Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-11
.E9II
A Pastoral TrOm the Rev. }. w.
Rogers, Priest oC the Church
OF the Blessed virgin.
Dearly Beloved /:

Dearly Beloved:
In those painful controversies, which IL
. evety sge sgitste the Church Of Him whit
said, 81 come not to send Peace o.
Earth, but a ScOrd,n We are not 70 for
gst that, even IN battle, the Church may
Be Identified; and that ever serene il
DER msjssty and beauty, she can make
rasOUDdinR arms aad ~giicJering steel
aboveher hesd tFiumphal arches, through
which, with Feverent feet, she moves on.
blessing the ferosst cOmbatants, If yea
and love for Christ inspire them.
THE psace which false prophets of old
rroclaiusd-which the well fed Scrihee
and Phsrisees desired-TRs, as we are
told. in tue oraciss Of God, mo peace %
The Church wRs only rOtting; and,
ike the Dead Sea, stupefed both Priest
ard people by its influence aud c0nta-
gious yawnings. It died or essaUi.
Our ChunCh ia England, ~patrOni8ed by
Government, with 30 many rich political
inoumbents, aud fawning, cringiug,
c~rouching, starving cucstes, has risen Ia
tue strength of her Lord, through the
influence of bis faithful deuom-
mated, by way OF reproach, "RaWoLists."
Instead OF leaving the Church OF EGG
land, as the followers OF tke jealous
Wesley did, they remain ia her
borders, keep her discipline aud obey
her canons, bat realizing hat the Holy
sacrament, is not q mere cOmmsmora
ton supper II dinner. Having faith,
through The power OF the Holy Ghost, TO
believe that their dear Saviour is pres
in some spiritual but nevertheless
lnoss real manner, they Fevere and beau
rify his altar as you do the graves Of your
loved ones,
For this they are called "HoJ1tors,"
by some; by some they are laughed at
- " worshipers Of q few candles and
lowers" But you, beloved, would not
the man who Knocked me for
.znseling 81 the grave Of my buried
daughter In EimWOOd, and for scatter
ing howers on her grave, or for lighting
M and ~enlivening that holy spot in any
hat suited my fancy. Again,
hey are called Economists" "MethO-
lists" and the like, because they labor
-or the Reunion at Q altar OF all Chris
ians "who love the Lord Jesus Christ
a sincerity"
They are willing 10 60 a. far towards
Rome on the one hand, and towards III
Professionalism on the other, as princi-
Die In their humble jGdgment) allows
md how, let me ask, can ChTistend0m
,ver be united without this spirit Of for
)earance and charity?
You have then, beloved, q great work
you. Many, who have hitherto
attended u services, viii depart es
az the novelty wears Of. Our
Bishop has eEhorted those whom
u considered most Influential to
from Us. OEr brethrsn OF the
leIgy for the most part cooperate with
i'm and we have TO decide whether, in
matter like this, we owe blind obedi-
nee 60 authority or only LGogful o5edi-
.nGe.
Tie Pope, Ia old times, laid whole
ingious under these "~interGictS,' y
which grew up, a necessity II think Of
union Of Church and State. Now, .
Holy Father calls an Ecumenical
to decide whether this union
uRht not to be abolished, on the ground
nearly all States 10 EhristeudOm
now +" constitutional governments"
The Church of England, on the other
gave 8 constitution and IIJD8 70 her
members, to free them from blind c5edi-
nee, to the POpes and it would be q
trsurs thing nov, to see Rome giving
.5eytg and our Bishops demanding Obedi-
nee % h0ut lGU.
e much, beloved, IN a spirit of
we 20 yo1, and indeed 70 81, even to
nose who would drive Us hence, lest your
o-peciencas should be troubled by the
faterdicis," sud beseeCh you, by the
ord Jesus Christ, that with p1ayerfui
carts ycu decide for yourselves, whether
liberty I advocate is /" rebellion" or
our sacred snd inaiiensble Christian
.gbt. ip a Church which boasts a c0astj
ron and baiCsI II the laws be in
.inged or if any one dared 70 say
,eV were (which nobody prstends TO
Il were then another matter
we would be tried for the Of
fer " d~isobedience land ex-
from tina church but when the
iii OF Bishop Priest or Dsacon be-
omes the lazy, then We msy no longer
cost of f" the glorious Reformation, , nor
the - tyranny Of Rome"
lis not. therefore, your duty TO obey
leir i8teT6ict, whether delivered by
tier or By Priests, but humbly to rest
D the Cross Of Christ. even when the
attitude forsske you, and keeping
very law of the Church TO pray for
our Bishop, tbathe msy be blessed with
n spiritasi gifts, Though Christ, our
ord. When thS trial comes you will
that your Pastor is eIIy doiHg what
.apv more faithful Bishops sod PSiegts
done before him and that all the
fde assaults on his UeTacity, which drew
It the sharp replies Of last Sunday, will
on those who made them.
a1ecuonsts Pastor.
w NA o.