New-York tribune., 1868-10-08
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL TRIENNI4L con-
TENTION


Episcopal Church. which assembled yesterday at Trinity
Church. has been looked forward to the most import
ant session OF that body which has convened for many
years. from the fact that for the frs; time since the
outbreak Of the Rebellion all the dioceses OF the United
States are represented ard by Of tho many ques
ons of difference between the Highland Low evan
cecal partle which arc expected TO up FOR discus
SION ard adjustment Consequently the interest felt in al
pertaining TO is deliberations Is widespread, Hhd was
shown by very large gathering uand around The churca
ot INC hour named for the opening services The arrange
nents made accommodate as uanya possible lenrct
of Bishops, ana clerical aud lay delegates, whose
names We published yesterday, vas large The former
platform was laid down 10 accommodate hcu tic latter
occupied pews reserved for them ct the head Of me nave
wAle the clergy generally ay moIueIs 0i lne In"ieh VI
Missions ana of other institutions were admitted t0 seats
behind me deputies The North aisle oeh 10 the 1Df
mission was obtained pTcsCutati0n oi tickets isucd
by delegates. The presiding Bishops The Rght Rev Ben
iimin i. smith, a. Kentucky, and Bishop McIlNane'
eat ON each sae 9I nc 60 eCunlu.lon In . ,, 1Spc'
aud morning service Was iea0 ny tue hey' IL. q oter
D. d. OF Grace Church, \. " Secretary 10 the House OF
Bishops assisted 10y ile rev M,1 = Gety ot hSnHe,1
Conn., Secretary to the House 9i Dslegaes' me Ley ~
A. Dew. Howe, ID. D., OF Philadelphia the Rev VIM. +.
read The frs. lesson' AAlkth chapter oi IsaiaI lhe
Pslns chosen were tie siil s5th SD and gith known
ccrgymen sang tho Icie Ie De'n. Landdnas, tho ggh
selected Psalm, commencing,
and the l'2d HymH-he singing and The responses being
joined n very generally by he congregation
Bishops Lastburn OF Hasachust u.s. Atflson az North
Carolina. and Johns of Virginia conducted the au,cCom
muuion service. after singing inc l52a ny NM the li;
Eoy. Bishop Lee ca Delaware ascended tic pulpit and
preached
Bishop LEE took for his text Kcy, "a chap :: ITo
that haih ears lot him hear what the spirit saith unto
These erstles he said the churches Of pro-
cons.ar ASIA are expressive noriios OF ioy "Ii de
sell the seaker, and lis words rich and powerful
Everything tina, fell from his lips claims study Here
lie slot arguing with his enemies, but addressing bis
fOC,-speaklug UO 20 the world but 10 the church.
the whole company ot believers. On the present occasion
cpstlcs but would only can attention 10 portaut
conclnsion which peIlaineq TO them AZ ana WHEN
tlrec-io.d character OF regal prophetic and saccdotal
with Divine Majesty hing OF kiags ana Lord ol Lords
lie speaks as one on whose shoulders j. tlc gofcrmen
Tie Church OF Chnst has flail sinful, mortal head
No. Jesus regns, ana VIII rlgh unll ne Sball put aii
enemies uAdcr has feet Whatever ocofds, cliO1 ana
ap0staccs ycL the outward aud visible church Ono way
r0bbrg the Lord Jesus OF bis hcadsnp s. by direct
denial and contradiction, renuuncing ms claim as one
open. bat pcrilous is when men oseus!uy magnify
the nature AND the offices Of Christ but GlCgac To them
ulace 10 elcaL m his name 10 weld iis anthofy fo
make Of Chiists royalty cloak for GClieyaltau0B.
