New-York daily tribune., 1844-01-12

foregoing: But where the Gospel is proclaimed
communion with the Church, by the participa-
ton OF ITS ordinances, al the hands OF the duly
authorized priesthood, Is the indispensable c0ndi-
to" 81 SatratioR making & soothing cXccp-
ton IN favor of schismatlcs and diSsenters who
separate themselves from the regular priesthood
through :" iaroiuRtarV ignorance and error
do not mean to discuss these monStrosltes
now, but will only add here thatthe ground upon
which such assumptions are 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
mnstrations of the inferior clergy IS commu-
ncated to the people in baptism and the holy
Eucharist, by the former of which spiritual
life is gwen, while the latter that spiritual life IS
fed and sustained
On the other hand, our definition Of "a Bis
hop makes him nothing more than pastor or
overseer of 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, IN administer
ing the ordinances OF the Gospel, pretends to be
nomorc than the minJStrator of cmblematic ordln-
;,nccs, whose virtue as seals of the covenant de-
pends altogether upon the faith of the recipients.
Ordination whether with or without the mposl-
ton of hands, is no more 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 elected one outofthe number
Of ministers TO exercise certain supervisory pow
ers over the rest as is the fact in the Methodist
and Lutheran Churches, is not an exception to
the doctrine of the essential parity equality Of
their ministers These bodies do not claim a di-
vine right for their Bishops or superintendcnts.
And now, finally, what do you mean by the
CATHOLIC CHURCH? 1t is phrase found IN your
former letters, and will probably occur again. |
shall understand you to mean by it that portion
of Christendom in which the above views as to
the indispensableness of Prelacy are to be found,
That is, you hold that Prelatica bodies alone con-
stitutc the Catholic Church. The Romish, the
Greek the Armenian and other Eastern Churches,
together with the English and American Prela-
lists are the only component parts of this Church.
And their catholicity let the reader observe, con-
sists not in purity Of doctrine or forms Of wor-
ship, for you hold all those have named except
vour own. to be more or less corrupt but IN their
being governed by Prclatcs This is the essential
element of their cathoIicitv, this their rcdeeming
excellence, this their evidence OF being in cove
nant with God
On the other hand, in our view of Catholcity,
YOU Will find the main stress laid upon the MAN.
tcnance Of the essential doctrines of the scheme
of redemption, and not upon the presence or alb
sencc Of any external form of polIty. We admit
that even Preacy docs not vltlate the character
of a Church, although we think it has proved it.
self to be foreign and unwhoIesome element IN
the great Christian body. Thus the reader will
perceive that while our Catholiclty proves its
comprchcnsveness by embracing all of every
name whose recognized crecds do not absolutely
reject the fundamentals of Christian religion,
yours renounccs all vino do not admit the single
item of Prcacy. Which Of these views best de-
serves the name let the reader Judge.
close my letter by saying that If had been
privileged to meet you face to face, should have
exercised 't the Freedom at which you seem to
look with disaste, of insisting at once upon your
oboation TO give those definitions of your terms,
and thus have saved myself the task of trying to
reach the point thus indirectly, and the necessity
of lcaiting for your answer Ii you refuse to give
me your definitions, or to correct those | have
given shall hold myself at liberty to consider
you as shrinking from the contest.
All the skirmishng III your last communlca-
ton as to who ls technically speaking, the chat
Icnmcr is of little consequence am resolved
not to postpone the discussion of the monstrous
proposition you have endorsed, by dspating as to
who shall appropriate this title do not feel, J.
assure you, the least inclination to accept :" the
liberty to reccdc,' which you kindly hunt at, but
viii rather waive all petty questions OF chrlvalry,
quite certain that from the beginning to the end
of this discussion 1t will be seen that NINE is the
attitude of defence, and yours that OF an assall-
amt of the common principles OF all antl-Prelat
cal ChristendoIn. This is the important consid
Grafton.
am, Rev. and dear sir, your obedient servant,
GEORGE POTTS.
January 10. ~
,rn1n;1N11 I0p pPINTINl. GEEICE