Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-04-24
From the independent
The Episcopal Church.
BY THE REV. E. Il. oAnrrrLD, D. D

:
have the right to speak of the spirit
and principles of this church. I have
/ had ample opportunity 10 become ac-
/ quainted with her doctrines and usages,
/ and ought to be able to speak with some
Il degree of authority in regard TO her
( character and elaimss I am an Episco-
I-palian, and so We're my ancestors for
I many Generations. More than a hun
dred years ago, they planted this
church in the valley of Vermont. 10
/ respect to this particular "line of sue
cession.7 have greatly the advantage
iof certain bishoRs5 who seem determine
ed to illustrate the saying, that "thOse
who take the EpisoOpacy BY inocula-
ton generally have iE harder than those
who take it the natural way" All my
! religious associations from infancy
/ have been exclusively with this church.
I learned the CabeChism before / vas
six years of age, aud distinctly reD1em-
Der standing in front Of the chahceI be-
fore was ten years old, to repeat it in
company with others, "Openly in the
church, under the direction of the ven
erable Father Bronson," one of the
clerical pioneers Of pur church ia that
state. From ny nRrly childhood ]
have loved and fsitl peculiarly iden-
tilted vEiEH lsgasEl se=aEld have de-
fended her against misrepr6 senUa-
tiOns and assaults that have been
prompted by prediudfce, ignorance, or
claims with the zeal of a partisan. My
judgment and my taste have always
coincIded with my education and my
predjudiees. 1 have always believed,
and still hold, that, honestly and intel
ligency adm iniSt6red according to the
scriptural order, mprehensive and
catholic spirit, liberal policy, and evan
gelical doctrines of her own standards,
she is pre-eminently fitted for the most
effective service and the most exalted
mission in the cause Of the Gospel and
ofhumanity.
For nearly a quarter of a century I
have labored honestly and earnestly to
promote her true and highest interests,
and in every suitable way to extend
her influence. I once felt proud of
my church. Her standards of doctrine
are scriptural, her rules of discipline
are wise and liberal, and her regulations
as to worship are eminently suited to
edIficatidn aud purposes of devotion.
Until a comparatively recent date, her
usages everywhere were in accordance
with her prlnci pies.
When my mind reverts to her histo-
ry, recall EIuch that excifes gratitude,
if it may not swell the heart with pride.
As think of the distinguished hos
tages she has given to the faith-in ma
nv dauutless martyr, many a gOOdly
cOnfessor, many a burning and shining
light; as survey the bright galaxy OF
eminent diVines who, during the last
three hundred years, nave shed con-
tinued lustre on the cause of Christian
learning, in writings which still cOnsti-
tute the common treasury of every de-
partmeut of theological erUditiOu and
didacic teaching for all Protestant
Christendom-I feel that my church is
not unworthy of a high position, and of
an affectiOnate and grateful remem-
brance by all who love the Gospel and
rightly estimate its various blessings.
But her history, grand as it il, has not
always flowed on in a smooth stream oil
harmony and prosperity. She has al
ways been, and IS still a branch of the
church nlitltG7lt. Aiming to be a church
rather than a sect, the spirit of her stan
dards is liberal and comprehensive, and
tolerant. Thus opening wide her doors
men have found admission who are
flliberal, narrow and intOlerant. These
elements are intensified and sharpened
in proportion to the feebleness in Chris
tian character and true spiritual life of
those in whom they are found. Super
stitiOn, bigOtry, and intolerance al
ways go hand in hand. These have
been the bane of our church to her own
members, and the stumbling blocks
which some OF them have placed in the
way Of others, for three hundred years.
In connection with the stale, they stood
in the way of true progress for the first
century, and then gave rise to party
which has ever since hankered after
which the Reformation divorced them.
This hateful spirit drove the Puritans
from the Establishment by intolerance,
and then consolidated and strengthened
them by persecution; when they agreed
essentially in doctrine, and all impOr-
tant matters as 10 discipline. Having,
in this way, created and iuvigorated
powerful and antagOnistic party, the
natural tendency was to extremes in
an opposite direction. In the pr0higate
and HcentiOus age that followed, with a
corrupt and shameless court, which re-
gardad the church merely as an ally
and instrument ofthe state and a sup
port Of the crown, and DissenGers as tbe
most dangerous enemies to both, the
school of Laud first appeared Il has
never been able to change the standards
of the church although from that per-
iOd to the present time it has continued
to exist, and exert a misGhieVOus, some
times an almost dominant, influence.
Its ruling spirit has been not only arTO-
CANT, but cruel. Arrogating to itself
exclusive authority and privileges,
claiming lofty pedigree, and boastiug
The temple of the Lord the temple of
the Lord, the temple Of the Lord are
we J" il has stood all this time, at the
door Ofthe church, in the temper of
harsh and angry stepuOther, glad to
find any excuse for driving the chill
dren from their fathers house, and love
and care. There, and in precisely that
altitude and spirit, the party stands to-
day, on both sides of the Atlantic; re-
pelling the sympaLhies of the Protestant
ChrIstendOm, invoking the ridicuie and
contempt of the world, and throwing
suspicion and reproach upon those who
are the true friends and faithful repre-
sentatlves of that glorious church,
which they would reasonably bstray.
If tn Q wise and moderate cOunsels, the
liberal and Christian spirit, and the
clear and discriminating Judgment of
White and GriswOld had prevailed
throughout our church to the present
time She would have been. long since