The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-06-05
Tho Bull from the Episcopal Church.
Bishop POtter's Encyolical.

The Bull FROM the Episcopal Church
Bishop Potter's Encyclical.
The recent pastoral letter Of Bishop Potter,
the recognized head of the High Church Epis-
copalians OF this diocese, is attracting univer-
sal attention, and has caused no little commo-
ton among the numerous religious sects in
is supposed to have been drawn out by the
recent action Of the Christian Union or Chris
tian Alliance, which had for its object the union
OF their labors and q hearty cooperation Of all
sects in their work in converting the world
The idea that pastors of Presbyterian, Baptist
Congregational, Methodists and other Protestant
sects should occupy the pulpits Of the Episcopal
churches in their work of saving souls and
leading the human family into the fold Of
Christ was too much for Bishop Potter.
He therefore seized upon the opportunity
to indite bull. after the manner of the Pope
at Rome, to both the clergymen and laymcn
of his Church, declaring that "things have
occurred in the way of clerical action which
are contraband to the law Of the Church and
injurious to its peace and good order" He
then proceeded to lay down the laws Of his
Church and mark out the line Of conduct for
the clergy. He took special pains 10 disap-
prove of ministers Of Episcopal churches join
ing with ministers of other denominations and
that while they remained in their Church they
must consider themselves bound by The prin-
ciples and laws Of the Church just as they are.
The whole tenor of the letter reveals the fact
that Bishop Potter believes in the indefecti-
bility Of the Episcopal High Church, that il is
perfect in all its parts, and that no person can
60 TO Heaven except through the forms there
laid down. Forms are apparently everything
with him, and the idea of those who have not
passed through six months of theological ex-
animation to see whether they are sound on the
forms, being allowed to oficiate in Episcopal
pulpits, is horrid and sacrilegious in his eyes.
These ideas sound singular and strange in this
enlightened age; but j. only shows that the
spirit Of religious intolerance still exists among
the leaders Of the different sccts, and
that the fire Of persecution is only kept
down by the intelligence of the people and
the horror Of the great mass of the human
family at the atrocious deeds performed during
the fifty years fierce and relentless war in Europe
between the Catholics and Proteetants. The
teachings Of Christ arc those of peace and good
will TO man; IL would therefore, seem reason
able to suppose that oil those engaged in ex-
pounding His cause weuld meet with greater
success by working in harmony, sitting together
in heavenly places, and practising toward each
other the principles which they pretend TO
preach But such has not been the practice Of
theologians in the past, and it seems that there
il no improvement in the nineteenth century,
except In the fact that public opinion compels
them TO keep their intolerant ideas more in the
background. When they do speak out, like
Bishop Potter, we are treated with disserta-
ton on the forms of this or that cburch-that
the death of Christ is Of no avail except the
formalities Of their peculiar church are adopted
in full. All Others are pronounced impostors
and heatiiens. II is the same old idea which
Christ combatted in the Pharsee-"I am holier
than thou" II these different sectarian bishops
and clerical gentlemen do not exercise charity
and tolerance towards each other while pre-
tending to labor in the same field, how can they
expect the unconverted to have any confidence
in their cause or preaching.
But the discussion arising out Of this bull hrs
developed another interesting feature. The
MORO .hss found bis way into the controversy,