fcorI Of is church. In taco cli.fles he insiructs
Hoiy Ghost As ne Was not to remain visible on earth,
he has sent his Holy spirit 20 he the cngtcHCg and
Orter o. hs church. IN tie Holy Scriptures Inspired by
him. we have the complete sum aid bu6stancc OF CHRIS
tan Guty ana doctrine la Tie words Of tho Nith Ari
clc. Holy Scripture cODtauct al things necessary for
salvation so that Whatever Is not read therein or
proved thereby is not required God be thanked for
such destiny! Hco is the laid 20 the root Of every
tee OF error ana fa'ch0od Hfle - ihe sheet anchor
prevent the vessel being dGiitcd away rocks or
quicksands. In this volume the scripture speaks,
aud speaks lnieHgtAtly' ihe scriptures are IAGir
own best interpreter. They 90 not need tho
TIC language OF tie articles Is GEAR our church CON
stantly makes hcrappeal 20 the living oTdccs. Even the
% fe 9 dfe 10 4s be- reetTed fe @ nd q So
because set forth by connCs bnt because they may DO
Church, making this appeal comedies 10 TO be the duty
the privilege OF every member to bring the most a
tAOratiyc statements tO Tie one uncIring tOUchstOne.
The doctrine OF the Church. as plainly revealed
IN tne WORD OF Cod cams no addltion9l
founded upon and constantly adhcIng 10 the word Of
siGerat!0n by adding 10 the Scripture any human an
thory. Bishop Lee freely conceded that the judgment
OF wise and Cody men was every age worthy OF acn
ton; aud the office Of tie Church, the witness ard
keeper OF Holy Wit, Of Inc highest Importance. SO
IN the ease Of the Jewish Church; they appointed
guardians Of the Old Testament and performed that trust
with integrity But 10 be tho guardian Lot to be the
carefully the letter Of the Scriptures believed not in the
Messiah to whom they pointed The Bishop spoke |
against the Claim put up by some tat the mind Of tho
sput embodied N General Councils and insisted that
according 10 the definition Of Council assemblago
OF all Bishops ana Christians or their proxies no such
assembdse had ever been convened. All that had as |
the noble and faithful testimony borne by the Council
Nice critical period. they should not forget that all
Again Jesus presented himself the Great High Priest
His ministry was the true sample, His humanity |
sacrifice, His ascension the entrance within the vail
An the shadows OF the ceremonial law found an him their
iulmcnt; he concentrated III himself all the offices OF
the priesthood; aud these shadows, having served their
purpose have never been rcenacted tho Gospel dspen
saon mere echo Of the Mosaic. lie spoke Of the
present assumption OF the sacrlcal priesthood q |
plt!ful milnciy Of the Aaronc priesthood No, are
not abandoned 20 such mUckery. Our High Priest Is
set the Throne Of Majesty In Heaven Christ has not
entered into holy places made with hands, but into |
Heaven itself having boeD once offered, a full and |
sufficient sacrifice for the sils OF the whole world
The language OF the Epstlcs tolerate 10 |
sacrhcia mortal priesthood and IN way could the IN
prcd writer's have more impressvey conveyed tho abO
htOn OF the pOpitiatoy priesthood than by this silence
Nether he argued could this error be Justified by an ap
peal to the Fathers Such assumption on the part OF
ministers invasion or the exclusive priesthood OF
the Lord Jesus Christ Tho unhappy influences Of this
error had been shown wherever II was oclaimed 10
served to make sacerdOtal caste Ignorant and carDa
men loved to have 30, because 1t favored religion by
Office relieving them Such a theory Of the Christian |
ministry was not countenanced by the Protestant Episco
pal Church. and no marvel that the word Protestant"
was an OHense 10 bnch men, and that they at |
tempted TO difparage the men OF the Reformation. |
The Bishop said lac might apologize for taking much |
time points that "a lew years would have
thought Of questioning; but lovers of the Church OF
Christ contemplate with alarm and anxiety proceedings
which, ia this day. tended to undermine weestablshod
principles. 1t than mcrc empty ceremonial.
These rtuastc ceremonies urged for the sake OF
the doctrine that underlles them, as part OF ss.u
which see fublown elseBbnrc. Asa third point the
Bishop dwet on the enbrcOf Christian unity and asked
IN What direction should the general desire for unity
teDdl Whether toward church whose errors they had
protested against and parted from, or toward Christians
country; Teyerng the Bible, not only In scnt
lncnt but IN letter. aud believing the same great fnnda-
formulas that formed stumbling block and barrier 10
these, which could lie removed without compromising
anv essential doctrine ought not 10 make the conces-
-ion. In conclusion ne Bahop spoke OF the pecuia rus
ue providence of God, they hal come together from
sgery par, oi this btona ita oi,d fo 10 "y sorshs