Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-26
THE CHURCH.
Union OF the Roman, Greek and
Anglican COmmunIOns.
rom the London Times, Sept. s.h.I

From the London Times, Sept. 9.h.l
On Monday evening the most inpor
tsnt annual festival promoted by the
advocates of R;tualism was commenced
at Ali Saints Church, Lambeth. The
occasion was "the eleventh anniversary
of the Association for Promoting the
Unity Of Cristendom, being the eve o
the nativity OF the Blessed Virgin Mary
The church was crowded, and the cere-
mODy throughout was exceedingly im-
posing. At eight O'Clock a procession
advanced from the end Of the baildipp
to the high altar. In it were borne ban.
nerets, on which pictorial representa-
tions OF the Virgin were conspicuous,
and the hymn by which the service was
inaugurated wss addressed to "the
Queen of Earth and Heaven The ser.
mon was preached by the Rev. Mr..
Ward, who took for his text the words.
" He had not dealt so with any nation. -
He congratulated those present on the
union Of the Churches OF Rome. OF
Greece, and Of England in Que heart and
one interest. He could not dwell too iun-
pressively on the Importance Of the
union Of the members of the Catholic
Church. Some had asserted that they
could see nS truth in the Church OF Eng
land, and therefore departed from It's
communion. To those, with few excep-
tloDs, he said that they were committing
a direct sin, for they were rebelliDg
against the order Of Gods providence,
and were obstructing the unity
Of the Church. The position of the
Church in ChFistendom, 1t was true, was
perplexing tn many fervent hearts. The
Church was described as poor and naked.
They were assured that the gates of hell
could not prevail against 1t, bnt it might
prevail against some of its pats. 1t tlii
not follow, because the lamp was flicker
ing, that IL had died out altogether. He
then sketched the history of the Church,
and said that it had always been .eset
by troubles on every side, The ergumsPs
regarding the deoadeDCs OF the Chur..I ~
which be had referred might bS used "a
well against the whole iuslitufioD as
against the part of i. which exisfnd in
England. Not only was the Csuych of
England living, bati wss. he eonfsnJed
3 favored institution. Appearances were
certainly against it. At present an Ecu
menical Council was impossible. In
France ana Austria the power OF the
Church was declining; in Spain it had
not been considered in any Of the great
revolutions OF that country in Mexico
the Emperor blessed by the Pope had been
murdered; in South America its ipfiu-
eDCe was decreasing. Rome had lost her
temporal power all oves the world, and
she had not made up for It in the aconi-
5ition OF spiritual strength. In the
United States, where alone there was 8
free fight between eontendinR seets.
Rome showed feebleness, and its power
was only Kept up by emigration from
Europe. In Italy representatives were
sent to Parliament, to oppose the Papsl
interest. Rome seemed 20 Be more DOW
9rfll in England than in any other part
)f the world. In Russia the Government
paid no attention to religious influence.
If, then, Rome and COnstaptinople, with
heir old traditions and long lines of
laints, did not possess the spiritual power
which prevailed during the middle ages,
what marvel could it he II the Anglican
Church, mere creature of yesterday in
ts present aspect, did not possess it F.? !
There were two causes OF her weakness
namely, her Isolation from the rest Of |
and her connexion with |
he Ssste. There was, however. no other |
instance In the history OF the world, of a |
'huFch rising in so short time from the |
ethsrgy into which it had fallen to a |
tate Of life and vigor like that afforded |
~ our own church within the last fifty |
'esrs, We had discovered fuller wor- |
hip, deeper faith, and nobler cere-
nonial,