Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-04-16
For the Southern Standard.

/ For the Southern Standard
There is a small pamphlet somewhat industriousy
circulated in this community, entitled Reasons why
l cannot be an Episcopalian BY an Episcopos OF
Alabama. The object of its circulation is of course
manifest. Shall say charity? If you please, char
iy, the writer by the word, charity. Shall
l say also, for the purpose of making known the
TRUTH in all candor Let him, that readeth the
Tract, Judge.
The author calls himself Episcopos Pray who
ever heard of the Rev. Mr. Hamilton, of Mobile, be-
ing consecrated by lawful authority, as Bishop =
The word Episcopos means Bishop. Or does he
take this honor unto himself without being called OF
God as was Aaron,-a self styled Bishop think
and SO too according to the Discipline Of the So
cety to which think he belongs. For the Book OF
DISCIPLINE very plainly sets forth three fold order
of Ministers, and the way in which they are to be or
dained. Now if the title page contains talsehood
what may we expect of the pages that follow
His first Reason is, because, while the Ministry
of that Church possess authority or prerogatves
beyond that of my own, &C." Hear what the Rev.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism saith, Ser
mon No. l39, preached to his Conference little more
than year before his death To his readers he saws
point. What work was this? Did we ever appoint
you to administer sacraments-to exercise the priest
y office! Such design never entered into our mind
it the farthes from our thoughts % Again Mr..
Wesley says:
"Supposing (what utterly deny) that the receiv-
ing you preacher, at the time gave you au-
hority to administer the sacraments-yet it gave you
other authority than to do it, or any thing else
appoint. But where did appoint you to do this 3
No where at ALL Therefore, by this very rule you are
excluded from doing it! And in doing it you re-
nounce the first principles of Methodism. % 2 A'..
Now, if the Methodist preachers get their author
ity and prerogatives'' from Mr.. Wesley, it seems
strange language that they claim such authority from
and that Mr.. Wesley did not mean at least to give
the authority and prerogatives" which our author
AYERS that he has! faa
Our author says ALSO in his first reason, that there
is no mention made in the New Testament of any
degrees distinctions of orders" Poor soul What
is meant by Savior twelve Apostles and the sew
enty-were they all of the same order 2 Are there
here three orders! Why the taoeve if they were Of
the same order with the seventy Why, also, did our
Savior after His Resurrection in special manner
John Xxx. 20, ct, aha-ordain the eleven to go forth
as His Father had sent him. They certainly, then
and there intrusted with authority and prerog
atives which they had not before, and to which they
were not admitted, who called the seventy. Is
there not any difference of degrees mentioned in the
New Testament! Does our author wish to satisfy
himself! If the Methodist Book of Discipline does
teach three degrees and three distinctions in Or
ders, then it is book of solemn mockery, and the
dinatons tsets forth are but farce-basphemy! and
yet this tract is circulated by those who profess to be
governed conscientously by this Discipline Is this
candor to seek to know and teach the TRUTH!
Our author, through the famous Mr.. Powell, quotes
Saint Jerome, to prove that Bishops were no more
than Elders, in as much as the Church at Alexan-
dra by her Presbyters for three hundred years elect
ed their Bishops. But he fails to tell us what St.
Jerome constantly afs, that Bishops were only or
dained by Bishops-which any one may see who viii
examine the writings of ST. Jerome. The Elders and
laity of the American Church together elect their
Bishops but never think of ordaining them. Nor did
st. Jerome teach any other doctrine. alf
And why does the Methodist Book of Discipline
have form for the ordination of their Bishops if the
Office of Bishops merely elective! Why is the Holy
Ghost invoked on the Office, and then the Office SO Of
ten rdicueda This is fact that cannot be denied,
or if it is denied, can be easily proved to be fact
Church lacks proper unity upon Christian Doctrine
and practice. The Book of Common Prayer con-
tans all that Her members are required to believe
and summary of what they are to do-and all ac-
knowledge allegiance to this standard. Do the Meth
odist pay the respect their Book Of Discipline!
grave question How many Methodist are familiar
with this Book! How many preachers carry out its
njunctons! II would well for those who have read
this second of author to look carefully
the Discipline. and seeif evenin Columbus the Dis
ciPline i adhered to rgidly by Methodsts the
Prayer Book BY the EpiscopaIians.
But have neither space nor INCLINATION to follow
our authors Reasons IN order still viii briefly men-
ton few more. His thirds This Church plaeestoo
Iowan estimate upon the moral purity and siritdal-
lty Of the Ministry" L Is true. they have not tried