The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-05-17
The Protest. me- Epiacopal oh,urch..

oO'Sioi ooJo 1o oCooAohs AAS uo-
dress Iof the Bishop was able and
interesting and evangelical az usual.
The Bishop presents the spectacle of
o strong spirit in frail tenement.
Blind and weak and hail, his Chris
tian excellenoies of character shine
forth the more conspicuously amid
his bodily infirmities. In his spot
less life, he illustrates the highest
style of man, and is the grace aud
ornament of the church. His con-
dition serves but to spiritualize his
life, and like blind Milton, his are
"the beings of the mind" which
Essentially immortal, create within us
brighter ray and more beloved exist-
once."
In his address, the Bishop alludes to
the system of Ritualism. We give an
extract from his address:
"The whole condition of the Church
in the Diocese demands your calm
and serious attention. It's prostra-
tion is even greater perhaps than it
is understood to be. Let it be.con-
sidered whether some plans may not
be devised for increasing its contri-
buttons, and supplying with the
means of life its scattered members.
Let us all, clergy and laity, rise up
to the thorough consideration of this
subject; it is the great spiritual duty
before us. The church is our noblest
and purest inheritance; we must not
let it fall Times of trial are times
of grace, brethren; they prove us,
and they make us; suffering demands
faith, and faith looks up and rests on
God. We are in a severe conflict; it
is the church's test, and her oppor-
tunity. Let us hear the voice of
Christ himself, addressed to one of
the early churches, under like trials
of faith and heart: To him that
overcometh will I grant to sit with
me in my throne, even as also over
come, and am set down with my
Father in his throne
81 feel, my brethren, that I ought
not to close this address without
some remarks upon the general state
of the church and it's application to
ourselves. There seems to be an
unusual restlessness of the public
mind both in politics and religion.
In the former there is indicated n
dissatisfaction with existing institu-
tions, and strong tendencies to De-
mocratic developments. In the
church, on the contrary, there seems
to be an increasing disposition in
favor of visible constitutions, aud
more ornate culture of external ad-
ministration and worship. Extremes
in this direction are producing ex-
tremes in the opposite, and thus
there are engendered violent anita
gonisms unfavorable to calm thought,
conservative influence and just con-
clusions. You understand me as
referring to the subject sufficiently
indicated under the general designa-
ton of Ritualism. I seek to avoid
everything that may produce exacer-
bations of mind or undue feeling of
any kind, and shall not consider the
subject in reference to any circum-
stances and extreme cases. 1 Ibelieve
that our condition in this Diocese,
thank God, enables us to pass by
these, and be actuated by quiet.
sober, and, trust, holy thought. I
beg your consideration Of few just
principles. The value of the Epis-
copal church to us is not to be de-
termined by considering it as
single and separated body, with its
peculiar institutions, but as it really
is--a pure, central and integral
branch of the Church Catholic of
Jesus Christ AS such, it has no
limitation in its applications, but
goes out for its truth and authority
to the primal fountain of divine reve-
lation, and is capable of universal
expansion. 1 cannot now undertake
the heights of the great arguments
by which all this can be established
in our favor; we are limited to the
point of Divine worship. 1t is we'll
known that our devotional service is
ritual-we worship in regularly con-
stituted, recognized and accepted
forms of prayer. In some respects
there may be disadvantage in this,
but the controlling benefits, we
think, should be obvious to every
rehecting mind. These are not
merely incidental, as securing an
understood and holy worship, both
for minister and people, and other