The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-16
The New Religious Movement Abroad
Proposed Union Of the Anglican.
Roman. and GrnnE Churchar

The New Religious Movement Abroad
Proposed Union Of the Anglican.
Roman and Greek Churches.
One of the most singular features of
the religious world abroad, Just now,
(more especially in England and
France is the revival of heHighChurch
project under the auspices of Rev. Dr..
Pussy, Of q union with the Church Of
Rome. Not only is it advocated by Dr..
Pusey, but many of the most eminent
influential scholars and theologisns at
tached to the Establishment, are giving
it countenaDce. And what is to be
especially noted, is the further fact,
that the proposition is apparently find
Jog marked favor with some of the
most eminent of the Roman Catholic
hierarchy themselves, in England as
well as in France.
The ways and means of promoting
such a union, Of course are but dimly
foreshadowed- On both sides the ut
most caution is observed, with q pru-
dent avoidance Of specific details, which
indicates a lively conviction in the
minds of both parties of the extreme
delicacy Of the subject, to say the least
of it.
This much, however. seems to be GER
tain, that at the very start both sides
must be prepared TO surrender some
thing, both as regards things temporal,
and things spiritual For example, the
Anglican Unionists, as represented by
DR.. Pussy, will have to give up their
prejudice against praying for the Saints,
while the Romanists must abandon the
dogma of the immaculate conception
of the Blessed Virgin. The Anglicans
must receive the Tridentine Greed, not
as at present interpreted, indeed,-bu
in such a way as 10 render it capable Of
acceptance by the English Church,
whilst the Romanists must abandon the
~univefsal primscy Of the Pope; that Is
10 say, they must be content to have
him reduced to the level simply of a
Bishop-not the head of the Visible
Church on Earth, but simply as Bishop
of Rome, neither having nor exercls-
ing powers superior to those which may
be lawfully claimed or exercised by 9th
er Bishops.
The Re-Unionists, however, do not
propose to stop here. Some OF them
propose TO bring in the Greek Church
also, and TO this it is contended there
are no obstacles in the way that need be
deemed insuperable, with men imbued
with a sincere spirit of Christian unity
1t is a well known fact that some such
ov~ertures to the Greek Church have al
, ready been made, on the part not only
of the English Church, but 10y the
Episcopal Church in the United States
and with a degree of encouragement
we are informed by those who favoI
the project, iustifying the expectation
of ultimate success.
The prime object of the scheme foI
consolidating the Anglican Latin snC
Greek -Communions Is, proiessedIy, 81
10 strengthen the Church Universal a
to enable it to present an unbroker
front to the ~Inidelity, Rationalism ant
Intellectualism, which are making sucl
d rapid strides, even in nations that boas
of the highest civilization. Supposini
the consolidation but partially success
full, the question arises,-so far as TIA
= English Church is concerned,--would
not lose in one direction more real, VI
tai, evangelical strength, than 1t woul'
gain in another In other words, woul'
not the first effect OF even a nomins
n reunion with the Latin Church, be 4
m separate from it, the entire Low Church
or ultra Protestant element in Britain
and America? Could the Anglican
Church afford such q loss Would 1t
a possible gain. in re-uniting with Rome
{, be a sufficient compensation Tor psrtln.
q company with so numerous and lnhu
entail branch of its own communion
W These are questions for the considers
e, lion of churchmen, rather han SCI
Y Mar press,-but they are questions, ne'
ertheless. of so commanding q charaC
/! ter. and so pregnant with far reaehin
> results. that it clearly comes within tn
m province of the newspaper, to Wslc
is their progress, and from time 70 TIME
IL note their development
We are not prepared 10 say now Ia
sr the views Of the Anglican Re-Unionisti
n are responded TO, by the kplscepa
z Clergy in this cOuntry,-but that the
10 are responded to, 10 some extent, is
Of fact beyond dispute. We have pre-
&c sumptiye evidence of it, IL the recen
Is Greek service in Trinity Chapel, in ia
~ so-cslled TractariRn services al 81 a
oo hans and other churches. IN the pre-.
ence of some of the most eminent
be the high church clergy, st the obs,
OF ouies of an esteemed Roman Csthol
II priest recently deceased, and hkewls
~ Ia the unrnistakable bearings OF th
'rr accredited organ OF the Bishop Of tn
O Diocese-the Church Journal On tn
"a, part of the evangelical wing of Churs
ice il may be added, there is no attempt
y, blink these peculiar manifestation
. and tendencies-Rnd hence we hay
~ such journals rs the Christian Times
on this city (the oracle of the low churcl
at men) vigorously denouncing the who
ic, scheme of reunion, and warning o
good Protestants against the fatal col
x sequences which it IS supposed to mas
Ever since the Reformation, III
English Church may be said to ha'
nd been graFitatipg-noY towards kom
now towards Geneva but on u
pts whole, never losing so much Of It's Pr
Zoe testant poise IS TO quite win the syn
pathy of one or the other. Wheth'
the time has come, or IS coming,
give IL now q more decided inclination
Rome-wRrd, OF otherwise, we cam
pretend 10 say. But n thing, Y
'gs think. may be accepted as tolerab
su' oertsin-and that is, that the scheh
a., will find little or no favor with the Cou
to- party. which, with the queen herself,
understood 10 be wholly under eva
geHcal or low church influence.