The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-23

lish Reformation, who were ready, not in
theory only, but practically also and
modestly to acknowledge their Church
as the younger sister of the Church of
Geneva?" Our brethren will see by a
recurrence to our article, that they have
entirely Inexperienced and therefore
misstated what we said, and that there
is no inconsistency to be alleged.
We made some remarks concerning
the unstable character of most of those
who leave other churches to enter the
Episcopal, and expressed the opinion
that no small part of those who left it
for Rome, was made up of this element.
Upon this the Southern Churehman says:
"We can only say we are very sorry for our
Presbyterian friends Are there then any
Romanizing germs in the Presbyterian hurch
which produce this sad result? Is it not
time for Presbyterian brethren who deplore
the present and dread impending evils, to in
Stitute a most solemn scrutiny, and to complete
the reformation p
Our answer is: Firse that the fact
referred to is mentioned upon the au.
thority of Episcopalians themselves. 1t
has been repeatedly mentioned in some
of their newspapers, and, if We mistake
not, was publicly declared many years
ago by Bishop Meade. 1t was said in
those references, that these converts from
other churches, especially in the minis
try, were not in general any great credit
to the Episcopal Church, nor were they
in general exactly "the stuff that men
are made of.
Second; while thankful for the sympa
thy of our brethren, we are not able to
see that their presbyterian friend"
need it just at this point, and perhaps,
therefore, it would be better if reserved
for some occasion of real distress. From
instability of character land occasionally
from other causes) men and women, both
old and young, go from the Episcopal,
Methodist, and Baptist churches, into the
Presbyterian, and from the Presbyterian
and Episcopal into the Methodist and
Baptist. But never have we heard of
anything indicating spirit of apostasy
from those churches towards Romanism.
Why does it manifest itself in the Epis-
copal Church alone, and to such fear
full extent? Are we not shut up to the
conclusion that there are Remaining
germs" there which are not found in the
others?
Another point must be noticed. The
Central Presbyterian had made the fol-
lowing remark:
with the statements and admissions made
in the article from the Southern Churchmon,
as to the condition of the Episcopal Church,
no minister or member in it can any longer
consistently ask, much less pursuade any min
lister or member of another church to seek its
communion"
The Southern Churehman intimates
that this contains "the animus' of our
whole article, and asks in reply, "What?
Not even Unitarian, or Romanist, or
SwedsIborgian?"
~thought it sufficiently obvious
from the tenor of our article that it
here referred to what are known as Evan-
gelical churches, a term under which
none of the religious societies above
named can be embraced.
A word now about PROSECUTING. With
out entering into any minute detail, we
can include all that is necessary to being
fairly understood in a short space.
l. Just in proportion as all true Chris
tians regard their fellow-men involved in
error, they must be expected to desire
and seek after their conversion from it.
On this ground it is that they pray and
strive for the conversion of the heather,
and of all men not protesting to be re-
generate. Upon the same ground they
are obliged in conscience to do what they
can for the recovery of Roman Catholics
and Unitarians, &C.; for while they pro-
fess and hold many important truths of
Christianity, We believe that they also
hold most fundamental errors. To this
extent then, and for this reason, prose,
lyting is solemn duty.
2. While Presbyterians firmly believe
their "Form of Government is most
nearly conformed to the Scriptures, they
do at the same time openly declare and
profess the most liberal sentiments in re-
gard to those who differ from them. In
accordance with this they freely invite
all other Evangelical Christians to com
mune with them in the Sacrament of the
Lords Supper, and they as freely admit
the ordination of their ministers to be
valid. Resting upon this broad founda
ton of Christian charity, they have no
pretext left in the structure of their sys-
tenn for cultivating PROSECUTING spirit.
3. The same would be true of our
Episcopal brethren, if they had not for
saken the ground upon which the fathers
of the English Reformation stood. They
were not only cordially agreed with
Geneva in doctrine, but were also so far
satisfied with the validity of Presbyterian