Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-10-18
;pEEcH OF MR s. B. RUGeLEs OF NEW YORK,
In The General Conrention Of tie Protestant
Episcopal Chgrch.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER l3. 1859.

SPEECH OF NR s. B. RUGGLEs OF NEW YORK,
In tie General C0nreation Of tie Protestant
Episcepai Chgrch
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER y. 1869.
ITO order Of the dag having bce.l taken up. beng lie
-"6.I amendment 10 Art. VI. Of the Constitution,
Tr D. RuGGLES, OF New York, said that he held the
same o,nlon his highly esteemed colleague Judge iioh
80 80 n, lie rslt Of piocrses TO Instruct their delegates.
urprOy.d hs position, that they should come
here mn,ered ard free to regulate 'heis action by their
conscientious eonyleoH1 y fr Al" E S'n ~, .r W
Snv"nIiou :scf was Instituted 1t 50 happened. how.
ryrr In The present instance, that ms own CONVICTION,
havc lei him urhe-laing!y, 10 suI":; the resolution 81
80, M - Conrrr;on o; New York, JG.: read by tho
secretary expressing. it. opinion lt ,hs TitGe
., ~ Of The church. which seeks 20 c.iaIish
"' at revise tie decisions OF Diocesan
C1rs !, Ia! cNpr.ercy ~ Icdi'
nent the amendment i, not omiy "i do'Ou sHie,en.
cv" but l. absolutely certain, adopted ~
H. nr,n, organization 9! the church, aEd G'fy Fap'Gy
aal,.lyrryarl and iuwnwaFdio disruption Ti'ii anu
ruin Iii with the greatest persona. E.s'tt '. NV 80
thus widely and fundamentally rom hS 'tlasu ~
tr whom he r,;crt.ns after lifelong friendship,
mo-. unaffected respect and rnccton S',m W. AZ u.
the whole lrnsh a: hreach q the .rt..' 49, 49,
ably represents. c!urc'it.an eau 6t i""''" ''
h!erm. the i'sAr> aud n1tr>t "'i"s rrs
rnr Juris:, tie polished scholar AMI '!t uni, s'
man. /. las Rot been good fortune {" lace ''"'
The question before the CcnT'ai.'n ar w. ~ w.
or.aniLlon Of tie Protestant Episcopal ,hnrrh 't we
United States o! AMERICA body rTe-sia!s'S ~.
sar! among ami above the other ccsirs as'it'
I!pn- q. The Christian world, hy two sEiLi'= iS
dr.' In possessing: q written Constitution, defining asa
uGi'iu. H. mode and >plcr- ot acton. Sy.'' ~ H'''''
lin. the Llly 10 share in Il, government.
Til. Important body came into the civilized "o''d W.
year ~" almost simultaneously w tie rFe.r: p'h,.s''
,oyriicL %. n. United SttCs. AMI destined. I. ~ Twin
brother. under Coils good Pfo'iAer""to he ~ lifelong
companion. q, -
w.-mo,t kindly and successfully 'or the we!irr ict only
ot is Clergy l!'y bat "i tnc -.ns; Republic IL which
l. geographically cuhoscmci Fortunately ai Wisely
free igo! any organic coumcN!yn with the great TOA'cHi
structure with which T. Is thus c0-"pcTiur, i has, never
telc, rNcrt ~ full power aNi who!, moral Influence 20
.v,, at ADVANCE the charIc;,r Of the Republic among
IN, nations T.. the Garth Scr has 10 suffered from any ~
trrnal organic evil Of it. The L.y, well Instructed
by the tracn. scripture as t" their iTic aud pTgc7
Office haze wisely, Loyalty and a!es'"ni.!y trusted !"
the Clergy rhc!r spiritual guide. tie eoa"r: o AFFAIR
purely -piritGa. Theological while" on TIE "'h.r hah
The Clergy have rot failed G!iy ari gratefully to recognise
the value 81 that rNrrr:ec. "a Affairs i''Ge! secular! ""'i
;h. Lay have c.rr!u!ly contributed cHliyy lie term
secular Irs, said NJ Il il ro narrow or 'ii"isi srs
no; confirm. (: TO lie parNcy petty c0"sctus 81
finance or architecture OF 10y Bacterial posse. ."G-bh IA.
cluI,- Tar broader, aud wider, m .3se snHrHE '.t
and domestic Ind lodi: i"hc got '%.E ih= lii'ic-t,
but cnpatiray ilg a'y -! the LAZY, 10 c&sT. ana Put
forth all tleirpoTsr: IN opposite" :" any ",',,
In the church. wii;l Iay seriously menace a. "''"'"
our political or social system. -,
believing that the proposition now under dscu'':, w."
