Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-07-14

BIsHoP Porter AND HIS CLERGY.-Four
pamphlets have appeared IN reply to Bish-
op Potter's Pastoral Letter, in which be
condemned certain of his clergy for fellow
ship in worship with Presbyterians and Con-
gregationalists. DR.. Tying writes one Of
these pamphlets, DR.. Garfield another. Drs.
Muhlenburg and John Cotton Smith also
enter the lists. We see it stated that over
forty of the Episcopal clergy unite in de-
claring that the Bishops course is contrary
TO the laws of the Church and the spirit Of
the Gospel DR.. Garfield in his reply
says:
The Pastoral letter is evidently based upon the
theory, that the Csnons we're expressly designed
to deny the validity Of non-Episcopal orders, and
TO forbid any public acts which might appear to
sanction such 4 doctrine. | do not question
your right TO draw this conclusion from them,
and to hold 1t rs . matter Of private opinion.
but do respectfully protest against your at
tempt to enforce your inferences IN an arbitrary
way, as the Law u our Church. You must know
that this ras not the doctrine Of the Reformers
ana FAt0ert OF lQt OQuTCQ VI Lukltuu WIZ
framed the Articles and arranged the Prayer
Book; and that the founders Of our Church in
this country were ''far from intending to depart
from the Church of England in any essential
poin, Of doctrine. discipline or Worship"
No historical fact is more "eyident' than that
the xxx Articles. which are expressed in care
fully selected technical phraseology to set forth
her doctrine and principles, not only avoid tax
ing this position, but that, in defining the visl-
be Church and declaring what is necessary TO
constitute ministerial authority, language is en-
ployed which was purposely designed to recos-
nize the validity of the orders Of the non-Ep.s-
copal churches Of Scotland and OF the continent
of Europe Every rell-informed person knows,
that, as consequent and consistent fIct, for the
FIRST hundred yesrs after the Reformation, those
having ouly Presbyterian orders, were admitted
without reordinatiOn TO livings and benehces IN
the Church and Universities Of England. Il is
equally as well known. that when the Landau
party, under Charles II. asked for change IN
this particular, the legislation which granted the
request. was based upon other grounds, than
the irregularity or invalidity Of non-Episcopal
orders.
You must know, as well as /, that most Of the
leading Divines Of the Church Of England, from
the time of Henry VIII, to that Of Victoria /.
and | may add, of the Protestant Episcopal
| Church in the United States, from Bishop
White to the present day, in the language Of the
late Professor Turner, never admitted the con-
clusiou thst those who abandoned Episcopacy
thereby unchurched themselves" have al
ways held, and still believe, not only that their
views are true, but that they are demonstrably
/ the doctrine ofour Church; that those who hold
opposite views, are permitted to do 50 in spirit
| OF lalse federation, and that our rubrics and
/ Csnons are to be so interpreted as to harmonic
with, and not violate these principles, (which
are generally deemed sacred" For twenty one
years have steadfsstly maintained them from
the pulpit; expect to do 50 while an permit
ted to preach.