Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-02-15
The Proposed Union of Churches.

The Proposed niOn OF Churches
The overtures for union between the Anglican
and Greek Churches and between these and the
Church of Rome, though earnestly pressed by the
High Church of the Anglican Establishment, are,
might be expected, meeting with violent opposi-
ton from the Evangelical party and their outside
allies-the Dissenters. The question is no longer
restricted to religious controversiasts but is
to be handled with freedom by the secular press.
The Manchester Guardian of the 10th, we observe,
is out in an editorial leader in opposition. The
editor warns Dir pnsey and his Oxford friends
they may go too far, and stir up within
the bosom of the Establishment another reforna-
ton before they are aware of it. The Guordiu4
asks:
"Can DIR. Pussy be SO sanssuine rs to imagine
that III the prospect of Union with the Anglican
Church, he Pope would surrender the spiritual
authority which ne actual y exercises over the Ro-
man communion IN this country, or does lie hatter
himself that Parliament will abolish the coronation
oath and the oath of supremacy? For one of these
alternatives is an Indispensable preliminary to a
union with the churches. Ii her the English I1o-
manists, with the sanction OF the Pope must come
within the pale of the English Establishments then
recognized by the Pontiff d sister Church, Oh
the Anglican Church, released by act Of Paria-
ment from the Royal supremacy, must pass under
submission to the of Rome. Can Dr. Pusey
ternatives is within the bounds of possibility? BY
II process of casuistry, some people may, sup
pose succeed III convincing themselves that there
is absolutely irrecOncilable divergence between
the canons of Trent and the Thirty nine Articles.
With that part of the controversy have nothing
to do. But how do the Unionists propose to get
over acts of Parliament? The Sovereign of
England swears to maintain the Protestant re-
formed religion as established by law, and every
clergyman of the Church acknowledges the s,l-
on pirit, al
authority of any foreign potentate whatever"
Per- CONTRA the New York Church Journal as if
speaking for the High Church branch of tt Eps-
copalians in the United States is earnestly advo-
eating measures looking to union, especially with
the Greek Communion. The editor says:
$50 far rs terms of Communion are concerned,
we have othing to demand of the Oriental
churches i. the way of concession on their part
The only question is as to what they shall demand
of us on their part. And in this view, the Rev.
DIR. Craik, the President of our House of Clerical
and Lay Deputies in General Convention, in a
book just issued by him, The Divine Life and
the New Birth, entirely comedies with the addi-
ton that ought to give up the FIliogue if that
that shall be found the sole obstacle in the way of
intercommunion."
Meanwhile, the Episcopal Recorder, of Phila-
delphia-an organ of the Low Churchmen-ires a
shot at what it calls Romanizing tendencies of a
certain community of clerical gentlemen who have
just published volume of devotions called sThe
Book of Hours" It contains " Offices for the sew
en- canonical hours, itanies and other devotions 4"
The Recorder asks:
"Have we then community of monks of our
communion? If We have, where is it? Do any
of our Bishops know of its existence and sanction
it We regard the publication as a Jesuit
Device to put into the hands of our Remaining
ritualists formula OF devotion which shall foster
and feed the taste for Lturgies and Lianies which
are the productions of secondary inspiration,
and which cannot be satisfied with our confessed
ly unlnspired Book of Common Prayer"