be deeply injurious. Il Tot Absolutely fatal 10 The !"Se; ~
terr,is sny -! the Church hU Of TIE Nation: 10 Wiit',
/, I, morally attached II il DO not politically bc!om: feel
my ,eu,ie In !n;rrposa: wia:eYcf frrs,'aEcr can
And IA the first place. let rs consider Tor h@hei' I've
the involve! nthy question. The Anys..
can Republic wish the American CiGEcI, thus corNst!"s
and surcr.mPcseh ha. nearly tre.ed ~ area within mat
short limit Of tre- score years i'rnar' ~ the term
Of human existence bu; hardly 4y IL the great year II
the lie Of a Nation or Church.
The Church comm. down from the Ipo,'le', through the
British and Anglican branches, had eS'tc'i IN "a" o;d
World Tor nearly eighteen ccn;uric- until the memorable
year Ii.9, Nirnt ws so!emn!y a.d ioAi"! ri!v' "i,
tile New World there We deInniy trust 10 continue ""'
and unb rokru the end %. time. within Tbs br!, period
Gifts existence Il Las r,hc!'s triumphant .'a through
the wilderness rom ocean ocean, utl L SOW numbers
tanr local depository, has possessed i',c' OF We most
nnwrf ,orou of tie GLOBE Upon il, three millions o:
SQUARE m-s wholly within ~. temperate zone, there no"
stands population Of thirty mi.liors-al no rH'h IN
vital statistics. mathematics !, more certain a TIA"
T. will posses at The end o! tie next second period 81
syvc:y years, poriat AZ !e..' As arsr a. ohs!e4 ne
rule II he Roman Empire IN ~ r7"Uics: days from !h-
mouth Of the EupTa,c. TO the N"r'!rfnmo-' .';reaiiy OF
British Islands. Til, imnItasc portion o' the Gihi
race rich hryoai parallel, no: o"ly In material h"
moral force standing one, uuhFc:em. coat'r"n'al sur
face midway froh Al, aai Europe. a: inevitably exert
/. remaining united. Il r".t Important Il not "om!sii
Influence The igtcrc Ge-;ir- .: Universe! Chris
such! ,lyn /. a s,alr -rci The preciou. ani Immense
Irpo.l' viii; which the pry,rr' generation t!a THlr t
Nation and the Church + now entrusted Might not
o;c:.ias .s Argument c!.scay Ecac his dcrpnifng
ana desperate r:cacc %! thu pending measure 20 The s.t
r.yy. effort Of tie Trohm hero 10 save tie toi.:!as
walls oi Troy, rather to follow tie ous E"eas 10 s ~"
found and happier hone the Thrr-to that midnight
couch r?om It. margin, unro!li"g to lis rFoihrr 'r .i
gildGyHci vision. the !unTc 2oT-> "l le coming H"i"c
The philosophical observer who shall trace th' history II
this pa, period 0: seventy years IN :s HE ei ie Nation
and The Church. will be struck viii: ys!y remarkable
contrast, lie will Ind the polite. boiy often a:H;t, dis
eaSci aai coIvur! especial: IN the vital seSencrdinr
rroc..s ~ tic birth Of II, state vl. the ecclesiastical
body formed -! Ia. members. r,ulus tranquil and
h.,py. and - than IN the hf;h o! S niaui
diocese Kaa. the STATE after yc5r. Of" ronTuson, YET
struggle, 20 see the l wi!c ka:,a, TIC D.ure,c freshly
born Gnt fall ii Hiu! life, rep"cs cm the ho,c'h Of the
Churc. ready IL 1m: and majestic
marcel. by ;le rarcat, Side, down the coming ag"s:
WHY then, this diversity lc!wr. s statr and tie bic
cte both children oir Union: Ta"a".w"r, full OF i-trnc'
ton broadly embraces the Whole field u discussion
occupied LIS the present Question. II !. this: H.. Church
la, ,o, vii he Nation las not done. NLG. dist!in,d
,c3oyy ,,,6 Isoit!y t'vHt any il'sy,T.H'f ,,N tir
iorGHvcS. ioeR ;nsr.,'., io" opinions Gnd I"r' ia.
,Eig!i'a,N ci aug ot tie ,CI,""ie hi"c'','.
