Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-04-05
The EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Written for the Fayetteville Observer.
4 Novelty that is NOT a Novelty.

LINCOLN COUNTY, Tennessee.
Our caption on prima faeie view.
bears some resemblance TO sole
cism; but on q more thorough inYes-
tigation, it will prove otherwise. -
The worlds attention can be caught
by novelty often, when by no other
means. Our subject 10 one sense
in this country may be novelty,
but in its true meaning, we conceive
no shadow Of anything of that ma
turP.
As we purpose writing a series Of
articles, We candidly, respectfully,
and with oil due Difference to the
feelings and views Of others, ask a
candid and impartial investigation
of the facts which may be advanced
iO1 a certain occasion recently it
was stated from the pulpit, that the
doctrines advocated BY the Congrega-
tional CuTch were on one extreme in
government, &c. and Episeopaey on
the other, and certain other branch
Of The Church took medium course
between the two, thereby claiming for
the latter the true way, as the speaker
avowed he "hones!ly believed" and
which we do not question.
We have nothing to say with ref
erence 10 the Congregational Church,
as alluded to on the occasion, but
will at least assume The responsible
| ity TO speak for Episcopacy.
! Persons ere not unfrequently mis-
taken, which we Think was so on
ibis occasion. We are not, be it
distinctly remembered, seeking a
controversy; for religious cOntrover.
sizes result in evil as often as other
wise. We only wish to set the mat
ter right, and present in its true
Hight the doctrines taught by this
Church. 1t was pnblicly avowed,
and should be corrected; hence, We
ask the favor Of place in the col
umns of the O5Seruer. To announce
the name Of Episcopscy in the eoun-
ty Of Lincoln, might be regarded as
ominous of evil. "Hear me for my
cause" aud when the subject is fu II
and properly Investigated, We, with
all the feelings that should prompt
a christian, ask any one to compare
the facts set forth-for we purpose
dealing with facts-with the creed
iof his own, or any other church, and
see if there are any more objections
to the course and doctrines of the
Episcopal Church than his own. AS
above referred to. some Of the char.
ges against the Church were: one
man power, or that there was 10
appeal in case member should be
Illegally expelled, to higher church
tribunal, and that there was no pos
sibility Of redress on the part Of
I the aegsieved = that the origin Of
the Church could not be traced to
AN earlier period than A. d. 500 -
that the terms Bishop and Deacon
we're synonymons-if we caught the
idea rightly-and the plan OF church
government was, perhaps, more Sc
verely attacked; together with other
miner points which may be duly
noticed. The arguments may have
a passing notice, together with the or
IGN Of many of the popular churches
Of the day; and further, to show that
Episcopacy and Romanism are, per-
hap, more diametricallyopposite than
almos,any other two churches ex.ant.
We solicit an impartial investigation,
and if anything heterodox is set forth,
we certainly wish it subverted. We
purpose giving only true, reliable,
and correct statements connected
with that body from its origin. -
lodging from the tenor OF argument
adduced, Bslcaer was among some
Of the leading authors referred to,
to sustain the argument advanced.
We wish to show that the author
has not given, IN he foil extent,
EpiScoplcy lis due. To repeat, we
only wish TO place before an intelli
gent community some Of the doc
trines held and taught by the Epis-
copalians, aud to submit the matter
TO the impartial investigation of the
community; and as before stated,
intend no disrespect, nor court a
controversy with any. That is
.erg far from being the fact. We
lain to be liberal enough to give TO