The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-27


The PUsKyITz CONTROVERSY every eye is
intenty directed 10 the opinions expressed or inti-
mate iby Bishops of the United Kingdom in their
charges the clergy OF their respective diocesses,
upon the present position Of the Episcopal Church,
we have extracted from the late charge OF DR.
| Whately, to his clergy, assembled at st. Patricks
Cathedral, such portions as bear upon the general
question of division on points of doctrine.
Anything from DR. Whately at this crisis is pecu-
| liarly worthy of attention, inasmuch as he was the
first to give an Impetus by the publication OF his
valuable logical treatise, to that spirit OF inquiry and
philosophical investigation which is now producing
| its blessed fruits in the Church
After few preliminary remarks upon the
general routine of parochia duties, his Grace refers
10 the all-absorbng points of division in the follow
ing language -
vious TO descant upon at LENGTH however practical
y elected, TO keep clear of extremes, whether In
| doctrine or practice. There were some men who,
looking to PERSONS who held the most extreme opln
ions, and carried some principle the greatest ex-
tent, were resolved to be led by neither, but TO
adopt the motto OF via media; and equa distant from
the extreme opinions OF each party they concluded
that they were steering the right course; but such
persons, instead OF being led by neither party were
| literally led by BOTH The real medium ofrectitude
was not Ia be obtained by geemetrlcal measure
|
10 fix the exact ace OF truth; and the man who stu
| died to keep himself just halt way between the two
contendng parties, would be as often In the wrong
as either THIS was the more important, because II
often happened that truth and were Intimately
| blended together, with respect TO single point OF
doctrine; so that one party might be quite right IN
one particular and utterly wrong IN another; Tor IN
stance, persons dwelling upon the importance OF
strict attention moral conduct, represented that
| virtue was the only maxim TO be incucated, and
adopi-d the words oi the poet
Ger modes of faith, let ssnseless zealots fight.
His can't be wrong whose life Is in The right;"
| while others adopted different principles, and advo-
| Gated different views. His Grace then proceeded
10 oppose the practice OF endeavorlng to steer me-
| dunn course between contending parties he SAID
that the Scriptures taught them that so tar from
claiming immor al happiness as reward tor good
works, they could not apply the title OF good or bad
| to any outward action; but that the same act was
either good or bad, sinful or otherwise, according
to The principles upon which 1t was based; and again
the Scripture taught that good actions were not on
y the result of virtue but the necessary cultivation
of Christian life was the only guarantee OF Chris
| tian character that the branch could bear no
fruit unless it abdeth in the vine, every branch
that brought not forth fruit was cut OIL and wihered
and Impressed upon them TO make their calling
and election sure, 10 work out their salvation with
| fear and trembling, and anxious vigilance, not De-
cause they lett 10 themselves, but because 1t
was God that worketh in them both to will and TO
do Suppose any said that the traditions of the
church were of equal authority with the Scriptures,
aud then wholly disregarded all tradition, would 1t
| be just medium to say that it true trad ltlon
was interior In authority to Scripture but that 1t
| should be blended with it, so that both cenjOlntly
| should from a standard of faith. There Was ano-
ther caution not less mportant-namely, TO guard
against the tendency to reaction; when they were
told to caution persons against dis'egard-
| ing the ordinances OF the church, and treat
| ing with contempt legitimate church authorities,
but if they stopped there, and took no preca"ilon
against those errors which were opposite TO such as
| upon each occasion were most prevailing, they
might be preparing the way to dangerous reaction
| In part the record of past times more IN
structive than in what related TO the history OF reac-
| ton They found an alternate movement from
nearly opposite directions from time TO time taking
place, prOportlonate In It's character to that which
preceded 1t, even as the highest flood tide, was sue
ceeded by the lowest ebb. Thus was 1t also In po-
litlcal maters-they were sure to find that servlle
submission TO privileged classes was the precursor OF
the widest ebution of popular fury, the overthrow
OF ancient institutions, and the creation OF turbu.
lent democracy, propOrtlonate In turbulence and
violence the degree of oppression and degradation
which previously prevailed Then again, rigorous
despotism was advocated, as mariners chung to the
bare and rugged rocks as refuge from the waves.
His Grace then said that the movement In the
Church, which OF late years had attracted SO much
| attention, and excited much the minds OF men,
was another subject OF great Importance, and dwelt
upon the necessity of fixed principles In religion:
| There were some points which one party would
wish to see decided In one way, another In another
way but both agreed that decision should be
come to- One thought that it was better TO leave
point nj large; the other that it sufficiently i'm
| portant to call ter decision OF uniformity; yet
| both agreed that it should be decided what
points should be left at large, and what should
not; and II uniformity were not absolutely and
| universally necessary, IT should be determined
| what points were, and what were not so so
that the clergy should not be left to differ on points
which were capable of being determined, nor be
| reproached with that difference as departure from
what was regarded essentially belonging TO the
church. Many looked ,cith interest to what, iron,
tune TO time ,cds tfo,card 6y the bishops; out IN such
| bDyo Obf
than an anonymous publication except tchat cos de
rtOed from difference TO his personal character, and no
Predte, nor all epretates collectvey possessed more
Qciat authority decide such matters than ordinary
magistrates TO take upon Themselves the functions Of
parliament. Now that the existing state OF things,
said MS Grace in conclusion, neither credltable
nor safe to the church, and was pregnant with dan
ger, winch was daily ausmentiny, had long been,
as they knew, his conviction and he would not en-
| Joy quiet conscience if he thought that anything
Ia his power was lett naitemp,ed to obtain Ieme-
dy tor the evil. Whether similar respons lbility
| rested upon the clergy whom he around him,
| aud the other members OF the church who had ar
rived at The Same conviction, was what he wished
| them most anxlonsly and seriously to consider"
| AT the conclusion of the charge, the printed form
recommending the re-establishmeat OF the ancient
| church convocauoB was signed by as many of the
clergy were then present This isa very lmpor-
tant movement The passage which we have itali-
cised will attract great attention from all interested
| in ecclesiastical affairs and discipline.
The STREET CONTACT II his contract will spec
Oily be sent to the 'tomb of all the capulets" What
will get in It's stead! May indeed hope to see
our streets clean? Are we TO get rid OF the garbage
| and the hogs! or, to have the old system of
| filth and robbery! We shall see.
The WEBSTER MOVEMENT The ( Nep Bedford
Mercury takes the Boston Courier 10 task on sc-
count offs want OF decision and boldness in the
Case OF Daniel Webster, and broadly declares that
he be put forward as the candidate for the Pfesi
dency, he will have their energetic support. Well
see by and bye something of stir in New Hamp.