Tie -ki!l architects WHO reared c constitution % SIC
Church. veil uc the Inherent diversity Il the various ti'
embrace wide vnf!"ry 81 climate and sii wider
variety oi absolutely requiring nGero' Local govern
and ji'coraut consolidated under one supreme h:'
oriiv ~ the move. and fccipus ;c.niN;uc %. the To-
cal or j,deFfi viii; tire general or n'OaGl element, they
.olyrI the difficulty, aud tbs rendered rot only possible
u, certain the existence ami continuance o Nation AMI
Church covering % large portion Of the surface ~ the
earth.
manage al their local a!I. subject ony TO the one pgc
test and badge o, nationality which all were required u
con'orH'hc Uniform Liturgy, :" accurately dcnoi"a'r'
III. Book Of I0H"i0H lragcr Portions o! II had come
down from the Garlic; oi tie Church in the old world,
aud had been consccra;cd Gy centuries Q! u'c ~
our lrcr.;ogs and with Slight exceptions, twas alter.
Z o To- co::or.a the cxi.;.u. political government q
n. r:u;rv itwn. adopted; with li;.- alteration beyond
TIE substitution Of the rrcsiyH! ior ae British Norarch IL
rul well har. included humble but i"ryent su2l!ira
,ion for tile preservation Of the united Republic iU ia '
absence every sounI and p!ous chureinan vi" mentally
supply the omission.
T., The matter q cccl~s!a-tira, Offences ans! ,h !ci
line OK the clergy every Hocc,r cf entirely irr and
acnabc only To the proper authority Otis isn9 sWHg
that Canon ofthc fstGcneral Convection In specified
81 clerical offences requiring punishment certain ininor
irnmorai!,ir. sGr res0r'inS to ;avcrms givn: them
selves TO drinking riot base ~ serv- labor s!end:
their tim. llY al directed their punishment acccTiuS'o
the rus process which might be provided either hY the
General Cunycution, OF 10y tie Con' en"n!n tn" 1ii'rNi
Now e Constitution certainly did mot aislEMivrr per
nit the passage Of that portion Il the Canon giving TO the
General Convention regulation Of the rules process
and We find that In >r> rctrnced its steps 10y The CGuon
directing the offenders be punished aceor'ne 10 the
rules or process provided hy tie Conventions In the differ
states. They also added {" the minor offences srccI
fed in ,hc Canon Of i' the ecclesiastical drihIe"cis'
o: ab;uay disu.ins public "oEi? or IL" hoy EGeht'
II Wa. not Until ~? :aat a." criminal Code was en-
larscd ,o is presr; unlimited extent. not only eHiSrn
81 ( every grade and species "f moral offence under
M. c-yu. g,E,rgi:.saLE. Of >csndalnns. d!Sor"rly
or Immoral Conduct bI also nc4.iug ;li- whole class /
-. theological OGcHcc., under ;ar geHelLr M'ai oI
preaching intoxicating hcrr;ca! doctrine Ihe we
part Of the Canon Of >'> Which directed the '0c'"Sto
be according the rules of process 81 Tie respective 'o
cr,c- Their separate judicial ndepeEdrmcr vas further
established and fortified 10y the Canon 81 -. "h,n
enacted that the ygniSaSW should Re- in conyr'i: ''a
n. constitutions amt o"Ho@s~ Mf r''l'cHre I''o't',
icr those and Just Constitutional provisions tie
Church la, hitherto been goT,rgsl wisely an" r!ci"ty
down TO the present hour, when il Is proposed to iir""
down every Constitutional barrier, hy creating aHd
.rccn: supreme. jua.ci central power, t" lee placed
over H. heads % all the Diocesan Courts leg t"a;
thea and h, Bishops 10 an Inferior and 'nNori:naSe
rank Tie proposed an"wdHrE! strips them: by sin.!c
stroke Of the pen. II every rsL or prc;cnre TO judicial
freedom independence" rnicr, sweeping and unlimited
tn. Appellate viii posses. H." paramount
right TO revise any Judicial proceeding cvcry lag 'h"
ever ANY whatever icr any crHc" rl.',' e moral
rr.i,.:a or Theological and In ary rinca-t cla'"vrr
and with the necessarily r>s;in: authority :" enlarge, :
inE..' vary rru!; any punishment which ne Diocesan
Count may have prescribed. t. puaisE any Offender '1
tb Diocesan Court HAY ayc acquitted! ~ further con-
.cp,cur" any Diocesan Court iS li,hop. y"ruTng 20
l.urug rcsist tie mandate 81 tie NiTt"i" Court 90!
=. cecn. carrT into prompt aid M! crc Ii': tiiitr
i under the ccsIrc and discipline %: she church, or ae
Church i,.c4' ,'c brought into contempt.
Vow what are the arguments ia favor 90; such IN cnor-
NOUS ,c.s.iou OF cc;raI power: such total Agt ;una
mental revolution Ia the organic las: Tiny Trc r- that
by !, USAGE, OF the Church n IL rTtu!Yr continue"
~ ohm. In ~