Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-11-11
"High Church, and GLOW Church"

A Correspondent writes that IN para
graphs relative to the recent election OF
provisional bishop, he sees the expressions,
" low church" and "high church" again
made use of. He desires an explanation of
their original and present meaning. The
information sought, might more properly be
expected in religious journals, and any
attempt at an answer. in a secular paper,
must necessarily be brief and imperfect.
Those who are familiar with the history
of England will remember that King James
II was a Catholic, and in consequence of his
troubles with his Protestant subjects was
deposed, and was succeeded by William
and Mary. Many members of the Church
of England, who had taken the oath of
allegiance 10 James, considered it unlawful
TO withdraw their fealty TO him during his
life time, and refused to take the oath OF
allegiance to William and Mary To such
a number of epitheis were applied, among
which were Non-.Iurors, Jacobites, and
High Churchmen Non-jurors means, lite
rally, persons unwilling to take an oath.
Jacobites is derived from Jacobus, the Latin
for James, and means the followers of James.
High -Churchmen is an epthet applied more
particularly to those who reverence the
authority of the bishops and clergy as OF
divine institution, who adhere 10 the opinion
that their bishops may trace regular
succession from the Apostles down High
Churchmen also adhere with great ,enacity
to the letter of the rubrics and canons of the
church. -Churchmen are those who
profess to hold religious forms and ceremo-
mics in low estimation, and to hold quite
independent of external observance the
lua rhr;-f
Sancroft. Archbishop of Ganterbury. and
number Of other Bishops, we're deprived Of
their Sees in consequence OF refusing TO
take the oath of allegiance to William and
Mary. The followers of Sancroft were most
numerous in Scotland, and their separation
from the Church of England went no further
than as it affected their allegiance. The
non-j jurors continued to pray for James and
the Stuart family, and it was not till the
accession Of George III, tina, the cause OF
their separation from the Church OF England
became removed.
Of the four first Bishops Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United States, one
Bishop Seabury. of Connec,icut) received
conservation at the hands of the non-juring
Bishops Of Scotland, and the other three
from the Archbishop of Canterbury, who
was Inc successor IN uiTeCt ilHS OF ldilotStOH,
who succeeded the deposed Sancroft
There was now every prospect that the fued
which had disturbed the Church of England
for century would be extended 10 this
country. By the exertion Of wise and good
men, conspicuous among whom was the
late Bishop Parker of Massachusetts,, such
a calamity was prevented. A Bishop who
had receivei conservation from the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury was induced to unite
with one who had received conservation
from the non-juring Bishops in the conse-
Grafton Of Dr. Bass, the first Bishop of
Massachusetts.
The terms "high church" and I" low
church " still retain their original meaning,
and have decided adherents in this country.
The leading shigh-churchman are Bishops
Nottingham, Of Maryland, and Doane, of
New Jersey: the leading low churchman"
is Bishop McIvaine. Of Ohio, who has been
denounced as little better than Presby-
teriap."-N' Y. Euening Express.