, iI' . Wi- h hc cpns.''cted Al Invasion