The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-12

In your theory Bishop highest of three grades
of clergy bishops priests and deacons lie IL
particular section diocese its ecclesiastical head
and is invested with certain exclusive rights which
rights thus stated by Preae 10 he right to ordan
and confirm that of general supervision in diocese and
that of the chief administration OF discipline besides
ioying all the powers OF the other grades -Dr. H. U.
Onderdonk) In virtue of the last TWO of these rights,
expressed with indefinite comprehensiveness which
we will examine subsequent stage in the discussion
the relae has been known TO claim control over
the proceedings and minutes of q COW IGNITION.
Farther in order 10 the right institution oil Bishop
in your of the term he must have received ms ord
nation from other Preates and they again from Others SO
that unbroken chain may convey the Episcopal grace
from Apostles themselves This is the iarfamed Apos-
tolical succession, OF which SO much mas peeh
made of late years. Why this chain is con-
sidersd Of such consequence may he seen by
the reader If he will peruse the following quotations; two
out of multitude which have at hand The first is from
ell known champion OF Preacy Dodwell IN the ioi
lowing moderate terms beg the particular notice of the
reader None but the Bishops unite us to the Father
and the Son. Whence it will follow, that whosoever Is
dsunited from the visible communion Of the Church on
earth particularly from the visible communion oil the
Bishops consequently be disuned from the whole
visible catholic Church upon EARTH and not only So but
from the invisible communion ci the holy angels ana
saints in Heaven and, what is more from Christ and God
hDse II is of the most dreadful aggruveons 1.-THE
condition of tho that they banished from the
presence of the Lord and the glory Of his power the
their condition also Whe dunited from Christ
by bengFdisunited from ms risbie 'tPr,'e"attse -.
The former Preate OF this diocese, Dr. Hobart III his
' Companion for the Altar" speaks the following Ian
guage it is equally kind as the foregoing -: But where
the Gospel is proclaimed, communion with the Church
by the participation Of its ordinances at the hands oil the
duly authorised priesthood is The Indispensable condition
Of satpa'ion"-m Skng soothing exception in favor OF
schsmacs and dssenters who separate themselves from
the regular priesthood through involuntary ignorance
and error"
do not mean to discuss these monsrosities now but
will only add here that the ground upon which such as
symptoms made is that from the Apostles the Bishops
alone derive Episcopal grace which they communicate
to the inferior clergy in ordination, and which, through
the mnisratons OF the inferior clergy, is communicated
to the people in baptism and the holy Eucharist by the
former of which spiritual life IL given while by the lat
ter that spiritual life is fed and sustained.
On the other hand our definition OF Bishop makes
him nothing than pastor or oveseer Off particular
congregation, who is in all official respects, upon an
equality with other pastors who, in administering the
discipline of the house of God is associated with officers
who elected by the people and who III administering
the ordinances Of the Gospel petends to be more than
the mnisrator of emblematic ordinances whose virtue
seals of the depends altogether upon the faith
of the recipients. Ordination, whether with or without
the imposition of hands, is than public and for
NAL setting apart of suitable individual to the work OF
the ministry and is performed by his predecessors IN the
ministry The case of those churches which have elect
the number of ministers to exercise certain
supervisory the rest as is the fact in the Me-
thodist and Lutheran Churches not an exception to the
doctrine of the essential purity equality OF their minis
ters These bodies do not claim divine right Tor their
Bishops or superlntendents
Cmuncn 1t phrase found in your former letters and
will probably occur again. ! shall understand you to
above views to the ndspensableness of Pelacy
be found That is you hold that the Prelatca bodies
| alone constitute the catholic Church. The Romsh the
Greek the Armenian and other Eastern Churches toge
Their with the English and American Prelasts, are the
only component Parts of this Church. And their cael
city let the reader observe consists not in purity OF doc
trne forms of worship, dor you hold all those have
named except your to be or less corrupp but
their being governed by Prelaes This is the essential
element of their cahocity, this their redeeming excel
ence this their evidence OF being in covenant with
| God"
On the other hand in view of cathocity, you will
find the main stress laid upon the maintenance OF the es
senta doctrines OF the scheme OF redemption and not up
on the presence absence OF any external form OF poy
We admit that reacy does not vtate the character
of Church. although think it has proved itself to be
foreign and unwhOesome element in the great Christian
body Thus the reader will perceive that while ca
thocity proves its comprehcnsveness by embracing all
ofevery whose recognised creeds do not absolutely
reject the fundamentals OF Christian religion
all who do admit the single item Of Prclacy
Which of these views best deserves the let the
der Judge.
close my letter by saying that if hadibeen privileged
meet you face should have exercised the free
dom" at which you to look with much dstase, OF
insisting upon your legation to give these deni
your terms and thus have saved my self the task
to reach the point thus indirectly and the neces
sty Of oaiing for your you refuse to give
your definitions. correct those have given shall
hold myse at liberty consider you shrinking from
| the contest
All the diminishing in your last commune ation as
who is technically speaking the challenger is of lttl
consequence. am resolved not to postpone the discus
sion OF the monstrous proposition you have endorsed b.
disputing who shall appropriate this title do
10 recede," which you kindly hint at, but will rathe
waive all petty questions Of chivalry quite certain that
from the beginning to the end of this discussion will
that mine the attitude Of Defence and yours that
assalant OF the common principles of all anPrelatco
Christend0m. This is the important consideration.
II am, Rev. and dear sir,
Your obedt serv't
JANUARY TO- GEORGE POTTS